The first time my two dogs ever got into a fight, I was convinced that something was seriously wrong with one or both of them, and terrified that they would kill each other eventually. I didn’t know much about animal behavior then, but a few more years spent studying dogs and watching other people with their dogs, and I know better. The truth is that, if you have two or more dogs living together, sooner or later they will likely get into a fight. This doesn’t mean fighting is desirable or doesn’t require intervention, but it is within the realm of normalcy for dog behavior. Knowing why well-socialized dogs who otherwise like each other fight can help you better understand your pet’s behavior as well as enable you to prevent future fights. Here are the most common causes of dog fights:
Redirected Aggression
Perhaps the most common cause of fights between dogs who know each other well is redirected aggression. Redirected aggression is simply aggression that was meant for someone else but that your dog instead directs to another dog. A dog may growl at the mail carrier through the window and then turn around and bite your other dog. Typically redirected aggression only leads to a big fight if both dogs are feeling otherwise stressed and aggressive, so if your dogs get into a fight as a result of redirected aggression, take this as your cue that your dogs are overwhelmed. While this behavior is common, it can be fixed by providing good socialization to prevent all signs of aggression in your dogs.
Food
Even the best behaved dogs occasionally fight over food, and it’s a good idea to feed your dogs separately and not leave food laying around. Dogs who are otherwise not food aggressive may become aggressive if they are surprised or caught off guard. I’ve written an in depth guide on how to eliminate food aggression here.
Changes in Age
Many people mistakenly believe that dogs fight in an attempt to get “alpha” status, but the truth is that dogs living in human homes really don’t have standard canine hierarchies. For a further explanation of this, see here. However, as dogs age and new dogs are introduced, the relationships between dogs change. Puppies hitting dog puberty between the ages of 6 and 12 months are at high risk for starting fights, and dogs who are beginning to age or experience declining health are also likely to start fights.
Unaltered Dogs
When two or more dogs who are not spayed or neutered live together, fights are almost an inevitability. Please spay or neuter your dogs to eliminate this completely unnecessary risk. For more on the benefits of spaying or neutering your dog, see here.
Pain
Dogs who are in pain tend to be aggressive, even if they’re otherwise well-socialized. When your young puppy steps on your older dog’s toes, a fight could ensue, so make sure you monitor the health of older dogs and provide your dog with good pain management if she’s suffering from a health problem.
Behavior That’s Not Normal
Though fights between dogs who live together are commonplace, some fights can be cause for concern of a larger behavior problem that may get worse. Fights that cannot be easily broken up by two adults may indicate a deeper problem. Further, fights between dogs who know each other should not lead to injury. While a few cuts or scrapes might be normal, if a dog needs to go to the vet as a result of the fight, things are out of control. Dogs are normally very controlled with dogs they know and are unlikely to fight very violently. If the fights are getting out of control, there’s a deeper problem. Contact a qualified dog trainer here to prevent risk of serious injury to your dogs.
Sources:
American Association of Pet Dog Trainers
The Culture Clash
