For dog owners, seeing your beloved pets fight can be heartbreaking. However, it is unfortunately very common for dogs in the same home to fight with each other. Understanding why they are fighting and knowing how to stop it can help you prevent future conflicts and keep your home as peaceful as possible.
Why Dogs Fight
Before you can work on stopping your two dogs from fighting, it is important to understand why they are engaging in this behavior in the first place. The most common cause of fighting between two dogs is resource guarding. Resource guarding is when a dog guards items such as food, toys and anything else they value. In addition to resource guarding, two dogs may fight if one of them feels threatened or attacked by the other.
Another reason for intrahousehold aggression is pain or not feeling good. If a dog is in pain, they may lash out and attack other dogs in the home. Additionally, if one of the dogs has an illness or some sort of medical condition that affects their behavior, it can increase their likelihood of engaging in aggressive behavior. Read more here on what to do when your dog shows aggression.
How To Stop Dogs from Fighting
The first step towards preventing any further fights between your pups is to rule out any medical conditions. Schedule an appointment with your vet and have them do a thorough check-up to ensure that your dogs are healthy.
Once you have ruled out any medical conditions, it is important to work on managing the environment in order to prevent any future conflicts. If you notice one of your dogs acting aggressively towards the other, separate them immediately and give each dog their own space. Do not attempt to break up the fight with your hands as this could result in injury for you. Instead use a blanket, water or a loud noise to disrupt the aggressive behavior.
It is also important to make sure that your dogs are getting plenty of exercise, so they can burn off excess energy and be better able to handle stressful situations. Taking them for regular walks, playing fetch or running with them can be a great way to do this.
Additionally, it’s important to provide plenty of stimulation through interactive games such as fetch or tug-of-war so that their minds stay active and engaged throughout the day.
Lastly, it is important to make sure that your dogs are being fed separately from each other and that they have their own toys, beds or any other items they might guard. This will help prevent any resource guarding behavior and eliminate one of the root causes of the fighting.
It’s also critical that you monitor their interactions closely at all times and intervene if there is any hint of tension between them—even if it’s just a subtle change in body language—to ensure that things don’t escalate into an actual altercation. Consistently rewarding good behavior with treats or verbal praise will help reinforce positive behaviors and discourage negative ones from occurring again in the future. Finally, professional training may be beneficial for teaching your pooches proper manners around each other so that everyone remains happy and safe at home!
No pet owner wants to see their beloved animals fight—but unfortunately it does happen sometimes between dogs living together under one roof. By understanding why your dogs are fighting and taking steps towards preventing future incidents such as providing adequate exercise, monitoring interactions closely, reinforcing positive behaviors with rewards, and enrolling in training classes, you can help reduce any conflict between your four-legged family members and make sure everyone remains safe at home! Want to learn more? Options for dogs with aggression
Are you worried your dogs will hurt each other? Book your appointments with our behavior consultant to stop the aggression in your home.