HOW TO STOP YOUR DOGS FROM FIGHTING WITH EACH OTHER
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| On a Trail Walk with Part of My Own Dog Pack |
To stop your dogs from fighting many elements need to be addressed…
Dog fights between dogs living in the same family happen for various reasons. The dogs may have been living together for a while when suddenly one day a fight breaks out. The dog’s people may be caught totally off-guard and have no idea what sparked the fight. Or you may have recently adopted a new dog as a companion for your existing dog. What ever the case, sometimes fights do occur.
It is very important to understand how to intercede and resolve such conflict early on, as failure to do so can result in development of repeated stressful behavior, and can quickly escalate to psychological and/or physical harm…to the dogs and yourself.
Usually, with proper leadership the dogs can learn to co-exist in peace and harmony. As leader to your dogs, it is your job to coach and mentor your dogs so that they learn how to get along in a socially acceptable manner with each other.
If you have no prior experience with this sort of behavior and suddenly find yourself in the midst of a dog fight it can be a very stressful experience. When we add our stress to the situation – fights can become even more intense. Stress creates stress.
FIRST LET ME SHOW YOU HOW ONE DOG FIGHT CAN TURN INTO A PATTERN OF REPEATED BEHAVIOR…this will help you to understand what you should not do!
The first time the dogs engage in bickering you are caught off-guard. You may find yourself shocked, upset and anxious. You may have split the dogs apart and even put them in separate rooms/spaces.
Caught off-guard, and upset you are in an excited-reactive state. The dogs were in an excited reactive state. As the dogs look to you for direction your unintended reaction (fear, anxiousness, anger) reinforced the dogs state. It tells them my human feels the same way I do so I am justified in feeling that I should be excited, aggressive reactive. You led by example – the wrong example. Not your fault – it is natural for people to do react in this way. But, it is important, moving in to the future to learn to be self-aware and self-disciplined in order to have the ability to shut down the situation as opposed to feeding the situation.
If the dogs were separated by being placed in separate rooms while they were still in fight mode – they will likely engage in another fight in the future. Why, because they left the situation still in fight mode – this has taught them that fight mode is normal and acceptable…you have not presented them with an alternate method of coping with the situation.
If instead the dogs are coached to calm down in each the presence of each other and then allowed to remain together they leave the fight mode understanding that good social behavior is expected and is the norm. They have been presented with an alternate method of coping.
At this point the dogs have acquired psychological trauma to one degree or another and so have you. Dogs are extremely sensitive they read our body language and are one of the few animals that look at the left side of our face to read us. Dogs are also one of the few animals that have a very similar musculature facial structure to humans. When you anticipate a fight, when you are nervous or uncomfortable the split second that thought is in your mind your dogs know, becasue dogs are such acute, sensitive and aware communicators – much more so than the untrained human.
In addition, if your dog happens to have Heightened Sensitivity (HS), your dog will excel at reading your thoughts and your real emotional state even more quickly and adeptly than a dog that is not an HS dog.While HS is an asset when understood, it can lead to more stress and anxiety if proper understanding and direction are not available to the dog(s).
I am going to provide you with a series of links to additional articles a little further below. Read the articles to understand more about how your emotional state effects your dog’s behavior. These concepts are pivotal in understanding how you, the human create unwanted behavior in your dog and conversely how you can learn to create good behavior.
The basis for change must start with you. If you want your dogs to have self control and self discipline you have to start by having self control and self discipline yourself. If you do not apply yourself with 100% dedicated, focused effort and if you are not 100% honest with yourself you will not be successful in achieving a positive outcome. If you cannot change your habits, your dog will have no choice but to continue to behave as he/she is currently doing. Change will not be instantaneous – you have to invest time and honest effort.
If you skimp on reading these articles , if you do not take the time to calmly sit-back and absorb what is being said in the articles, then analyze where you have gaps in your current skill set and start working on improving your understanding and skills.
- Dogs are excellent communicators – much better than an untrained present-day human;
- And for the most part dogs do exactly as their human tells them to do;
- The problem is that most people are not aware or disciplined communicators, and as a result do not understand what they are truly communicating;
- The implication of this is that it is the human who must be trained;
- The dog simply needs to be effectively communicated to;
- Self-awareness and self-control, self-discipline must come from the human first and only then can such control be expected of the dog;
- Too many people blame their dog, when in-fact it is the human that has created the seed of the behavior, then enables and maintains the overall environment (physical, mental) that perpetuates the situation;
- Want your dog to be better behaved? You have to learn to be better behaved first – this is an example of the importance of following true and pure logic – dogs love logic much and hypocrisy not at all;
- Dogs have more patience than most present-day humans;
- Patience is not just waiting polity for something you want;
- Patience is also having the great will, determination and persistence to adhere to something you want, need or think you require, think you need.
- It is not your dog that is bad;
- It is that you misunderstand and misdirect your dog, and;
- Then blame your dog for your lack of understanding;
- Leaving your dog no choice but to continue on with its current behavior.
Treats do not correct imbedded, intense behavior nor does forceful dominance – employing intelligence which matches a dog’s intelligence corrects behavior. Dogs are much more intelligent than most people realize and until one understands that concept you will struggle to correct unwanted behavior. Read the following articles to get started on the real path to change...
Hyper Active Dog, Anxious Dog – Heightened Sensitivity
My highly sensitive very dear, sweet Boxer x Pit Bull boy Robbie - who wasn’t so sweet when he arrived in my pack, he was a badly misunderstood dog and an abused dog… All dogs are intelligent, sensitive beings, but some dogs have an even more acute sensitivity and intelligence – these dogs are what I call ‘Heightened Sensitivity’ Dogs ... Read More »Stress, Anxiety, Aggression in Dogs – Signs, Symptoms, Treatment
Typical Causes of Stress, Anxiety, Depression, Aggression in Dogs; Typical Signs of Stress in Dogs; Long-Term Stress is a Health Threatening Condition The Use of Conventional Chemical-Based Drugs to Control Stress Other Products that Claim to Solve Stress and Anxiety Diet Can Create and/or Exacerbate Stress or Help ... Read More » Be Consistent, What Does Consistency Really Mean?
‘Be Consistent’, does this dog training tip sound familiar? Do you think you know what is meant by ‘be consistent’? You might be surprised by the answer… One of the most common directions given to dog owners by dog trainers is ‘be consistent’. But what does ‘be consistent’ and consistency really mean? Is ‘consistent’ defined as: 1) ‘Do the same thing ... Read More »
Patience 101- Canines and Humans
In my experience changing a dog’s unhealthy habits can be accomplished with more ease than changing a human’s unhealthy habits. Why? Is it because the dog is less intelligent than the human? In my estimation it is not that the dog is less intelligent. A dog is generally more observant and therefore a more insightful communicator than an ‘untrained human’. ... Read More »
Communication 101 – Canines and Humans
Dogs are very insightful communicators - much more so than the average human. Because dogs can sense and discern to a degree that exceeds that of an untrained human, it does not matter what you say as much as what you feel. How you feel at any one given moment instantaneously transmits itself to: Your body in the form of ... Read More »
Dog Psychology 101 – The Real Thing
Being Consciously Aware is Essential I see and hear the term ‘dog psychology’ used everywhere – on dog trainers’ and behaviorists’ websites, on the professional group discussion boards I participate in. The word ‘psychology’ has become a trap, a catch-all, a regurgitation of misconceptions. Thought Streaming on Auto Pilot Most of us move through our typical day surrounded and consequently ... Read More »
Factors That Influence Dog Behaviour
Behavior – ‘good’ and ‘bad’ is created, enabled, influenced and maintained by a series of interconnected elements including but not limited to… Inherited traits and Acquired traits that define the individual as a unique being these can be subtle variations or obvious variations between individuals Environmental influences (animate, inanimate) past, present and anticipation of future societal beliefs regarding the canine ... Read More »
Dog Training – Remember to Employ Comparative Logic
To understand the potential negative impacts of a training approach all one has to do is put that approach into human terms. By that I mean what would happen if you adopted the approach with another human? Well let’s take a look at a few examples… If You Choose the Alpha Approach You Will: Trigger a fight with the person ... Read More »