Stop Dog Fights In a Multi-Dog Household

How to Stop Dogs from Fighting

Stopping dogs from fighting in a multi-dog household requires careful management, training, and a proactive approach to prevent conflicts. It is important to remember that dogs are animals and fights can occur. It is not uncommon for dogs to compete for resources and use violence as a means for conflict resolution. While it is something to take very serious, it is also important to learn from it and not take it personal. Witnessing your dogs fight is a very traumatizing ordeal and can leave you with a feeling of helplessness and anticipatory anxiety. As dog trainers, we have personally broken up fights, fixed packs stuck in conflict patterns, and provided evaluations for rescue dogs. Here are some essential tips to help you mitigate dog fights:

Gradual Introductions

When introducing a new dog to your existing pack, do it gradually and under controlled circumstances. Our protocol involves using a crate and not allowing direct contact for at least two weeks. Allow your dogs to get to know the smells and energy of your new family member through the crate in three, one hour shifts a day. When your new dog comes out of the crate he/she should be segregated from the pack. It should be placed in a puppy, or child's play pen in a separate location from other dogs. If it is a big dog then use a gated off area. Additional safety measures can be added such as using the play pen as a barrier for socializing after adequate time crate socializing. Young puppies should be crated separate, but can safely share the same play pen. When you are ready for direct socialization it is wise to use neutral territory, like a park or a friend's backyard, and introduce them on LOOSE leashes. Allow them to sniff each other and observe their body language for signs of tension or aggression. If any signs of aggression arise, separate the dogs and seek professional help from a dog behaviorist or trainer. Pack walks can be to prepare your dogs for the actual meet. We recommend having multiple friends present as walkers to keep everyone separate. Allowing dogs to meet from a distance and share neutral sniffing space is a great way to initiate pack bonding. This will also give the humans time to read the energy and map out the best course of action for follow-up steps.

Exercise

Make sure your dogs have adequate exercise and time to run, play, and roam. Dogs are built to roam for miles and sprint great distances. When they are full of pent up energy they become restless and agitated. Take them on pack walks and use proper training equipment to avoid conflict while traveling. This means walking with a solid formation and no harnesses that could potentially build up arousal or drive. Do not play fetch with dogs prone to resource guarding. Play with dogs separate, or teach them to wait their turn, throwing the ball for one at a time while the other holds a command.

Supervision

Supervise your dogs when they are together, especially during the initial introductory stages. Supervision ensures you can intervene quickly if any conflicts arise and prevents situations from escalating into a fight. Our personal dogs know each other very well and we still don't allow them together when they aren't supervised. It is always best to crate your dogs when you leave for any period of time. Any fights that may occur while you are away can easily become a pattern that takes a lot of effort and management to be broken, which is the best case scenario. Worst case scenario is fatality and/or permanent disfigurement, vet bills, etc. What kind be interesting is the influence of a pet parent in an interspecies pack. We have noticed some dogs will behave when the human is gone, while others become more competitive when the human in present. You must become an investigator and gather clues on to why your dogs are fighting. If they are fighting with you there, it's possible that the pack relationship is out of order and one is claiming you like a resource to protect. If they are fighting when you are away than it is likely there isn't enough structure and the dogs are defaulting to problem solving in their own way. While dominance as a personality type is a debatable topic in dog training, dogs in general are contextually competitive and will use whatever coping mechanisms they have learned to reduce stress or get what they want.

Feed Separately

Feeding time, in our opinion, is the most common time for a fight to occur. Dogs love to eat and when their arousal is high they have trouble thinking straight. When they get excited by food their brain tells them to go after calories by any means to preserve and sustain life. Mealtime training can be a great way to teach them to stay calm around food and learn that their parents will take care of them and competition isn't necessary. I must stress that these are behaviors that must to be taught. This is especially important with bully breeds and dogs with a more competitive personality. DON'T throw food on the ground when doing group training drills, keep them in a stationary command and hand it to them. You may need to feed your dogs in separate areas. The use of crates and gates can be good for creating distance between dogs during meals. This avoids competition over food and reduces the chances of aggression. Dogs can feel stressed when eating around each other, especially dogs that haven't experienced group feeding since they left their mother.

Separate Resources

Dogs can become possessive of toys, beds, or other resources, leading to conflicts. Provide separate toys, beds, and other resources to ensure that each dog has its own space and possessions. Using crates, especially with high value treats, is the best way to avoid doggy disasters. As time goes by they will learn to share and the value of new things will decline. Remember, all the new habits you want your dog to learn must be taught by you or another balanced dog.

Individual Attention

Spend quality one-on-one time with each of your dogs. This helps build a strong bond between you and the dog individually, reducing potential jealousy or competition between the dogs. While giving individual attention is crucial, it is only half of the equation. Dogs need to be shown everything you want from them in steps so that you can 'paint a picture' of the behaviors you require. Socializing with them one-on-one, in pairs, and as a group is important so they learn that you are their leader in every context.

Training and Socialization

We have clearly observed a correlation between dog fights and untrained dogs. Dogs that have not received any training tend to have a lower threshold for arousal, lack boundaries, and are missing commands to help control their movement. When you add in an untrained dog with an anti-social or a-social personality, you have a recipe for disaster. Proper training and socialization are vital for all dogs. Teach them basic obedience commands such as 'sit,' 'stay,' and 'leave it,' and reinforce positive behaviors. Then, practice these commands around distractions in varied environments. It's important to train in all the places you will frequent most with your pup. Additionally, socialize your dog with other well-behaved dogs in controlled environments, such as training classes or supervised playdates.

Identify Triggers

Pay attention to your dogs' body language and identify any triggers that may lead to aggression or fights. It could be resource guarding, territorial behavior, barrier aggression, fear, etc. Once you recognize these triggers, you can take proactive steps to manage and address them. I highly recommend utilizing YouTube as there are great videos that showcase canine body language and explain it in vivid detail.

Neuter/Spay

If your dogs are not neutered or spayed, consider having the procedure done. Hormonal changes can contribute to aggressive behavior, and neutering or spaying can help reduce these tendencies. A bonus is these procedures can reduce serious health issues in both male and female dogs. There are plenty of arguments for keeping your dogs intact as well, so I advise diligent research before making a decision.

Seek Professional Help

If you're having difficulty managing your dogs' behavior or if fights occur despite your efforts, consult a professional dog trainer or behaviorist. They can assess the situation, provide personalized guidance, and create a training plan to address the issues.

Be One With The Crate

Crate training dogs is so crucial and the fact that they are so underused drives us up the wall. I will go into greater detail on why they are important with a future post. The most important thing to know in this context is that they are vital for conflict resolution and avoiding fights in a multi-dog home. For those that have dogs stuck in conflict patterns, dogs that keep fighting, using crates will keep you from having to surrender one of your family members. Put them in their kennels and give them freedom and playtime in shifts. Only have dogs out together that are known to get along. Dogs are creatures that instinctually enjoy a good nest, nook, or burrow. Once you condition them to understand the crate is their new den, it will provide a place for them to feel safe and protected. It is easy for our furry companions to pull our heart strings, but it's our job as parents to understand what is best for the health and wellbeing of our pack. Most animals of the Canidae family use burrows for maternal dens, escaping heat, and retreating when sick or injured.

Remember, prevention is key to avoiding dog fights. By being proactive, providing proper training and supervision, and addressing any behavioral issues promptly, you can help create a harmonious environment for your dogs. Fights often occur when training lapses and structure breaks down. The few altercations I’ve had with my pack happened when I was too busy training my clients' dogs and wasn't maintaining pack structure. There is no room for laziness when owning a pack of dogs—protocols and safety measures are essential to ensuring long-term success. If something goes awry, try your best not to store fear from the event, but rather gain insight into what needs to be done to prevent it from happening again. Take your time reintroducing dogs that have fought. Keep them crated but in the same room; we don’t want them developing a frame of reference for isolation or seeing their pack mate as an adversary. Have a friend or spouse help with pack walks, and treat the dogs as if they were new to the group, allowing time for them to get acquainted.

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