Dog to dog aggression is a complex canine behavioral problem, which requires an individual approach in each case. It can be the result of many and varied causes and can reveal at any time throughout your dog’s life. Dog aggression can be seen in all breeds of dogs, although some dog breeds have a predisposition to display it. But if the dog shows canine-aggression it doesn’t mean it will display it towards humans.

Factors influencing aggression

Genetic and hereditary factors play a major role in aggression. Protective breeds such as Dobermans and Rottweiler’s are supposed to be more aggressive than Labrador Retrievers and Golden Retrievers.

Environment – living conditions, lack of socialization, excessive punishment, being attacked or frightened by an aggressive dog, being isolated from human contact or being exposed to frequent teasing by children or even being spoiled by owners.

In most cases aggression towards other dogs can be the result of poor early socialization, a bad experience in the past or a dominance struggle.

General Thoughts About Dog To Dog Aggression

• All dog aggression problems are serious and require an individual approach.
• Don’t ever be mistaken that dog to dog aggression is normal and nothing can be done about it. Each time you let your dog get away with it you are actually rewarding and therefore reinforcing the unwanted behavior.
• Adding punishment or pain such as leash corrections or electronic shock collars to an already fired up and stressed dog is a very risky action to take.

Types Of Dog Aggression

These are the general categories of canine aggression:

• Territorial aggression
• Dominance aggression
• Predatory aggression
• Sexual aggression
• Protective (defensive) aggression
• Fear/nervous aggression

Dominant-aggressive dogs are characterized as confident, straight-forward and “on the muscle.” You can easily recognize whether they are going to display aggression or not in each moment. They are predicted. They stand tall, up on their toes, with their ears up and forward. They carry their tails high and wag it slowly and stiffly from side to side. Dominant-aggressive dogs are demanding attention (to go outside, excessive affection), they are possessive of their sleeping areas, and stop eating when approached. Many of these dogs will not obey commands (such as “down” or “wait”). Most dominant-aggressive dogs are males.

Defensive-aggressive dogs are much more discrepant in their behavior. They show submissive body language (ears back, often flat against the head, they avoid direct eye contact, lower the head and body, tuck tail between the legs). They resist handling, hate to have their feet touched, don’t like to be groomed, and often shy away from human hands. These are the fear-biters.

Is my dog aggressive?

If you suspect your dog is aggressive, check the following symptoms:

• Excessive barking;
• A tendency to snarl, growl, or snap to protect food;
• Over protectiveness of possessions;
• Fearfulness in new situations or around strangers;
• Severe attacks on other animals, such as cats;
• Attempts to mount people’s legs;
• Snapping and snarling when petted, groomed, or lifted;
• Frequent attempts to chase moving objects such as bicycles, skateboards, cars and trucks;
• Repeated escapes from home.

Preventing aggression

Puppies

The first rule for preventing problems is to choose the right breed and puppy for the right owner. For example, the Rottweiler or Akita won’t suit for a mild owner; the Dalmatian and the Flat-Coated Retriever do not fit calm, slow-moving lifestyles; the Shetland Sheepdog or the Chihuahua do not like tumultuous, rowdy children, etc…

Aggression prevention begins with early socialization. Puppies should be  treated gently, especially between three and four months of age. They should be hand-fed by children and adults and taught to take food without grabbing or lunging. They should not be allowed to chase children or joggers, jump on people, mount legs, or growl for any reason. They should never be part of rough, aggressive play such as hand-fighting, wrestling, or tug-of-war games and never be physically punished for aggressive behavior.

Once a dog has reached dominant status, punishment cannot be used to cope with its aggression.

Older dogs

Food rewards are good for training young puppies, but as dogs get older, they must receive praise for good behavior and mild discipline for bad behavior. Dogs have to earn everything they receive from their owners and not to receive excessive praise for doing nothing as it elevates the dog’s social status and sends him mixed signals.

And what is most important – prevention of aggression requires that the owner win each and every confrontation with the dog. If the dog wins a showdown by growling when you try to get him off the sofa or take his toy or approach his food bowl, he receives a ‘go’ signal for the next step in an attempted takeover.

Control aggression between house mates

Since every dog lives in a “pack” which consists of you, your family members and other dogs living in the house, dogs have to set up who is the leader of their pack. But willing to have obedient dogs, you must decide which dog holds top dog position. This is usually the dog that goes through doors first, blocks access to pathways, stairs, toys or people to the other dog. Only one dog can be the top dog.

Make it clear to all the dogs which one is the top by:

• Feeding her before the others (especially when giving treats)
• Greeting her first when you get home
• Making sure the other dogs give way to her when she chooses where she wants to sleep
• Playing with her before the others (but remember, don’t let her win – you must maintain your own superiority)

This will minimize the risk of aggression caused by the fight for superiority.

Control aggression to unfamiliar dogs (on leash aggression)

Dogs react to unfamiliar dogs for two reasons:

-          they are either afraid of the other dog or

-          they perceive, with or without cause, that the other dog represents a social or status threat.

Some dogs are not necessarily aggressive to the house mates, but they can’t help themselves towards neighborhood dogs. They also might display aggression to special   color, size or breed. There are  not always obvious signs when a dog intends to fight.

Getting your dog used to being around other dogs is a series of situations involving gradually reducing the distance between your dog and the others.

• Take your dog to parks where there are other dogs.  Stay far enough so that your dog sees the other dogs but is not triggered by them or doesn’t show signs as the ones described in the behaviors listed above. Slowly reduce the distance between your dog and the others rewarding relaxed behavior and willingness to pay attention to you rather than the dogs.
• Always be mindful that your dog is very sensitive to your energy, emotions, breathing and feelings. Therefore if you tense up and grab hold of the leash tightly at the first sign of an approaching dog, your dog will pick up on this and become anxious and stressed. Also tighten up the leash changes your dog’s body language (makes it stand upright and tall). This can be considered by the other dogs as a display of dominance.

You may:

• Distract your dog when she starts showing threatening behavior by dropping stones on the pathway. Teach your dog the obedience “look” (it can be called upon anytime you require your dog to focus on you and off something else. Another technique is to play the “find it” game. All you need to do is throw a treat on the ground and say “find it”. Your dog will pick this game up very quickly and is sure to love it.
• If your dog keeps on acting in a threatening way, use the head collar to move her head sideways, breaking her eye contact with the other dog.
• Reward good behavior as your dog improves. Praising her in a calm voice will put her at ease and confirm that she is doing what you want her to do.
• Once you feel that your dog can be relaxed while walking close to other dogs, you can begin the positive association process.

Creating positive association to meeting new dogs

• Arrange the meeting with another dog whose keeper doesn’t mind to help. The other dog has to be of a calm nature. The most suitable place can be the park with not many another dogs.
• Put your dog on an extending leash so that it can move around freely but you can take control if necessary. Fit her with her head collar. With these precautions you can assess your dog’s behavior when approaching another dog – is she aggressive or just excited?
• If the two dogs appear safe together, remove the head collar to allow them to sniff one another and play. Try to keep the leash slack. Try to remain relaxed yourself – your dog will be able to detect if you are anxious and increase her own anxiety.
• Get your dog used to interacting positively with new dogs by joining a training club or taking her on walks with other dog guardians.

The earlier you recognize and take proper action against the aggression the better. Dog to dog aggression is never acceptable and you have to work on it as soon as it’s revealed.

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