It is no secret that we all want a dog that behaves as it should with others of its kind. The very idea of thinking that it could attack others makes us feel very nervous, and even worried if our furry has already tried it.
Therefore, If you are wondering what should I do if my dog tries to attack another dog, then we are going to explain this and much, much more so that you can know what measures you should take to avoid finding yourself in this situation.
Protect your safety
Many of the aggression problems between dogs can be solved if we take some time to think about what is best for our friend. And it is that if it has not been socialized correctly or if we know in advance that it does not know how to behave when it is with other dogs, it is important (in fact, it should be mandatory) to take measures before even taking it out on the street. What measurements are those? The following:
- Anticipating aggression: if we see that our dog or the one who is approaching us has raised ears, a half-open mouth and / or bristly hair, we will turn around and walk away.
- Put on a muzzle- This is especially necessary if the dog has already tried to attack another.
- Take out liability insurance for the dog: even if it is not a potentially dangerous breed, this insurance will be very useful in case of aggression.
- Vaccinate him: there are a series of vaccines that are mandatory, not only to keep your defense system strengthened and healthy, but also to avoid that, in case you bite or are bitten, you do not end up sick.
- Put on the microchip and an identification plate: in extreme stress situations the dog may try to run away. To avoid this, or to recover it as soon as possible, it is necessary to carry the microchip and an identification plate.
- Ask for help from a dog trainer who works positively: when we have no idea what to do, it is best to consult a professional.
Why are you trying to attack other dogs?
Now that we know how to protect him and others, let's see what are the possible causes that make him try to attack others:
- Stress: if the animal lives in a house where the environment is tense, or where due attention is not paid to it (games, daily walks, company), it is normal that when it is removed it has so much accumulated energy and so much tension that it reacts from a unexpected way.
- Lack of socialization: the puppy, from 2 to 3 months, goes through a period of socialization during which it must interact with other dogs and people. Thus, as an adult he will know how to behave. If it doesn't, it could attack other dogs.
- Gets on badly with him: sometimes it happens that he simply gets on badly with that particular dog and tries to drive him away by barking.
- Management: if the animal is sick or feels pain in any part of its body, it could be the case that it tries to attack others.
How to avoid a fight?
In addition to what we have said so far, we recommend doing the following:
- Stroll through quiet environments, where not many dogs go, and let the ground smell. In this way, you will be calmer and happier.
- Reward him every time he behaves well.
- In case of aggression, we will not overprotect or calm you; but we will take it and take it from there.
- We will not mistreat him. The use of force will only make things worse. Nor do we have to mark him or use punishment techniques that are not recommended by a trainer who works positively. Imitating what we see on television is not a good idea.
For more information, I recommend reading the book »Fearful dog. Understanding and Rehabilitating a Reactive Dog ”, by Ali Brown.
I hope it has been useful to you 🙂.