Tips for Fostering a Peaceful Canine Relationship

Introducing two dogs and ensuring they get along can be challenging, but with patience and the right strategies, you can foster a positive bond between your pets. Whether you’re bringing a new dog into your home or managing tension between current pets, understanding canine behavior and communication is key. This article will guide you through the process of helping dogs get along, from proper introductions to long-term relationship management.

Why Dogs May Not Get Along?

Dogs may not get along for various reasons, including differences in temperament, age, or past experiences. Common reasons for conflict include:

Territorial behavior

Dogs are territorial animals, and introducing a new dog into the home can create feelings of insecurity or protectiveness over resources like food, toys, or sleeping areas.

Resource guarding

Some dogs may be protective of food, toys, or attention from their owners, leading to conflict.

Lack of socialization

Dogs that haven’t been exposed to other dogs early in life may struggle with social cues or feel anxious around unfamiliar animals.

Also Read: How To Train Your Dog

Low self-esteem or condescending personality

Some dogs may be reluctant to socialize with other dogs because of low self-esteem or a high-strung personality. 

Physical discomfort or health problems

Dogs may become withdrawn and reluctant to interact with other dogs or people when they are unwell.

Hormonal Effects

Unneutered dogs may exhibit more aggressive and territorial behavior during sexual maturity due to hormonal changes.

Negative past experiences

Dogs that have experienced being attacked or bullied by other dogs may become fearful or hostile toward other dogs. 

Understanding these causes will help owners take appropriate steps to improve their dogs' relationships with each other, such as through gradual socialization training, ensuring fair distribution of resources, and seeking professional behavioral counseling when necessary.

How to Help Your Dog Overcome Its Territorial Sense to Promote Friendliness with Other Dogs?

In order to help dogs overcome their sense of territoriality to promote friendliness with other dogs, the following measures can be taken.

• Socialization Training

Expose your dog to different people and animals from an early age, and help them build trust and a sense of friendliness by interacting with other dogs and humans in places like parks and pet stores. 

• Basic Command Training

By training your dog to obey basic commands such as “sit”, “wait”, “come”, etc., you can establish a leadership position and reduce excessive territoriality. 

• Provide enough exercise and stimulation

Ensuring that your dog has enough exercise and stimulation to burn off energy will help reduce territorial behavior due to excess energy. 

• Avoid overprotection

Don't overprotect your dog so that they can learn to face challenges and difficulties and gain self-confidence and independence. 

• Use the right training methods

Use positive training methods such as rewards and praise to encourage correct behavior and avoid using punishment and violence. 

• Gradual Exposure

Gradually acclimatize your dog to new environments and people, starting with low-stress situations and gradually increasing the challenges. 

• Professional Guidance

If your dog has serious problems with territorial awareness, seek the help of a professional dog trainer or behaviorist to develop a personalized training plan. 

Through these methods, dogs can gradually overcome excessive territorial awareness and learn to live peacefully with other dogs.

Related: Tips for House Training Puppy: A Helpful Aid for You

How to Tell if a Dog is Fighting Because of Play or True Aggressive Behavior?

Distinguishing whether a dog fight is due to play or true aggression can be determined by observing the following aspects.

Body Posture

A dog's body is usually loose during play and the tail may wag, whereas in true aggressive behavior, the dog's body will become rigid and the tail may be up or clenched.

Ears and Hair

Ears may be natural or slightly tilted back with a smooth coat during play, whereas during aggression the dog may have “airplane ears” (ears pressed back against the head) and the hair on the back may stand up.

Eye contact

Dogs may make eye contact with each other during play, but usually not a sustained gaze; during aggression there may be a prolonged gaze and the eyes may be hostile.

Sounds

Barking during play is usually high pitched and intermittent, while barking during aggression may be lower pitched, more continuous and intense.

Bite strength

During play, a dog's bite is lighter and does not really hurt the opponent; during aggression a dog may bite harder and even cause bleeding wounds.

Behavioral Patterns

During play the dog may take turns being dominant, while during an attack the dog may continuously try to overpower or injure the opponent.

By combining these observed behavioral traits, you can more accurately determine whether a dog's interaction is friendly play or potential aggression and take timely and appropriate intervention. 

What Should I Do When My Dog Shows Fighting Behavior?

When a dog exhibits fighting behavior, the following steps should be taken immediately to deal with it.

• Keep a safe distance

First ensure the safety of yourself and others present by avoiding using your hands directly to separate fighting dogs as this may result in you being bitten.

• Use sound or water

You can distract your dog by shouting or using a spray of water to break up the fight.

• Use obstacles

If possible, use cardboard, plywood, or other items to separate the dogs and prevent them from continuing contact.

• Use a leash

If your dog is on a leash, you can quickly pull the leash tight to separate the dogs.

• Cover your dog's head

Using a blanket or piece of clothing to gently cover your dog's head can sometimes motivate them to unclench their mouth.

• Avoid Punishment

Don't punish your dog after a fight; this may increase their nervousness and aggression.

• Handling After Separation

After separating the dogs, they should be placed in separate rooms or areas to allow them to calm down.

• Assessing the situation

After calming down, assess the reason why the dogs are fighting and whether it is due to resource competition, territoriality or other socialization issues.

• Seek Professional Help

If your dog is fighting frequently, you should consult a professional animal behaviorist for more specialized guidance and training.

Remember to handle dog fights quickly and decisively while remaining calm to avoid further deterioration of the situation.

How to Prevent Fights Between Dogs

Preventing fights is all about managing the environment and ensuring both dogs feel safe and secure. Here are some tips to avoid conflicts:

Feed the dogs separately

Dogs are more likely to be protective of food, so give them separate feeding areas to prevent food-related aggression.

Avoid high-value toys initially

Some dogs may guard their favorite toys, so it’s best to introduce toys slowly and under supervision.

Watch for resource guarding

If one dog becomes possessive over toys, beds, or attention, calmly redirect their focus to prevent tension.

Provide plenty of exercise and stimulation

 Ensuring both dogs have outlets for their energy can prevent boredom-related conflicts.

How to Treat Dog's Wounds After a Fight?

When your dog is injured after a fight, you should immediately follow the steps below to treat the wound.

• Calm the dog's emotions

First of all, calm down the injured dog to prevent it from hurting itself further due to pain or nervousness.

• Put on an Elizabethan collar

To prevent your dog from licking the wound, put on an Elizabethan collar.

• Clean the wound

Use warm water and mild soap to gently wash the skin around the wound, then rinse the wound with saline to remove dirt and bacteria.

• Sterilize the wound

You can disinfect the wound by gently rubbing it with iodine or hydrogen peroxide, but be careful to avoid using overly harsh disinfectants.

• Stop bleeding

If the wound is bleeding, use clean gauze or cotton balls to apply pressure to stop the bleeding.

• Dress the wound

After stopping the bleeding, you can sprinkle a pet-specific wound healing product such as Petspeed on the wound and then bandage it with sterile gauze to keep it dry and clean.

• Observe Wound Recovery

Over the next few days, closely observe the recovery of the wound and watch for signs of infection such as redness, swelling, fever or discharge.

• Seek prompt medical attention

If the wound is deep or bleeding profusely, or if you are concerned that the wound may have become infected, take your dog to a veterinary clinic immediately.

When treating the wound, make sure your hands have been thoroughly cleaned and that you are wearing appropriate gloves to avoid cross-infection. Also, ensure that you operate in an environment where the wound is cleaned and disinfected to minimize the risk of infection. 

When to Seek Professional Help for Dog Conflicts

If the dogs are not getting along after multiple attempts, or if there are frequent fights or aggressive behavior, it may be time to consult a professional dog trainer or behaviorist. A professional can assess the situation and help create a customized plan to resolve conflicts.

Some warning signs that you need professional help include:

• Frequent fights that result in injury or fear.
• Severe aggression such as snapping, lunging, or growling.
• Fearful behavior where one or both dogs seem stressed or anxious around each other.

FAQs

Conclusion 

Helping dogs get along requires careful planning, patience, and understanding of canine behavior. By introducing dogs gradually, managing their environment, and reinforcing positive interactions, you can foster a peaceful relationship between your pets. Remember, every dog is unique, so it’s essential to move at their pace and provide the support they need to build a strong bond.