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How To Stop Dogs From Fighting in the Same Household

Owning a house full of dogs is every dog lover’s dream. These loving, playful, and energetic creatures make life fulfilling and fun.

But when you have more than one dog at home, you run the risk of conflict between them and potentially escalating to dangerous levels. Fights between two or more dogs can occur for seemingly no reason at all, but the truth is that quarrels can be triggered for many reasons.

As a dog owner, it is natural for you to want your pets to live in peace. If you wish to put an end to these fights and play peacemaker, you need to understand why they occur.

Read on for a deep dive into the reasons behind these fights and how to stop dogs from fighting in the same household.

Why Do Dogs Fight With Their Housemates?

Dogs fight with each other for many reasons, most of which arise from their instincts.

Even dogs that have lived with each other for a long time may suddenly begin to quarrel seemingly out of the blue.

Here are the top 11 reasons for dogs fighting with their housemates:

1. Territorial Nature

Some dog breeds are territorial in nature and do not like other dogs and animals invading their space. If another dog gets too close for its comfort, the response will be to attack it to protect its territory.

2. Maintaining the Hierarchy

Natural canine instincts are prevalent even in domesticated, well-socialized dogs. They have specific hierarchies in terms of perceived power and strength.

If this hierarchy is disturbed by a new puppy or a new adult dog, their first reaction will be to attack it to show it who’s the boss.

3. Guarding Belongings or Resources

Dogs may attack each other to prevent others from getting access to their food, treats, or toys. This kind of behavior stems from a dog’s territorial instincts. If one dog invades the space of another dog enjoying its food or toy, it can lead to a fierce fight.

4. Guarding the Owner

If you bring home a new dog, the ones that have been there for longer may not trust it at first.

So if the new dog goes to you for cuddles or mealtime, your other dogs may attack it because they think you need to be protected.

5. Changes to Their Routine

Stressors such as major changes in the household or a dog’s routine can make it more aggressive and prone to fights.

For example, if a family member moves out, your dogs have to deal with reduced human interaction. This can lead to fights to vent their anger, frustration, or separation anxiety.

6. Changes in a Dog’s Age or Health

When a pup grows older and more agile, it may attack an older dog to prove that it is the new alpha male. It may also attack another dog to shift the existing pattern of resource division.

If the older dog backs down and gives up its current position, the fights may end. But if not, the battles will continue until one of them relents.

Additionally, if one dog falls sick, the other dogs may take advantage and attack it. A sick dog may also behave more aggressively and attack others due to pain or irritability.

7. Poor Socialization

If a dog has not been well-socialized, it may be unable to interpret other dogs’ physical cues—playful gestures may be misinterpreted as aggressive and vice versa, leading to fights.

8. Rough Play

Fights may also occur while dogs play. The game may get too rough and escalate into attacks and aggression.

9. Overstimulation

When a dog becomes overly excited, aroused, or overstimulated, it may attack other dogs to expend energy. This can happen when dogs are confined in enclosed spaces or when guests enter the home.

10. Dislike

A dog may attack another out of plain dislike or aversion. If the aggressive dog does not like the other dog’s behavior, personality, or smell, it may become hostile to express its negative feelings.

11. Stress or Anxiety

If a dog is experiencing stress or anxiety, it may develop aggressive tendencies and attack other dogs.

Dogs that are sensitive to noises tend to become anxious and aggressive when they hear the sound of a doorbell, vehicle horn, thunder, fireworks, and so on.

Pets that have been recently separated from their owner may also suffer from separation anxiety, which can cause aggression.

Can Dogs’ Aggression Be Treated?

Yes, dogs’ aggression can be treated at home through simple solutions adopted by the owner.

But if your dog is overly aggressive and you have no hope of controlling it, it’s best to opt for professional help to treat the dog’s behavioral issues.

How To Get Your Dog To Get Along With Housemate Dog

There are many ways you can get your dogs to get along with each other.

Here are a few solutions you can try to stop a fight and maintain peace among your canine companions:

1. Stay Calm

However you plan to break up a fight, the first thing you need to do is stay calm.

Take a breath and then dive into the problem at hand. Don’t scream at the dogs or people around you, as loud noises can make your dogs more anxious.

2. Keep the Area Clear

If your dogs get into a fight, clear the scene as much as you can.

Ensure your children and other family members stay away, and only you and the veterinary behaviorist (if you have hired one) are present in the room. 

3. Make Some Noise

Jarring noises usually help break up less intense fights. If your dogs begin fighting with each other, use an air horn or car horn to distract them and stop their fight.

4. Spray Down the Dogs

If you have a garden hose, spray water at the aggressive dogs’ heads. Aim mainly for their eyes and nose. You can also use a citronella spray or vinegar spray to distract your dogs from their fight.

Spraying down dogs can usually break up minor fights. Unfortunately, bigger fights will need another solution from this list.

5. Throw a Blanket on the Dogs

This is another way to divert your dogs' attention and get them to stop fighting. If they can’t see each other, they are less likely to continue.

6. Use the Wheelbarrow Method

As a last resort, bring in another person and use the wheelbarrow method to break up an intense fight between dogs.

You will have to lift the dogs by their rear legs and pull them apart.

This method can be incredibly dangerous as the dogs can turn on you and cause injury.

7. Feed Dogs Separately

If your dogs usually fight over food, feed them separately so that they do not attack each other during meals. When you dole out treats, do it equitably, or when the other is not in the room.

8. Don’t Leave the Dogs Together on Their Own

If your dogs tend to get aggressive in each other’s presence, keep them in separate rooms as much as possible.

This method is also effective if you have just brought home a new dog. Until you are sure that your dogs won’t fight, it’s best to keep them away from each other.

9. Managing the Dogs’ Surroundings

If your dogs tend to fight due to overstimulation or stress, reduce their exposure to triggers.

If they usually fight after looking out the window, shut the windows when they are around. If loud noises stress them out, use a white noise machine to maintain a calm environment.

If your dogs fight to protect their possessions such as toys, give them their designated play areas and keep the other away as much as you can.

10. Restrict Rough Play

If you see your dogs taking their play a little too far, get them to stop before it escalates into a fight. You can take them out for a walk before playtime to reduce overstimulation and rough play.

Do You Need Professional Help With an Aggressive Dog?

If your dog’s aggression reaches dangerous levels that you cannot mitigate, you may need to contact a veterinary or animal behaviorist.

A veterinary behavioral professional will help you diagnose the cause of the aggression, determine a prognosis, and then suggest the right course of treatment for the aggressive dog.

The veterinary behaviorist will help you alter your dog’s exposure to the trigger and change its response.

If your dog’s aggressive behavior stems from fear, anxiety, or sickness, the behaviorist will also provide medication to treat these issues.

Conclusion

With this handy guide, you now know how to stop dogs from fighting in the same household.

Use these tips and solutions to get your furry friends to stop fighting and live happily with each other.