Have you ever witnessed a dog fight among your own dogs? It’s a very scary sight. Once it’s happened, there’s always the likelihood of a recurrence.
In a multiple dog household it’s important to be aware of what could be the triggers and try to avoid or eliminate them. But in the event of one dog taking offence at another’s perceived confrontational behaviour it’s imperative to be immediately proactive in taking steps to prevent an escalation. Repercussions from a major fight could result in devastating consequences.
What are the obvious triggers? Same sex siblings – I always warn prospective owners that adopting two same sex siblings is generally not a good idea. There’s anecdotal evidence that this can only lead to strife.Yes, there are also numerous narratives of two male or female siblings living happily together. But the horror stories do exist.
Male siblings can sometimes live comfortably together even after a flare-up. But steps must be taken to reduce the antagonism, and generally expert help is required to manage this.
However, if female siblings have a falling out, there’s no going back. According to a vet friend of mine, they will fight to the death or at least attempt to mortally wound each other. Fortunately, I’ve not witnessed such a tragedy but have certainly been close to one such case where one litter sister had to be euthanised due to the enormous damage inflicted on her. Personally, despite realising that this is what could happen, I would find it very hard to feel the same way about the surviving dog in those circumstances.
Obviously food can be a catalyst. It makes perfect sense. After all, food is survival in the wild. Animals will attack another species or different similar groupings when the reward is being able to feast on a dead animal. So, even in a domestic situation, a bone or scrap of food may spark a negative reaction. And if the one in possession of the titbit stands up to the antagonist, that can lead to serious contention. And from then on, there is a heightened prickliness around any food item.
A toy can also be a trigger in the home setting. Two dogs may be playing away happily until one suddenly decides that the toy ‘belongs’ to them and mayhem ensues. Or if one dog is playing alone with his toy and the other dog jealously takes it off him. If the first dog acquiesces, there’s no harm done. It’s what happens in the pecking order. But, once again, should the first dog defend his possession, then again, a dog fight could ensue.
Jealousy is a huge motivator for dog fights. Owners have to be meticulous in how they mete out attention to each member of their pack. As a human, it’s vital to be firm from the outset, firstly in how attention is apportioned but also to halt any bullying before it escalates into something much worse.
I’m a firm believer in the adage: ‘Two’s company; three’s a crowd’ when it comes to dogs. When it’s a threesome of one male to two females, the latter tend to vie for his attention and can become extremely jealous of each other. And if they begin to confront each other, it’s not uncommon for the male dog to jump in too!
When it’s two males with one female, then the situation can be exacerbated further due to the reproductive hormones getting in the way. It’s a doubly dangerous situation if one or both males are intact as they will be extremely confrontational if the female has not been spayed. Once she begins to come into season, those two male dogs – previously good buddies – turn into deadly enemies. Witnessing this sort of assault makes it difficult to remember that this reaction is based purely on the desire to procreate.
When you have a number of dogs in one family, it’s obviously important to feed them separately at mealtimes. Simply put, some dogs eat slowly, some fast. Once one dog has finished, he may be inclined to bully the other dog off his rations. Firstly, it means one dog gets overfed, while the other dog is deprived. And again, if the dog that eats more slowly defends his right to finish, you’re looking at an escalation in antagonism.
It’s always important to give direction whether you have a one or a multiple dog home. By leading gently but firmly, you can take the heat out of most situations before they deteriorate. I’m all for allowing each dog to find its level in a pack dynamic but giving overall guidance from the very beginning is vital. It means that timely intervention into increasing hostility can save the day.
If you’re planning on having a pack in your home, it might be a good idea to get expert advice in order to avoid these obvious pitfalls.