I was recently asked for information on how to stop a dog fight in the house when a newly adopted dog isn’t getting along with a resident dog. And when I couldn’t find the information that I was looking for online, I wanted to create a podcast about this topic to help anyone in this situation.
And I’ll tell you my Dog Mom Confession: I once had a dog fight in my house and I still have a little PTSD about it.
Today I’m bringing together Dianna and Nikki, 2 skilled professional dog trainers, and Nichol, an experienced foster mom who’s had 50+ dogs through her home while raising her [human] child. These knowledgeable Dog Moms have all experienced dog fight situations in their homes and have developed smart strategies to successfully manage their multi-dog households.
Not only do we discuss how to stop a dog fight safely for everyone involved, but we also want to help you handle your dogs – and your emotions – successfully and confidently afterwards. Our goals is to arm you with the knowledge to stop this from ever happening again – and help prevent these situations from happening in the first place.
Trigger Warning: This can be an emotional topic to hear discussed. Please note that some of the methods mentioned for stopping a dog fight in your home are only to be used in extreme situations where the life of a dog is in danger.
In Part 1, Erin, Dianna, Nikki & Nichol discuss:
How to safely stop a dog fight in your house;
The most common situations that lead to a dog fight;
Why it’s unfair to expect dogs to work out disputes between themselves;
Learning your dog’s body language. How dog fights don’t just happen out of nowhere and the sometimes subtle ways your dog is telling you that they’re stressed out;
The best ways to set your dog and your family up for success;
How to choose and work with a dog trainer – both before and after a dog fight situation happens;
What to do in your home after a dog fight happens;
What is Crate & Rotate?
How to safely manage your home when you have dogs who don’t get along;
Is it ever ok to re-home your dog?
Is dog-dog aggression the same dog-human aggression?
Links Discussed:
LISTEN: Hear Dianna’s story on Episode 13 of the Believe in Dog Podcast
BOOK: Turid Rugaas’s On Talking Terms with Dogs: Calming Signals
BOOK: Lili Chin’s Doggie Language: A Dog Lover’s Guide to Understanding Your Best Friend
Do’s & Don’ts of Safely Stopping a Dog Fight in Your Home
DON’T panic!
DON’T use your hands to get in between the dogs
DON’T try to pull the dogs apart
DO try to get leashes on one of both dogs, if possible
DO keep leashes, slip leads and dog crates in multiple locations in your home
DO use a baby gate or large item to get in between the dogs - then push one of the dogs outside, into a crate or into a room where a door can be shut to create separation
Other methods you can try to create a distraction - only try these if you can keep yourself - and everyone around you - safe in the process:
Throw a blanket over one or both dogs (separate blankets for each dog)
Throw cold water on the dogs to startle them
Lift the hind legs of one dog (or both dogs if you have 2 people) off the ground so they will lose their leverage
