DOG TO DOG AGGRESSION

There are two forms of dog to dog aggression.  Dogs may specifically fight dogs that are unfamiliar to them, this is called Interspecific Aggression and dogs that will fight other dogs within the same household; we call this Intraspecific aggression.

INTERSPECIFIC AGGRESSION between unfamiliar dogs

Fights between unfamiliar dogs from different households are more common than those between familiar dogs in the same household.  Statistically, interspecific aggressive (between unfamiliar dogs) episodes are less injurious and involve mainly male dogs that are unfamiliar with each other. Although typically, the behaviours will consist of aggressive posturing and aggressive vocalizations. Just over three quarters of the dogs seen in our clinic for fighting with unfamiliar dogs fought in all encounters.

In cases of true interspecific aggression analysis of the behaviour will determine any underlying cause such as, fear, status or owner intervention, and rule out misinterpreted agitation and intention movements of an over exuberant dog restrained by the leash. A high number of incidents occur while the dog is on a lead. Many owners report that the dog is typically friendly if off the lead and able to interact more freely – however, this is not always the case and in some instances dogs seem to change from friendly to aggressive with little if no warning.

Dogs that attack other unfamiliar dogs may have different motivations. Clarification of the underlying factors is essential in order to determine the cause of such behaviour.

Differentials for this form of aggression may vary from fear aggression, territorial aggression, competitive aggression or learned behaviour specific training or inadvertent reinforcement. Please seek further advice from a Clinical Animal Behaviourist at WellBehave.

SOCIAL AGGRESSION: INTRASPECIFIC –(between familiar dogs in the same household)

Aggression between dogs within the same household is known as Social Aggression, Intraspecific Aggression or sibling rivalry.

This form of aggression is commonly seen in the household between one pair of dogs, even where other dogs are present. Therefore in a multi dog household a specific pair will regularly become aggressive.  The aggression is often triggered by the presence of the owner as owner attention is the resource over which dogs will compete. Fights occur for the following reasons:

 

• Younger dog reaches maturity
• Disease or age related changes do not allow dog to retain status
• Disease or pain increases irritability and/or decreases tolerance of other dog
• The dogs encounter triggers that result in general arousal and agitation
• Owners interfere when the dogs interact and attempt to change establish hierarchy therefore supporting the under-dog.
• Owners strive to treat all dogs equally in the family.

Physical features, including size, weight and breed do not necessarily influence or determine a stable social structure.  This theory is based on Resource Holding Potential (RHP). Problems are most common between two bitches and least common between a male dog and a bitch.

Differentials for this form of aggression may vary from Competitive Aggression to Reinforced (learned) aggression or it may have an underlying medical cause. For further advice please ask to speak to a Clinical Animal Behaviourist at WellBehave.