What could be more relaxing, at the end of a hard working day, than a long, healthy walk with our most trusted canine companion? Nothing, of course — as long as our dog doesn't cause us any trouble. But if we're walking a dog that can't tolerate the presence of other dogs, that relaxing stroll quickly turns into an hour of intense stress for both us and our pet. So what can we do if we have an aggressive dog around other dogs? Are there any do-it-yourself solutions?
Why does a dog become aggressive towards other dogs?
Let's try to understand together what happens to our dog when he meets another of his kind. Generally speaking, a dog should be able to walk past another dog without showing any signs of nervousness — but very often that's not the case. The moment another dog appears on the horizon, we can feel our dog's tension skyrocket. The closer the other animal gets, the more our dog's anxiety grows, until he finally lunges into attack.
There are several reasons why we might have a dog that is aggressive towards other dogs, to the point of attacking them. Each of these reasons is, in its own way, a genuine justification from our pet's perspective — yet it remains a serious problem that prevents us from walking our dog in peace. Let's look at a few of them.
The alpha dog
A dog will very often become aggressive towards another dog simply to assert his dominance. This is perfectly normal behaviour for our pets, even if it isn't easy for us to understand. Dogs are hierarchical animals, and in some way they feel the need to establish their superiority. If, when another dog approaches, our dog immediately stands tall — tail straight and stiff, ears pulled back, teeth bared — he is signalling that he is an alpha dog. The low growl he lets out is nothing more than a warning.
If the dog he encounters is not also an alpha, the problem won't escalate, because that dog will adopt a submissive posture, which will be enough to calm ours down. But if that's not the case, we'd find ourselves face to face with two dominant dogs ready to fight it out and establish who is stronger — and a scuffle would be all but inevitable. This kind of behaviour can also arise between two dogs living in the same household. So what can we do?
Dog aggressive with other dogs at home — what to do
If the two dogs live together, we can step in and establish the alpha ourselves. The alpha will almost certainly be the younger, more assertive dog, and we should treat him as such — giving him priority when filling the food bowls, when playing, and when giving affection. This absolutely does not mean neglecting the other dog; it simply means clarifying the hierarchy so the dogs don't have to sort it out between themselves.
If the encounter is a chance one, however, there isn't a great deal we can do, other than adopting a relaxed but firm attitude towards our dog. Our dog should respond to our commands — because no matter how hard he fights with other dogs to assert his dominance, he knows full well that the true alpha is his owner. So, before the other dog gets too close, we should give our dog a command and, if possible, break the staring match he's engaged in with the other animal.
Why does a dog bark at other dogs?
Sometimes, though, a dog becomes aggressive towards other dogs out of fear — most likely because he was attacked or bitten by another dog when he was young. Or it may be a fear passed on to him by his mother, if she herself was the victim of an attack. In this case, the dog will make his aggression very clear by raising his hackles and barking furiously in the direction of the other dog, keeping his body low and tense, ready to spring.
In this situation, the best thing we can do is change direction when we encounter another dog, and avoid making things worse by yanking the lead or keeping it pulled tight. Our dog might interpret this as a sign that we are frightened too, and launch an attack in an attempt to protect both himself and his owner. In cases like this, it's important to understand that, in a sense, a dog is like a person — and fears need to be faced calmly, following a structured path, ideally with the help of someone who knows more than we do.
Scolding a dog, or punishing him — and certainly never hitting him — when he shows aggression towards another dog is entirely the wrong approach. Our goal should be to teach our dog to go for walks without getting into fights; but we shouldn't necessarily expect him to have friendly relationships with other dogs. In these cases, indifference would already be a great achievement. To help our dog understand that we're pleased when he stays calm around another dog, we can start rewarding him before he shows any agitation, and give a firm "no" the moment he begins to get worked up.
Behavioural problems
A dog that shows aggression towards other dogs undoubtedly has a behavioural problem, which most likely stems from poor socialisation during puppyhood. Since the rule of "leave it to the experts" always applies, the best advice we can give you is to turn to a professional dog trainer — a qualified expert who will help re-educate your dog, but also guide you as an owner.
We should never forget that the vast majority of behavioural problems in dogs stem from a breakdown in communication between us and them — from misguided rules or negative messages we have inadvertently sent. We are almost certainly doing something wrong, and for everyone's wellbeing it's important to identify what that is as soon as possible. Trust only serious, qualified professionals, to avoid making matters worse, and keep their advice and guidance firmly in mind. After all, a walk with our dog cannot and should not be a source of stress and worry.
