Inter-dog Aggression At Home: Why It Happens And How To Help.
- Dr Suné Olivier, BVSc
- Feb 25
- 2 min read
Most of our clients have multi-pet households, and most people can vouch for the positive impact this can have on both the people and the pets - dogs are social creatures, after all. However, occasionally there may be conflict between dogs in a household.
It is impossible to address a complex topic like dog aggression in a single post, but hopefully we can help you gain some insights into why it can happen in an otherwise peaceful household.
1) Communicaton Breakdowns Can Lead To Inter-Dog Aggression
Dogs rely on body language to communicate their feelings and intentions. Medical conditions like blindness and deafness can alter the perception of body language cues, while other conditions can alter the dog's ability to produce these cues: Think about how arthritis can make it difficult for a dog to lift their tail or stiffen their body, or how certain dog breeds do not have visible tails at all. When dogs can not communicate their feelings, it can lead to misunderstandings that can lead to conflict.
2) New stressors
"What could my pet possibly be stressed about?" It is important to understand that any change can be stressful for a pet: Moving house, a new baby, a new pet, a visitor for the weekend, renovations... A buildup of stress can deplete a pet's emotional resources and lead to conflict.
3) "The end of their rope"
Pets are able to cope with a wide variety of situations, but sometimes they can reach the end of their tether. Each pet has a different level of emotional resilience. Dogs learn coping skills from the time they are puppies (which is why socialization is so important). They learn how to cope with sharing resources (cuddles with mom, toys, food, space on the bed...) and learn to tolerate situations that require patience (dad taking his time putting on his shoes for a walk, not chasing the cat because mom doesn't like it, waiting my turn for cuddles...). However, just like with people, there may come a point where a pet reaches the limits of their emotional resilience, which may manifest in an aggressive response.
We highly recommend seeking the help of a veterinarian or a behaviourist (usually both) if you are struggling with inter-dog aggression in the home. A professional will help to identify the underlying cause of the aggression and develop a comprehensive treatment plan to help restore the peace.
Some good behaviour services in our area are:
Pets at Play (Qualified Veterinary Behaviourist)
It is always important to rule out medical conditions as a cause for aggressive behaviour. An appointment with one of our friendly veterinarians is a good first step.
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