The Growing Problem of Dog to Dog Aggression

Particular to our environment in the Wood River Valley, we have access to so much public land with hiking trails that never end our thirst for getting back to nature.  That thirst is unmatched except in our desire to take our dogs with us.

While the endless trails give us a sense of relaxation and exhilaration all at the same time, we want the same for our dogs.  In joyful exuberance, our dogs take to the trails with us. 

But, more and more frequently, those moments of thrill are diminishing when we come face to face with other people or other dogs and either our dog or someone else’s dog charges up to another in confrontation.  

More and more my work has to do with dog to dog aggression or inappropriate greetings.  I must ponder, why?  Our dogs are more “socialized” than ever.  There are endless opportunities for our puppies to be in play groups or have play dates with other dogs.  As they grow older, suddenly, the excitement to see other dogs becomes aggressive displays of growling, hackling, stiff postures, charging and lunging, lip licking and sometimes even hiding behind their owner. While we have done our best to socialize, even the older dog whose history we don’t know, our dogs become more uncomfortable in these forced interactions with others.

As I have pondered this, I watch myself and friends in large gatherings and see clearly, that some people just don’t like parties.  They are quiet individuals that like solitude or even feel threatened by inquisitions they get from new people into their private lives.

Dogs are much the same way. Some are simply more social than others.  Research is showing that in dogs temperament is genetic.  That means some dogs come predisposed to being fearful or even aggressive.  If we go all the way back to the beginning of domestication, wolves that were more outgoing and approachable to humans were the animals that we allowed and encouraged to closer to us because we humans adored the companionship. But, in the wolf pack, their nature is to remain in their pack. One pack does not go to another pack and have a party.  In fact, it is quite the opposite.  Packs will strictly defend their territory.

While our domesticated dogs are no longer wolves, they still carry many of the same traits.  Some individuals maintain more than others. Some breeds maintain wolf behaviors more than others.  And please, understand that when I say wolf behaviors, I am not just referring to aggression.  I am referring to all the natural basic behaviors inherent to wolves.  

The primary underlying behavior, however, is that if we take even today’s domesticated dog, and FORCE them to be more social than that individual dog is by HIS nature, we disrespect a long standing instinctual need to NOT be social with every dog they see.  Somewhere along the line, we humans have begun to believe that every dog must be social and interact with joy and glee with every new dog they see.  To expect a dog to do that can be very difficult for him, just like it is with some people.

The primary reason I see dog to dog aggression is because we HUMANS have a need for them to be social with other dogs. Not necessarily because the DOG needs to be social. When we force the dog into social situations, that dog may react in the only way he knows… defensively.  

This does not mean that many dogs are not indeed social and thrive on social interactions. But, what it does mean is that NOT EVERY DOG is by NATURE, SOCIAL.  When we allow our social dog to approach a non social dog, the only possibility is for the non social dog to react in the only way he knows how. Then, if it works once, he will do it again and again, usually escalating until someone gets hurt. This is the only way the dog knows how to communicate that he is not comfortable and social interactions are actually creating anxiety for him he cannot cope with.

The bottom line is that we understand and accept our dogs for who they are. Social or not.  It is also to respect other dogs that are not social by teaching your social dog not to approach unless allowed to.  Its all about respect.  Respecting your dog and respecting other dogs.  And to realize that the majority of dog to dog aggression can be avoided by simply respecting others and their feelings.