Why does my pitbull attack other dogs? Here’s What to Do Next

How do I recognize aggression resulting from poor communication between unfamiliar dogs?

This aggression can be elicited by assertive gestures or postures from either dog. These can include placing head or feet on the back of the other dog or other dominant body postures such as eye contact, and high tail and stiff-legged approach. If one of the two dogs does not show appropriate appeasing or submissive responses toward the other dog, then aggression might ensue. Owners may inadvertently heighten the anxiety and arousal by how they respond; pulling and tightening or correction with the leash or when they use threats or disciplinary techniques. These may signal to the dog that the impending approach is problematic. Leash restriction also does not allow the dog to react with a complete rate and range of responses, including body postures, approach and withdrawal. Some dogs may be uncertain how to communicate properly with other dogs. This may occur because of insufficient or inadequate socialization with other dogs or dogs of different types and breeds, or because of previous unpleasant experiences with other dogs, adding fear or anxiety components to the problem. Problems may escalate quickly in dogs that are anxious or fearful, and in dogs that lack good social skills with other dogs. For example, if assertive or dominant expressions and gestures, or highly excitable and overreactive displays frighten the other dog, aggression by one or both dogs may occur. Conversely, the signaling dog may not be reading the signals of the second dog and might increase the intensity of its displays, perhaps to the point of aggression, even when the other dog shows deferential behavior. This can lead to the second dog becoming defensively aggressive. Good communication within a social group of familiar dogs will result in a minimum of fighting, through actions, posturing, and visual and vocal signals, this does not necessarily work when unfamiliar dogs are meeting and greeting for the first time. In addition, changing circumstances and environments on walks, behavioral genetics, lack of sufficient socialization to other dogs, previous experience and the wide array of differences in physical appearance and behavior between breeds and individuals may compound the problem and increase the uncertainty and anxiety. Some extremely bold or assertive dogs will fight rather than back down when challenged. Assertive dogs may be overassertive and/or overprotective if the owners do not have good verbal and physical control. If the dog pulls the owners along during walks, it will take the lead in reacting to stimuli that it meets along the way, rather than looking to the owner for direction and reassurance. Other dogs may be in a state of conflict, in that they are friendly or socially attracted to the other dog, but uncertain or fearful of the possible outcome. These situations of conflict or uncertainty (competing emotions) can result in aggression (see Canine Communication – Interpreting Dog Language). This form of aggression is primarily exhibited when unfamiliar dogs are on the resident dog’s property, or what the aggressor considers his territory. Some dogs get highly aroused at the sight of other dogs on their territory and may jump fences, or go through windows or doors to get to the intruder (see Aggression – Territorial).

Answer: It is your responsibility to prevent future mishaps as such. Management is your best friend. Where and when did these incidents occur? If on walks, you may want to make sure you have good control over your dog. Use a head halter or a harness if your dog tends to pull. Train him not to pull on the leash. Let him wear a muzzle if other dogs approach or you have a hard time controlling your dog. You may need to have your dog wear a vest that informs other dog owners not to let their dogs approach your dog.

Well Im still in shock over what happened today; its pretty hard to believe pit bull breeds are not aggressive dogs. This is now the second instance in a period of a year that my sweet little dog has had a pit bull try to kill her. I was walking with my mutt (27 lbs of Jack Russell and Cattledog) who is 12 years old and comes to voice command. She rarely leaves my side and if she does she is only 10 yards away but comes right back when I call her. A clueless woman with a pit bull yells to me from about 15 yards down the trail, “Is your dog friendly?”. “Yes, always” I reply and she takes off her dogs leash and the dog literally charged at us while growling and hurled herself onto my dog. I cant believe I didnt get bitten because I ended up rolling around on the ground yanking back the pit and finally grabbing my dog and lifting her up. What did the pit owner do? Absolutely nothing. Didnt lift a finger. She was in shock Just stood there with her mouth wide open while I was screaming for her to get her dog off. The idiot finally awoke from her stupor and just kept repeating herself, “Im so sorry. Im so, so sorry. She has never done this before. I am so sorry” . All dogs are different. Just like people If someone is too physically weak to handle 65 lbs of muscle they absolutely should not have a pit bull. These breeds have been fucked up for a long, long time due to shit owners. Its going to take a very long time for them to be in the Golden Retriever category.

Ok questions I have 2 pitbulls 3 and 5 years old different breeds. They got into a little fight with each other and both taste each other blood. We Separated both dogs for about a week put them together again they laughed at about 11 minutes and then they got into it again but this time it was worse. Now the questions are they always going to fight with each other? Is it safe to have them around my wife and kids and people and other dogs? We never had any issues with them until now. Now my neighbor has a female dog and people are staying there is a dog in heat somewhere and my dogs know that which maybe why they are aggressive with each other. It also can be that they are not fixed (spayed). We dont really want to give up our dogs but SAFETY is first and we dont want to have any Regrets. Can you help us make our decision please.

But as far as dog aggressiveness goes, you can tell me all you want they are the same as other dogs, but I have been around tons of dogs in my life, and I have only seen 6 dogs cause dog fights, Ive never known a pit that didnt get into a fight at some point in its life.

So to recap, lets take a look at the real designations for the word pit bull:

Why Do Dogs Show Sudden Aggression Toward Other Dogs?

First and foremost, we’re not talking about ongoing dog aggression today.

Instead, we’re focusing on pups that normally get along, who then show sudden aggression toward one another (including cases in which the violence is one-sided, as well as those times in which both dogs are fighting or acting antagonistically).

Typical dog aggression and reactivity are different issues that require specific approaches under professional supervision. On the other hand, you may be able to address sudden, out-of-the-blue episodes of canine-on-canine aggression yourself — largely via management strategies.

But before going further, it is important to note that sudden aggression between dogs in multi-dog families can often be traced back to long-term stressors.

These lingering issues mount on a daily basis, until the dogs are suddenly set off by a sudden “straw that broke the camel’s back” interaction, resulting in a growl, snap, bite, or in the worst cases, a full-fledged fight.

Think of it like something poking at you repeatedly until you finally react.

Even when these outbursts seem to come out of nowhere, there is usually a history of antagonism or frustration between the dogs. However, dogs rely heavily on body language to communicate, and it’s not uncommon for owners to miss the signs of a brewing confrontation.

The most common causes of sudden aggression between doggy roommates fall into any of several buckets, which we’ll discuss below.

Illness and injury are both common causes of canine conflict.

It’s easy to understand why: If your dog isn’t feeling his best, he’s bound to be cranky. Your other pup can then aggravate the ill or injured doggo, and earn a snap or warning growl in return.

And while this is can happen with any dogs, it’s a particularly common issue between younger and older dogs. The youngster just wants to play, play, play, while the senior — who’s often feeling achy or otherwise unwell — just snaps when he’s had enough. Conflict is not terribly surprising in these situations

So, whenever you see unexpected aggression between puppers who live in the same house, it’s a good idea to bring both dogs to the vet for a thorough examination. This can help rule out health-related causes.

The guarding of toys, furniture, or food can be a problem in multi-dog households, particularly when a new doggo joins the family. In these cases, one of your dogs fears losing something of value to the other dog.

The reactions will tend to escalate over time as the stress builds, moving from growing to biting if the situation is not corrected. It’s essential to address these issues ASAP if you want to get your family dogs to stop fighting.

Resource guarding requires all family members to be onboard with soothing the stressed dog. He should be made to feel secure that there are enough resources to go around and that he’s not going to lose his favorite chew, toy, or dinner to the other pooch.

Also, he should never punished for reacting negatively — this can just worsen the anxiety he’s feeling and lead to additional conflicts.

Instead, just separate your dogs during feeding, when distributing treats, or toy-chewing time, and never leave high-value items such as bones out. However, resource guarding is a serious issue, and it’ll usually be wisest to work with a certified canine behaviorist anytime resource guarding takes place.

A shift in routine, new family member, or your own worries can stress your dogs out. Dogs thrive on routines, and disruptions in their daily life can take a toll on our furry friends.

We know it’s hard (and sometimes downright impossible), but try to make these transitions as smooth as possible. Ensure that your dogs’ schedules and surroundings remain as similar as you can, and make any necessary changes gradually to help avoid creating anxiety.

New people to the home (such as new romantic partners, new roommates, or older children returning home after long absences) can also lead to stress.

Not to mention that new individuals in your dog’s life may treat the dog differently than you, which can end up resulting in a dog disliking a certain family member or visitor.

In such cases, you’ll want to continue to keep their daily regimen as normal as possible, and do everything you can to foster a positive relationship between both dogs and the new person.

Frustration can increase the odds of conflict among anyone — including our dogs!

For example, dogs who lack sufficient interaction with their humans or fail to get enough daily exercise may act out through aggression. Imagine how aggravating it must be to be trapped inside all day or having to go for long stretches without your favorite person!

We’d probably get pretty touchy too.

One of the best ways to treat frustration is through action, such as implementing more daily walks or backyard play. In some cases, this will be all that’s necessary to ratchet down the temperature between the pups.

Another few other ideas you may want to try include:

Hire a dog walker for a midday stroll if you’re stuck at work all day.

Consider interactive dog toys to keep your canines’ brains buzzing.

Set up “scavenger hunts” to give your doggo something to do.

The goal in any of these cases is to get your dogs’ bodies and minds moving through engaging interactions and exercise.

It’s not unusual for two dogs to not see eye to eye when one is a young pup and the other is a tired old senior. As mentioned above, physical ailments associated with an aging canine (such as degrading eyesight, arthritis, and joint pain) can make a dog grumpier and more on edge.

However, it’s worth noting that puppies can be just super darn annoying!

Just as a 60-year-old grandfather probably has little interest in hanging out with a bunch of young frat boys, many greying canines have little patience for a pup’s misadventures. And it isn’t fair to put all the blame on the senior dog in these cases – pups are notoriously obnoxious and will often ignore an older dog’s requests to be left alone. Make sure to advocate for your senior dog and avoid letting the pup harass him!

Even two dogs of similar ages might simply have different play styles and personalities that cause conflict. As humans who are not always well-versed in canine body language, it can be easy for us to blame a dog fight on the dog who let out the first nip. But in many cases, the other dog may have been subtly haranguing and pestering the other dog for a long time already.

This is all simply to say that you shouldn’t take sides too quickly and remember that it’s common for us to miss some of the larger context that happens around dog-on-dog conflicts.

Sometimes, redirected arousal is linked to conflict among dogs who know each other. This occurs when one dog reaches a certain level of arousal or excitement and then redirects his energy negatively through biting the other dog (or, in some cases, a person).

This is sometimes caused outdoors by invisible fences — especially when these devices are first put into use. Another common scenario involves fence-fighting behavior between dogs on either side of a boundary.

In these or similar cases, the result is similar to the dog frustration fights discussed earlier: One dog turns his frustration on another dog, resulting in a bite or all-out fight.

Note that these kinds of redirected-arousal conflicts can also occur in happy times, when your pups are excited. This may happen when the doorbell rings or while you’re preparing for a walk.

In cases of redirected arousal, the key is preventing your dogs from ever reaching that level of arousal and positively harnessing the excitement.

In other words, try to lower the overall excitement level and give them both something constructive to do. This may mean teaching your dogs the doorbell means getting treats in their kennels or that sitting on their beds is required before a walk.

However, in other cases, it may require avoiding the situation entirely, such as going inside when the neighbor’s dog is out or getting rid of the underground fencing system. This is another case in which you may need the help of a certified behaviorist to determine which strategy is wisest.

Some dogs display aggressive behavior when fearful, such as during a storm or fireworks. Others may attack their doggo siblings or roommates following punishment or other harsh training strategies.

Once again, aggressive reactions in these cases are completely understandable — we all get edgy when frightened.

In these situations, you want to alleviate your dogs’ anxiety to eliminate the negative fear response.

There are a variety of ways to reduce your dog’s anxiety, but it’s often necessary to match your management strategy with the triggering event or stimulus.

In the event of storms or fireworks, for example, you may need to invest in a Thundershirt, play calming music, or in extreme cases, opt for prescribed dog anxiety medications. If the cause of the anxiety is a recent move or change in lifestyle, you’ll want to provide plenty of comfort and reassurance to your pup and also try to implement some familiar aspects of daily life (such as a routine walk every day at the same time).

Regarding dogs who also act out after harsh punishment or training techniques, our advice is simple: Stop doing that. Yelling or scolding your dog (never mind doing even worse things) will not only prove unproductive and unlikely to yield the desired results, they’re also just disrespectful to your dog.

Before going further, let’s be clear about one thing: Dogs may try to dominate other dogs or establish hierarchical relationships, but they do not do these things with humans. Full stop.

So please, for the love of dogs, do not “alpha roll” your pup or engage in any similarly rude and outdated “techniques.”

But among each other, dogs may occasionally have tiffs over hierarchy and their place in the “pack.”

These tensions — like most aggression stressors — build over time. Relationships are like tectonic plates in a way, shifting as this pressure builds and builds until something triggers a reaction finally. Your dogs may have multiple negative interactions that you don’t notice, but they most certainly do.

Solving dog-to-dog issues can be tricky, but it starts with establishing respect and creating “cool down” time away from one another to relax and work things out.

This might be napping separately or enjoying backyard time alone if one dog pesters the other. Pack walks and sniffari adventures are also helpful for strengthening their bond again, too (as long as they don’t aggravate either dogs’ triggers).

AGGRESSIVE PIT BULL – Destroys other Dogs! ( Part 1 )