If you have ever found yourself in the situation of having to defend your dog against the imminent attack of another dog, you will know that this is a highly stressful moment where, many times, we block ourselves and do not know how Act.
Dogs can attack their peers for many reasons and the fact that there is a conflict between them does not necessarily mean that one of the animals is aggressive. Knowing how to anticipate an attack and act quickly is very important, but sometimes it is difficult to prevent the behavior of an animal, especially if we are not used to dealing with them or do not know their language. So in this article on our site we help you understand why other dogs want to attack yours and what you can do if a dog comes to attack your dog
Why do all the dogs attack my dog?
If your dog is sociable and peaceful, yet tends to be attacked or bitten by other dogs, you are probably wondering what could be the reason. Dogs can bite for many reasons and an attempt at aggression is not always synonymous with the animal being aggressive or poorly behaved, since other factors must also be taken into account, both environmental and intrinsic to the dog itself.
Below, we tell you the most frequent reasons that can explain why dogs attack yours:
- Communication failures: dogs communicate with each other and with us through their particular language, which includes facial expressions, body movements and sounds. Sometimes there can be conflicts between two dogs that do not understand each other, especially if one of them has difficulty understanding or using certain communication signals. If, for example, your furry expresses his desire to meet another dog through body postures or tense looks, or does not withdraw when another dog shows discomfort, she may end up being the victim of a bite.
- Impulsivity: If your dog is still a teenager or tends to get overexcited in the presence of other animals, it is likely that his way of approaching to greet other dogs is too trusting, abrupt or intrusive. Many dogs are uncomfortable or even scared by this attitude and may react by growling, marking or, in the worst case, biting your dog.
- He alth problem: if the attacks on your dog began at a specific time, did not occur previously and you are not able to identify the reason, you should consider making a visit to the vet. Sometimes, some hidden pathologies can modify the smell of dogs in a way that is imperceptible to us, but not to other dogs, which can behave in an altered or violent way when a congener is sick.
- Anatomy: the particular anatomy of some dog breeds can affect their communication with other dogs, making it easier for misunderstandings to arise and conflicts. For example, the respiratory difficulties of brachycephalic dogs or dogs with a flattened snout often cause these animals to emit a hoarse sound that can be confused with a threat signal. Similarly, dogs with cropped tails or ears have more difficulty expressing themselves as they lack these structures and are more likely to be attacked for this reason. For this reason, a dog's tail or ears should never be amputated for cosmetic purposes.
What to do if a dog wants to attack my dog?
During a walk with your furry dog, there may be a situation where he has a run-in with another dog and a conflict is triggered between them. The most effective way to prevent any of the animals from getting injured is to be able to anticipate the attack and, for this, is essential knowing the body language of dogs If any of the dogs show signs of tension or discomfort, stay calm and call your dog to encourage him to follow you as you walk away. If you usually walk your dog without a leash, make sure you do it in safe places, as well as having worked very well on the call exercise and, if the rest of the dogs that walk in the area are on a leash, it is better that you also put the leash on it. leash your dog, especially if he tends to come over to say hello.
However, if you are already in a situation where another dog is approaching your dog with the intention of attacking him, here are some tips on how to act if a dog comes to attack your dog:
- Keep calm: avoid yelling, making sudden movements or hitting the animals, as this will only increase the tension between them and you will worsen the conflict. So if you wonder where to hit a dog if he attacks yours, the answer is nowhere, this is not the solution.
- Do not tighten the leash during a greeting: When two dogs on a leash are sniffing at each other and showing signs of threat we often get scared and pull the leash strap. On many occasions, that tension that we generate on the leash is precisely what triggers the attack, since we we are transmitting our nervousness to the animal. It's best to try to call your dog or create a distraction to get him away without using force.
- Gets the guardian's attention: Without a dog, whether on the loose or on a leash, he approaches yours in a very invasive or intimidating way, quickly ask his guardian to call him or hold him, even if he tells you that the animal is not aggressive.
- Don't pick up your dog: if your furry is small and another dog comes running to bite him, don't pull him upwards with the leash, because it will be easier for the other dog to grab and shake it. Also, he can bite you too.
- Hold the aggressor dog: In the event of an attack, never put your hands or any other part of your body between the two animals. Instead, get behind the aggressor dog and hold him tightly by the collar or harness, if he has one, to immobilize him and prevent him from reaching your dog. Immediately ask his guardian to tie him up with the leash.
How to act if a dog has bitten my dog?
Sometimes it is difficult to avoid conflict between two dogs and they end up fighting. Fortunately, on a large number of occasions dog fights are limited to a series of showy growls, rolls and markings and it is the animals themselves who end up moving away from each other without the need for intervention on our part. However, it can happen that one of the animals bites and injures the other and, if our furry is the victim, we must know how to act:
- Don't hit the dogs: hitting or kicking the aggressor animal will not cause it to open its mouth and release the other dog, but This will increase the tension between the dogs and probably make the attack worse. Yelling at dogs or throwing water at them is usually not effective in these cases either.
- Don't pull animals: if the aggressor dog is holding the other dog with its jaw (that is, it is holding onto it), do not try to pull either of the two dogs backwards, as you could cause a serious tear to your furry.
- Immobilize the animals: you must prevent the dog that is biting from shaking its head or pulling the other because this will cause further injuries. serious. Both you and the guardian of the other dog should stand behind the dogs, put their body between your legs and hold them firmly to immobilize them.
- Try to open the mouth of the aggressor: If the dog that is biting your dog has its mouth closed tightly, you should try to make the open, but never use your hands directly for it. Try to get leverage by inserting something blunt between his molars, or try interrupting his airflow by slipping a strap or belt under his neck and pulling up. Other techniques such as pinching his testicles or vulva or raising his hind legs may more likely cause the dog to instinctively turn around and redirect the bite towards the person behind him.
Once the animals are separated, do not leave the scene immediately, take a moment to calm down and calm your dog Next, take a good look at its entire body for any injuries, and once you've done this, go talk to the other animal's guardian. Of course, do not force the animals to get back together, as it is very likely that another aggression will occur as a result of the dogs' state of excitement. If during the physical examination you find a wound, in this post we will tell you what to do: "My dog has been bitten and it has a hole, what to do?"
Ask the other tutor for his personal data and the data of his animal and reach an agreement with him according to your convenience. The most common thing is that the guardian of the aggressor dog (or his insurance, if he has one) takes care of all the veterinary expenses until the complete recovery of your furry dog.
Once this agreement is reached, Go to your veterinary center so that they can treat your dog as soon as possible.
Can I report the owner of a dog that has attacked mine?
Yes, if your dog is attacked by another dog you have the right to notify the police to file a complaint. The police will investigate the facts and will ask the guardian of the aggressor dog for his documentation and that of the animal. It is important that there are witnesses who can verify the facts and that the veterinarian writes a report detailing the extent of the injuries caused.
If the sentence is favorable, the guardian of the aggressor dog will be obliged to cover the veterinary expenses and, depending on the case, may also have to compensate you for damages.
As you have seen, the best thing in all cases is to anticipate any situation to prevent another dog from attacking yours, with all that this entails. Find out how dogs communicate in this other article and learn to identify their signals.
