Witnessing a fight between two or more dogs is always very unpleasant, especially when your furry one is one of those involved. In these cases, the best thing you can do is prevent the situation, analyzing the language of the animals and learning to anticipate a possible attack the moment you perceive any sign of tension or discomfort between the dogs. But since this is not always easy, in this article on our site we tell you what to do if your dog has bitten another dog and what happens next. Keep reading!
Why does my dog bite other dogs?
There are many reasons why a dog attacks other dogs and the first step before intervening is to be able to recognize the causeof the behavior to be able to prevent it and work on it if necessary, since not all attacks are necessarily related to an aggressiveness problem.
Below, we explain some of the most frequent reasons why a dog can bite another:
- Game: the dogs play with each other by chasing and biting each other and, even if they have no intention of harming, a game dynamic that is too rough or an excess of excitement can cause one of the dogs to injure the other. In this case, the injury (if any) will be minor and the affected dog will most likely complain or stop playing immediately.
- Fear or insecurity: One of the most frequent reasons why a dog bites another dog is because he is scared or feel insecure in her presence. The probability of the attack occurring increases if the dog in question is on a leash, does not know how to communicate effectively or does not have the possibility to leave the situation that generates stress. This usually happens, above all, in the case of animals that have not been properly socialized, that have lived through traumatic experiences or that have been educated through punishment.
- Resource Protection: This type of aggression occurs when a limited resource enters the scene that is valuable to two or more dogs and everyone wants access to it, for example, a piece of meat, a snack or a ball. If the animals are not able to communicate effectively and establish an order of access to the resource, a fight can break out.
- Communication Problems: Dogs have a very extensive language of their own that includes facial expressions, body movements and sounds. Socialized animals that have grown up in favorable environments know how to use these signals perfectly and they do it both with other dogs and with us. If an animal is uncomfortable in the presence of another individual, it will indicate through this language to move away or to stop its behavior, but if said individual does not understand the signals, the dog will have no choice but to bite it to make itself understood, self-reinforcing this behavior.
- Aggressiveness due to organic causes: having a disease, pain or having specific genes are also possible causes of aggressive behavior that should be be valued. To do this and in case of any suspicion of pathology, it is best to go to a veterinarian to check the animal and perform the relevant tests.
- Territoriality: Some dogs only show disruptive behavior when another animal enters their home. The defense of the territory and the social group is a characteristic of some individuals that is determined by several factors, such as their genetics or their learning.
- Intrasexual aggression: In an intrasexual aggression, the dog attacks only another individual of the same sex. This type of aggressiveness is observed more frequently among adult males than among females, although it can appear in both sexes.
How to act if my dog bites another dog?
On a large number of occasions, clashes between two dogs are limited to a series of growls, markings and quick and sudden movements that they use as a way of communication and, although we find them terrifying, these situations They do not usually cause serious injuries. These fights can appear, for example, when one or both animals are stressed or overexcited or when there are valuable resources involved and the most common is that one of the two dogs ends up leaving the area, thus ending the conflict.
However, certain contexts can trigger a real fight between two or more individuals and if, before you have time to do anything, your furry one attacks and bites another dog, you should knowact quickly and accurately to prevent the situation from getting worse.
Here are some tips so you know what to do if your dog bites another dog:
- Keep Calm: This sounds complicated when you're in a dogfight, but it's essential to be calm in order to think clearly. You should not yell at the dogs or hit them to try to separate them, as this is only adding stress to the animals and making the situation worse.
- Try to get your dog's attention: If the conflict is not serious, a distraction may cause one of the two dogs to leave the fight. Try calling your dog in a cheerful voice, jingle a toy or run in front of him to encourage him to chase you and, if he approaches you, never punish him for having a fight, on the contrary, praise him for answering the call.
- Act on the aggressor: if your dog is the one who initiated the attack and does not let go of the other animal, you must intervene directly on him, because it is most likely that when your furry releases the other dog, this second one moves away immediately.
- Don't pull the dogs: a common mistake that is often made when trying to separate a dog that is preying over another (that is to say, that it has a hold on it and does not let go) is to grab both animals by the collar or the legs and pull them in opposite directions. This is a risk, because we can cause a significant tear, worsening the severity of the injuries.
- Immobilize your dog: To prevent your dog from shaking the other, place his body between your legs to immobilize him and try open your mouth For this, you can try to use an object to pry his jaw or try to cut off his airflow to force him to take a breath through his mouth. The latter can be done using the dog's leash or a belt, placing it under his neck and pulling up or covering his nose.
- Step away and reassure the dog: When you manage to separate the dogs, walk away with your dog for a bit but don't leave the house completely. area and, of course, do not hit or punish your dog for what has just happened, it is counterproductive and could make the animal's behavior worse.
You must be very careful with the so-called redirected bites, because in a moment of so much tension it is easy for either of the two dogs to end up biting you involuntarily as a result of the stress and frustration of the moment.
What if my dog bites another dog?
Once the two animals have been separated, it is time to assess the extent of the injuries. Both you and the guardian of the other dog should examine your furry ones well, feeling their body gently and staying calm to try, at the same time, to reassure the animals. If your dog is very nervous and won't let you touch him, walk him away to a quiet area and give him some time to recover.
Once this is done, go over to talk to the other dog's guardian to clarify the situation. Try to remain calm and understanding, as that the other person will probably be upset by fright and it is better to avoid an argument. If your dog has not caused injuries to the other animal or these are superficial, it is very likely that the other guardian will simply ask you to cover the expenses of the veterinarian. However, it is also possible that they decide to call the police to file a complaint against you and, in that case, you will have to collaborate and provide the information they request The The police will ask for both your documentation and that of the animal and will check, among other things, that there is no record and that the dog is properly vaccinated. In the event that your furry is of a "potentially dangerous" breed, they will also request your license, verify that you have contracted civil liability insurance and assess whether or not the obligations associated with having these were fulfilled at the time of the attack. breeds (for example, if the animal was tied or muzzled).
The most common thing after this is that you have to pay a fine that will correspond, at least, to the expenses of the consultation and the veterinary treatments that are necessary until the complete recovery of the injured dog. On some occasions, they may also require a compensation for damages
In the event that your dog has bitten other dogs on more occasions, that it has caused serious injuries or that it has caused the death of the other animal, the police will tell you that your furry must go through a veterinary control and undergo a quarantine, as well as a conduct test. This examination is carried out to assess the risk posed by the animal and decide if it is classified as a "PPP" (potentially dangerous dog), regardless of its breed. In the event that the latter occurs, you must begin to comply with the rules established for the possession of potentially dangerous dogs.
If my dog bites another dog, does insurance cover it?
If your dog has bitten another dog, it is normal for you to wonder if any of the insurance you have contracted covers these expenses. Guardians of dogs classified as potentially dangerous are currently required to have civil liability insurance, which covers personal or material damage that the animal may cause to third parties. With respect to the rest of the breeds, the obligation to take out insurance depends on the autonomous community where the guardian resides.
Both the home policies that include pets and those that are exclusively for dogsthey usually cover accidents due to bites to third parties , both to people and to other dogs. However, not all insurances include it and some only partially cover veterinary expenses, so it is important to be well informed of the conditions of the chosen insurance before contracting it.
As you can see, whether your dog has attacked another dog or if you suspect that he might do so, it is best to anticipate this situation and avoid it. If the problem is that he has not been properly socialized, it is not too late for it. We encourage you to consult this article on How to socialize an adult dog, but, above all, we recommend you go to an ethologist or canine educator to help you assess the condition of your dog and establish a personalized action plan. This is especially important if your dog attacks other dogs relatively frequently, as this is a serious problem that needs to be treated.
