Are your dogs not ALWAYS getting along?

Let’s dive into 8 common triggers for dog conflicts, making it easier to prevent and manage these tense moments. 

​Understanding these triggers can help prevent conflicts and foster a sense of safety and security among your family pups.

Changes in Environment

New surroundings can be stressful for dogs, leading to conflicts as they adjust to unfamiliar sights, sounds, scents, and unpredictable spaces.

​Tip: Allow time for adjustment and provide as much familiarity as possible. Familiar beds, toys, food, routines, and people can work wonders.

Genetic Factors

Certain breeds or genetic predispositions can influence a dog’s behavior, making some more prone to conflicts than others.

Understanding your dog's breed tendencies can help in managing their interactions with other dogs.

For example, while Bull Breeds are not meant to be bred to be aggressive dogs, they have been bred over many thousands of years to step-up in conflict, rather than to back down. The same goes for Terriers.

Guardians are bred to be suspicious of new people and animals.

Scent Hounds are bred to state their emotions vocally, clearly, and without influence from people.

Sight hounds and Herding Breeds are bred to be sensitized to quick movement in the environment.

Natural breeds (such as Huskies, Chow Chows, Eskimo Dogs) are meant to be independent hunters, while Gun Dogs are meant to be orally fixated and mouthy.

​Toy breeds are meant to be sensitive and codependent. You can see where reactive behavior could stem from many of these natural tendencies. 

Learn more about your dog's breed group: There are no blank slates

Tight Spaces

Limited space can make dogs feel cornered, increasing the likelihood of reactive behavior.

Tip: Open up spaces and move dogs through tighter areas (like doorways) one at a time to reduce stress.

Imagine being stuck in a crowded elevator with a stranger. You can’t move much, and there's no way to avoid eye contact or accidental bumps. The tension can make you feel anxious or irritable, even if you’re usually friendly.

Similarly, when dogs are in tight spaces, they can feel trapped and uncomfortable, which may lead to reactive behavior. Just like you’d probably prefer to have some breathing room, dogs need space to feel safe and relaxed.

Barrier: Fences, Gates, Leashes

Fences, gates, and leashes can cause frustration and heightened arousal, often resulting in reactivity redirected towards another dog.

Tip: Be aware of this trigger and encourage calm behavior and engagement with you during these scenarios. Training sessions to desensitize your dog to barriers can also be helpful.

Social Maturity

As dogs reach social maturity, their tolerance levels can change, sometimes leading to unexpected reactive encounters.

Think about how friendships change from childhood to adulthood. As kids, making friends is often as simple as sharing a toy or playing a game together. However, as adults, forming close relationships takes more time, trust, and understanding. Similarly, as dogs reach social maturity, their interactions become more complex. They may be less tolerant of new dogs and take longer to form bonds, just like how adults are more selective and cautious when making new friends

Changes in Appearance or Smell

Changes in a dog's appearance, such as a new haircut or wearing a cone, can confuse other dogs and trigger reactive behavior.

Tip: Some dogs are sensitive to other animals that smell like places they have negative feelings about, like the vet’s office. Be mindful of introducing dogs after grooming or vet visits, and allow time for re-familiarization.

Hormonal Changes

Fluctuations in hormones, particularly in intact dogs, can influence reactive behaviors and interactions.

The scent of intact adolescent males can trigger reactions from other dogs, so keep a close eye on interactions around new and familiar dogs. 

Female dogs in heat can exhibit increased irritability and reactivity, potentially leading to more reactive behavior towards other dogs. These hormonal fluctuations GREATLY affect mood and behavior, as I can personally attest to. 🫣

Changes in Health

Health issues can make dogs irritable or defensive, leading to increased reactivity towards other dogs.

Tip: Health changes can cause dogs to smell “off,” leading to bullying behavior from others. Get a thorough vet check for both dogs if conflicts are happening, especially if directed at one particular dog. 

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Understanding these triggers can help prevent conflicts and foster a sense of safety and security among your furry family members. By being proactive and mindful of these factors, you can create a trusting environment where your dogs can coexist peacefully, much like Bowen and Lila (pictured below) 💕

Which ones trigger your dog(s)?

Need more support trying to figure out where the issues are and what you can start doing about it? Check out the Virtual Miss Behavior Membership where you can learn more on-demand and get set up with private coaching, if you need one-on-one help!