Why Dogs Fight Over Nothing: Understanding Canine Aggre

Every dog inherently possesses a friendly nature, with the exception of a very few breeds that are naturally aggressive towards other animals. The reasons behind a dog's propensity for aggression towards its own kind are often multifaceted, and may include the following:

1. Abuse suffered during puppyhood

2. A lack of proper socialization training during the early stages of life

3. Traumatic experiences that have left lasting scars

Before embarking on training, what should dog owners prioritize? First and foremost, teach your dog basic commands, such as 'sit.'

Next, dog owners must address a common issue: anxiety. You might be surprised to learn that many dog owners become tense before their pets even come into contact with other dogs. This is due to the fear of liability if their dog bites someone. Laughter aside, if you're tense, your dog can pick up on your emotions. If the alpha is nervous, the subordinate is bound to be, too. Moreover, dogs can detect changes in your mood through the tension in your leash.

Each dog that is prone to attacking its own kind falls into a恶性 cycle:

1. Preparing to attack

2. The owner notices the aggression and pulls on the leash

3. The dog feels discomfort around its throat, which triggers a response

4. The owner shouts to stop the attack

5. The dog associates the throat discomfort and the owner's shouting with aggression

This is why you often see dogs that are aggressive towards others continue to behave this way, with few instances of improvement.

A study by the American Veterinary Medical Association found that many dogs that are prone to aggression are owned by women. This is not to discriminate against women, but rather to highlight that in such situations, the majority of women instinctively tighten their dog's leash and shout.

You might argue: "But I use a harness!"

Whether it's a harness or a collar, if a dog lunges forward, the owner will naturally pull back, so the dog feels the force applied in either case.

So, how can you help your dog become less aggressive?

Firstly, understand that it takes a significant amount of time to completely alter a dog's aggressive behavior towards its own kind. In the context of our dogowning environment, I would recommend using a muzzle for your dog when going outside until the behavior is corrected.

If you genuinely want to help your dog break this habit, start by learning to remain calm and relaxed during walks, especially when encountering other dogs.

Next, you need to desensitize your dog. Begin by taking it to places with fewer dogs, like parks, and when you see another dog, don't hesitate to turn around and walk away, changing the angle from which your dog can see the other dog.

When walking away, be firm but not overly forceful with the leash to avoid falling into the same cycle of aggression we discussed earlier.

Once your dog shows less interest in other dogs, you can try having it interact with wellbehaved dogs while both dogs are on leashes. Gradually increase these interactions, and you'll likely notice a significant improvement in your dog's temperament.

Don't underestimate the simplicity of this approach—it is indeed simple, but it requires a great deal of time and patience. There is no onesizefitsall solution in this world.