❄️ Yes, Virginia, there is a way to mitigate your dog’s inter-dog aggression.

Sit & Stay is a training and health focused newsletter to help you have a more well-behaved and happier dog!

Hi !

‘Tis the season for tree lighting ceremonies and holiday strolls. If you’re like many dog owners, there is only one thing that can put a wrench in your Hallmark movie-esque activities: other dogs.

One of the top reasons dog owners call a trainer is because their pup goes ballistic around other dogs. Inter-dog aggression vastly limits the amount of fun you and your dog can have together. You can’t go to a dog park or walk them in dog-friendly areas. Taking them into a vet’s waiting room can be a nightmare, and getting a second dog feels like a pipe dream.

Wouldn't it be nice if you could sit your dog down and explain to them how their behavior is pushing potential dog friends away and causing you emotional distress? Unfortunately, the closest you're getting to a dog therapist is a dog trainer.

Sit & Stay Pro Tip

It’s helpful to know why your dog is acting out. Is it a fear response? A territorial issue? A good trainer can help you identify your dog’s trigger, but no matter the cause, your response will be the same.

That magical response is consistency.

We say that dogs have the will to dominate, but we really mean that dogs will do whatever they want if you let them. Your dog’s will to dominate goes through a few stages:

• 6 months. Your puppy may become more assertive and aggressive during play.

• 12 months. If your puppy used to run away when afraid, they might take a more assertive stance.

• 18-24 months (female) or 36 months (male). The will to dominate continues to escalate until about this age.

The earlier you catch the behavior, the better, but no matter your dog’s age, you can count on one thing: Your dog is a stimulus = response animal. If you don’t respond to their behavior (or you respond ineffectively), they get what they want, and the behavior becomes self-reinforcing.

The trick is finding your dog’s motivation (praise, toys, food, or something environmental) and using it to create a new response to their stimuli. In the case of inter-dog aggression, the stimulus is another dog, and the response is showing that other dog who’s boss. By training them to ignore other dogs or interact nicely with them, and providing a more desirable motivation, you can change your dog’s response.

With consistency, by this time next year, you’ll be getting your dog dressed up in an ugly sweater, ready to brave the crowds.

The Smile Section

Vet Recommendations

The vets at PetMD recommend dog owners look out for the following signs of inter-dog aggression, especially if the dogs you’re concerned about are in the same home:

1. Growling

2. Biting

3. Lip-lifting

4. Snapping

5. Lunging

6. Blocking doorways

7. Staring

Poor socialization (especially in the case of rescue animals) can be a root cause of aggression. Even owners who intervene on behalf of a submissive dog can unwittingly disrupt the natural hierarchy and create more aggressive outbursts.

To see their recommended solutions, visit PetMD

Product of the Week

Chill out, dude. — bit.ly

Paw.com offers amazing calming products for dogs. While we would never recommend throwing your aggressive dog a calming aid and expecting that to solve the problem, vets and trainers often recommend medication in addition to a consistent training regimen.

Best of all, Paw.com is in the middle of a Holiday Sale, which means their Chill Dog Bundle is 48% off.

Have questions about dog training?

Get them answered by a professional dog trainer!

Each week, we’ll interview a trainer and feature the answers to your questions as our Sit & Stay Pro Tip. E-mail [email protected] to submit your question.

Think your dog can make us smile? Submit a pic to [email protected] for a chance to see your pet in our Smile Section!