Why Dogs Fight

There are many reasons why dogs fight. Some are possessive over food, attention, toys, or territory, others may fight when restraint on a leash and cannot move freely, others fight out of fear of being attacked. Understanding why your dog wants to fight is the best way to learn how to change and prevent this behavior.

Fighting when Anxious

The most common reason that a dog will fight is out of fear. A dog that has not been properly socialized, or has been mistreated may be fearful and fight when put in a new situation or confronted by what they perceive as a threat.

If your dog is not fighting with other dogs or showing aggression to people when at home, but becomes overly aggressive when out in public chances are that he lacks the socialization skills to be able to function without fear in new situations. The best way to resolve this issue is to take steps to socialize your dog.

Socializing your dog slowly is the best way to start overcoming his fear. Begin by taking him on rides in the car. Try to pass places such as parks and dog walks where he can view a variety of dogs and people from the security of the car. Then slowly introduce him to places. When introducing him to a new place look for sign of anxiety such as trying to huddle close to you, putting his tail between his legs and whining. If any of these behaviors are present immediately remove him from the situation and try again the next time, until he begins to get used to the new area and the situation.

You can also jump start your dogs socialization by enrolling him in obedience classes. Make sure to call the instructor in advance and advise them of your dog's particular problem. They may offer suggestions to lessen the stress your dog will face attending class and suggest things you can do to ensure your dogs and the other dogs' safety.

Possessiveness and Territorial Behavior

Fighting over possessions for your attention usually occurs between two dogs in the same household. Dogs form their own hierarchy and one dog will establish dominance over another. If you as the owner interfere with this arrangement you can throw both the dominant dog and the passive one into a state of confusion that may actually lead to fights between the two dogs. Allow the hierarchy to work itself out whenever possible without your interference. If the dominant dog still wants to fight to protect his toys or food, then feed both dogs in a separate area and make sure they each have their own toys.

There are several other situations which can lead to dog fighting. However, in each and every case the best way to prevent and change your dogs behavior is to remove him from the situation, get expert advice on behavior modification techniques and consistently follow those techniques while slowly reintroducing your dog to those situations.
With a lot of hard work, time and attention you can alleviate the cause of your dog's distress and thus help him to be in better control of his anxiety which will reduce his tendency to fight.