What to Do in a Dog Fight: A Parent's Guide to K9 Cabin Fever
Dogs are smart, teachable, adorable, affectionate, and funny. Each one is a unique personality with pretty much all the feels that we humans have.
Which means that sometimes—especially if you live in a multi-dog household—somebody is just going to have a bad day. Dogs can get cranky, out-of-sorts, or simply not feel their best.
And just like toddlers, it’s often the least little thing that sets them off:
- “He looked at me!”
- “She took my favorite toy.”
- “I want that chew, and I want it now!”
The Anatomy of Escalating Tension
Dogs can easily fall into foul moods if they aren’t getting the physical exercise or mental stimulation they need. When you’re cooped up because of extreme weather—whether it's a winter blizzard or a summer heatwave—tempers can flare. Cabin fever happens in all seasons!
Every once in a while, that pent-up energy explodes. Sometimes it manifests as the "zoomies" (a perfectly healthy, no-problem way to release tension). Other times, it takes a serious turn into a dog fight.
Know It When You Hear It
As a pet parent, you know your dog’s entire vocal repertoire. You know the happy bark when you get home, the play-growl of an intense game of tug, and even the obnoxious whining when they lose track of you (yes, Torque, Hope hears you!).
A real dog fight sounds completely different.
It can be deadly silent. Or, you might hear a sudden, sharp change in tone when a harmless game of “bitey face” goes too far. When dogs fight, even if it’s just a sibling spat, the potential for serious injury is real. You have to break it up—but you need to do it without getting hurt.
The "Flap and Run" Protocol (For Home Squabbles)
We developed our own "dog fight protocol" years ago after our first pair of dogs got into a scuffle. Fran reached in to grab one of the perpetrators and wound up with of stitches. Lesson learned: Never put your hands near their mouths when tempers are hot.
Instead, try our time-tested action plan if a fight breaks out between your own dogs inside the house:
- Make a loud noise: Grab something non-breakable (like a book, plastic bowl, or a cookie sheet) and slam it onto the floor.
- Become a distraction: Raise your hands above your head, flap them wildly, and run into the other room while shrieking bloody murder.
Why it works: The effect is instantaneous. The dogs will be so startled by your sudden loss of sanity that they’ll stop what they’re doing and come dashing after you to investigate.
That’s usually the end of it. If someone is still grumbling, separate them safely. Put one or both in their crates, and go for a walk by yourself. The dogs will likely be over it in minutes, even if it takes you a little longer to recover!
Stranger Danger: Fights Outside the Home
If you come across a dog fight out in public involving dogs you don't know, the golden rule is stay safe.
- Call for help immediately. Do not wade into the middle of unknown dogs; you run a high risk of becoming the target of redirected aggression.
- Do NOT run away. While running away works beautifully to recall your own dogs at home, running from strange dogs in a state of high arousal can trigger their predatory drive to chase you.
- Use barriers or noise: If possible, use a broom, a trash can lid, a blast from a hose, or a car horn to interrupt them from a safe distance.
Managing the "Sharp Angles"
If you notice one of your dogs is a bit on edge, respect their mood and give them the space they need. We’ve had dogs with sharp angles in their temperaments, and you do learn to read the signs.
Whether it means utilizing more crate time, keeping them separated for the afternoon, or taking them on individual "decompression" walks, there are plenty of ways to help them regain their equilibrium.
Everybody has an occasional bad day. Even our dogs. If we love them for their unique personalities, we also have to acknowledge, respect, and manage their singular signals.
Have you ever had to break up a canine cabin-fever scuffle? What safe tactics worked best for you? Let us know in the comments below!
4 comments
Patti – Terriers are known for their feistiness and their determination. It sounds like you’ve got things under control. Your girls are lucky to have you!
Theresa – using a barrier like a baby gate is a great idea! Thank you!
I grabbed a nearby baby gate and put it down between them and used the gate to usher one of them into an adjacent room…separating them for 15 minutes.
We have two female terriers—a Westie and a Norwich, about the same age and size (15 lbs each). Both were breeder females and the Norwich apparently had a harder time, as she was skin and bones and missing an ear tip when she came to us. The two got into a couple of bad fights the first few months, and with these two, when they bite, they hang on. Neither will let go. So my strategy is to pick each one up by the scruff of the neck and start toward the laundry room, where baths take place in the laundry sink. The first time, when they were plunked into the sink and sprayed with water, they let go. Now they just let go when they’re picked up, because they know what’s coming.