Aggression between dogs and other animals, including cats, livestock, and wildlife, is a significant welfare problem causing injury and death, and is largely preventable through appropriate socialisation and management.
Interspecific aggression in dogs has severe welfare consequences for both victim animals and the dogs involved, who may face euthanasia following serious incidents. Prevention requires early positive socialisation between dogs and target species during the sensitive developmental period, combined with management that prevents reinforcement of predatory behaviour. Owners who live with multiple species must establish clear, consistent routines that allow all animals to feel safe. Livestock worrying by dogs reflects a failure of responsible management and causes severe fear and physical harm to prey animals.