Aggression between dogs in multi-dog households and in public settings causes welfare harm to all involved and requires understanding of canine communication and behaviour.
Interdog aggression causes direct physical harm during conflict and chronic psychological stress in dogs living in unstable social environments. Dogs that cannot escape persistent social threat live in a state of chronic vigilance that significantly impairs their quality of life. Management strategies that provide controlled separation, resource management and structured interaction under professional guidance significantly improve both safety and welfare for all dogs involved. In some cases, rehoming one dog is the most welfare-appropriate outcome.