Companion Animals

Companion Dog Inter-Dog Aggression Treatment

Inter-dog aggression is one of the most common reasons dogs are surrendered to rescue centres, and effective treatment significantly improves welfare outcomes.

Key Facts

Dog-dog aggression occurs between familiar household dogs and unfamiliar dogs
Resource guarding, fear, and redirected frustration are common triggers
Punishment-based interventions worsen aggression through increased fear and arousal
Behaviour modification including systematic desensitisation and counter-conditioning is evidence-based
Medication to reduce arousal threshold is often a useful adjunct to behaviour therapy

Welfare Considerations

Dogs living in conflict with housemates or in chronic fear of other dogs experience persistent stress and reduced quality of life. Effective behaviour modification can dramatically improve inter-dog relationships. Early intervention before aggression is well established produces the best welfare outcomes for all dogs involved.

What You Can Do

Consult a certified veterinary behaviourist for inter-dog aggression problems
Never punish dogs for aggression - address the underlying cause
Seek help before problems escalate to severe attacks