Dogs live in the moment and argue and fight like little kids on a playground. They don't hold grudges and once the fight has passed the dogs have moved on. It's really quite remarkable how quickly they move past. Don't: Isolate the dogs from one another.
People and dogs can become injured when there's a fight. Also, a dog will remember that he's been attacked. It may be very difficult–if not impossible–for them to get along afterwards.
While they'll sometimes just walk away and leave each other alone, other times, they'll go through a process of reconciliation and make up after the fight.
Can dogs live together after fighting? The answer is, most of the time, YES. There are times when dogs may be like an incompatible couple and need to divorce, but in general, there are things you can do to help combative pups get along.
In short, the answer is yes, a dog can be traumatised after a dog attack. Alongside the physical scars of the wounds they have gained, the dog may be emotionally scarred from the traumatic event, and you will need to be on the lookout for behaviour that might indicate your dog has been affected in this way.
Dogs that have had a pattern of hostility towards one another may not ever reconcile to the other's presence, and if they continue to fight or instigate trouble, it's best to keep the dogs apart. Choosing to let the dogs work it out can result in one of them being injured or even killed.
The separation often reduces stress for both dogs, especially when one or both dogs are showing active avoidance of each other. Keeping the dogs separated also reduces stress for the people living in the home. They don't have to constantly wonder if a fight is going to start this time.
In a real fight, the dogs will target the stomach, throat, and front legs and the victim of the attack will often retaliate by grabbing a hold of the other dog's neck. If your dog is involved in such a fight and receives severe injuries, take him to the vet immediately.
Break the fight up quickly and calmly, redirect the dog's attention, take them for a walk together, and don't worry that it's going to happen again. They may or may not fight again, but if worry over it does not become your obsession, you will not be feeding them negative energy that will lead to another fight.
So how do you know that your dog is apologising? Dogs apologise by having droopy years, wide eyes, and they stop panting or wagging their tails. That is sign one. If the person does not forgive them yet, they start pawing and rubbing their faces against the leg.
This aggression may be excitement-related or related to frustration or fear. Finally, some dogs become frustrated and behave aggressively toward a housemate dog when they cannot access something, such as a person or animal viewed through the window. This is known as redirected aggression.
Although fights are not usually to the death, many dogs succumb to their injuries later. Unless they have had a good history of past performance or come from valuable bloodlines, losing dogs are often discarded, killed or simply left with their injuries untreated.
If you are fighting with someone and you are upset, angry, and agitated, your dog will feel similar emotions as well. Therefore, it is safe to say that as long as dogs have been connected to humans in such a deep way, dogs have been able to sense when fights were happening and if their humans were angry and upset.
A study published in the November 2016 edition of Animals found that canine grieving behaviors — and how long they last — can vary from dog to dog, according to Dr. Jennifer Coates, DVM, an advisor for Pup Life Today. “Typically, their behavior returned to normal within two to six months.”
Even dogs that live together or are related can and will fight. Unfortunately, some fighting dogs will not stop fighting until an injury occurs that results in one dog backing off. However, some triggers are easily identified and can be avoided.
Dogs fight over territory, to protect their perceived pack, and because of overstimulation. Despite how it may seem to humans, dogs do not fight for no reason at all. Dogs can do serious harm to each other during a fight or attack. In some cases, the injuries can even lead to death.
Just like human siblings, dogs sharing a household will frequently fight over resources like toys, food, treats, or cuddles from their favourite people. Hormonal changes might also be the culprits to fighting – this is especially true if they are of the same sex and one of them is sexually maturing.
Expose your dog to other dogs in controlled settings, like with friends' or neighbor's dogs, or take her (on-leash) to the small/timid dog area of the dog park, if available. Don't try to force him to socialize with other dogs, but don't let him try to hide behind you, either.
Punishment should be avoided. The dog-dog relationship will not be improved if you scold, punish or hold down a dog as punishment; in fact you may make it worse by punishing the dog for signaling and communicating their aggressive intentions.