When the originally well-behaved puppy suddenly turns irritable upon encountering other dogs, baring its sharp teeth, rushing fiercely towards the other dog, and starting a "fight", the owner's heart tightens instantly. Looking at the puppy's appearance as it might get injured in the conflict, the owner feels both distressed and anxious. At the same time, the owner also has to face the dissatisfaction and blame from other dog owners, and the sense of helplessness and guilt is indescribable. Puppies don't provoke disputes for no reason. Behind each fighting behavior, there are complex emotions and needs. As owners, we shouldn't just simply stop it. Instead, we need to delve into the root cause, use professional methods and warm love to help the puppy learn to get along amicably with other dogs and regain its gentleness and peace.
To solve the problem of a puppy's tendency to fight with other dogs, we first need to understand the reasons behind it. Fear and unease are common triggers. In a puppy's world, there is much that is unknown about strange things. When it meets a dog that is larger in size or more imposing, or when the other dog's behavior or smell makes it feel threatened, the inner fear will drive it to protect itself through aggression. Just as humans might make defensive moves when extremely scared, puppies also use fighting as a way to hide their fear and try to make the other dog back off. For example, a puppy that has lacked social interaction since it was young may suddenly launch an attack when it first encounters other lively dogs approaching due to panic.
The 作祟 of territorial awareness is also an important factor. In a puppy's perception, the area where it often moves around is its "territory". When other dogs enter this area, it will think that its territory is being invaded and then launch an attack. Even in outdoor public areas, a puppy may regard the area around its owner as its "protection circle". Once other dogs approach its owner, it will feel the need to defend the territory and the owner's safety, thus triggering a fight. This instinctive territorial protection behavior, although reflecting its loyalty to the owner, also brings a lot of trouble.
Insufficient social skills can also lead to conflicts between puppies and other dogs. If a puppy doesn't receive good socialization training during its puppyhood and lacks experience in normal interaction with other dogs, it won't know how to correctly express its friendliness and intentions. They may mistakenly regard the sniffing and approaching of other dogs as provocation and thus react with aggression. In addition, a puppy's personality and breed can also affect its behavior. Some dog breeds are naturally strong-willed and have a strong sense of territory, such as Bulldogs and Doberman Pinschers, and are more likely to engage in fighting behavior compared to other breeds. Puppies with a sensitive and timid personality may also exhibit aggressive behavior due to excessive nervousness.

In addition to the above reasons, health problems cannot be ignored. When a puppy is not feeling well, for example, suffering from painful diseases, or being infected with parasites or having skin diseases, the physical discomfort will make it irritable and more sensitive to external stimuli. It may launch an attack at the slightest sign of trouble. Just as people become irritable when they are sick, puppies can't control their emotions either and vent their physical discomfort and inner irritability through fighting.
In the face of a puppy's tendency to fight with other dogs, we need to adopt scientific and effective solutions. First of all, we should help the puppy build confidence and overcome its fear. The owner can enhance the puppy's confidence through daily training and interaction. For example, conduct simple obedience training. When the puppy follows the instructions and completes the actions, give rewards and praise in a timely manner, so that it can feel its own ability and the owner's recognition. When encountering other dogs, the owner should stay calm and soothe the puppy with a gentle tone of voice and body language, making it feel safe. You can first observe other dogs from a distance. After the puppy's emotions are stable, approach slowly and gradually let it get used to interacting with other dogs.
For puppies with a strong sense of territory, the owner should guide them to correctly understand the relationship between territory and social interaction. In daily life, clearly define the puppy's activity range so that it knows which areas are its territory and which are public areas. When other dogs enter its territory, the owner should promptly stop the puppy's aggressive behavior, tell it "No" in a firm tone, and at the same time, lead it away from the scene to avoid the conflict from escalating. Then, through multiple rounds of guidance and training, let the puppy understand that getting along amicably with other dogs in public places is the right behavior.
Strengthening the puppy's socialization training is crucial. When the puppy is young, take it to meet different people and dogs, allowing it to gradually get familiar with various environments and social scenarios. You can choose gentle and friendly dogs as "social partners" to let the puppy learn how to interact with other dogs in a safe environment. During the interaction process, the owner should closely observe. Once any aggressive or unfriendly behavior is found in the puppy, stop it in time and guide it to make the correct response. If the puppy behaves well, give rewards and encouragement to reinforce its friendly behavior.
If it is suspected that the puppy's fighting is due to health problems, take it to the pet hospital for a comprehensive examination in a timely manner. Through professional diagnosis, determine whether there are physical diseases and follow the doctor's advice for treatment. When the puppy recovers its health, its emotions will also stabilize, and the aggressive behavior will naturally decrease.
During the process of training the puppy, the owner's patience and perseverance are the keys. Changing the puppy's fighting habit doesn't happen overnight, and there may be setbacks. But no matter how many difficulties we encounter, we should not give up. Every effort we make is to create a better social environment for the puppy and to safeguard its health and happiness. With our love and professionalism, help the puppy learn to get along harmoniously with other dogs, so that it can freely play happily with its little friends in the sun and enjoy a wonderful dog's life.