why is my dog now aggressive towards other dogs

When we joyfully take our dog out, expecting it to play happily and share happy moments with other dogs, it suddenly shows aggression towards other dogs, grimacing, barking loudly, and even biting. This sudden change shocks and worries us. The once gentle and lovely dog seems to have changed its appearance, and our hearts are filled with confusion and heartache. We urgently want to figure out: why is my dog now aggressive towards other dogs?

Dogs develop aggression towards other dogs, and their natural factors cannot be ignored. Some dog breeds already have strong territorial awareness and protective instincts, which are characteristics formed during their long-term evolution. For example, German Shepherd Dogs, Rowena Dogs, etc., instinctively drive away and defend against unfamiliar dogs entering their territory. Even for pet dogs that have been artificially bred, this nature may still exist. When we see our own dogs, especially this breed of dog, suddenly showing aggression towards other dogs, we should understand that this may be due to their innate instinct at work. We recall the behavior of dogs in their daily lives. Perhaps they are particularly vigilant when they are outside their homes or in areas where they often play. Once a stranger approaches, they immediately issue a warning, but we do not realize that this is their natural sense of territoriality at work.

Past experiences have a profound impact on a dog's behavior. If a dog has been bullied or attacked by other dogs during its puppy years, this painful experience may leave a shadow in its heart. When encountering other dogs again, it will instinctively launch a preemptive attack out of self-protection, trying to avoid being hurt again. For example, once a puppy was surrounded by several larger dogs while playing in the park. Although it did not suffer serious physical injuries, this experience filled it with fear and hostility towards other dogs. Since then, whenever it sees other dogs approaching, it immediately enters an attack state, trying to scare them away.

Lack of social training is also an important reason for dogs to be aggressive towards other dogs. During the puppy stage, dogs need to interact with different people and animals to learn how to get along with them. If it has limited contact with dogs at this stage and lacks understanding of the behavior patterns and social signals of its peers, it is easy to develop aggressive behavior due to nervousness and discomfort when encountering other dogs. For example, a dog that has been kept at home and rarely has the opportunity to interact with other dogs outside may feel extremely uneasy when encountering other dogs for the first time, and may express their fear through attacks. We regret not taking our dog out to socialize more when it was young, which caused it to miss the opportunity to learn to be friendly with other dogs. Now we can only make up for it by working hard.

Competition for resources can also trigger aggression from dogs towards other dogs. Food, toys, and even the owner's attention can all become resources that dogs compete for. When two dogs see a delicious bone at the same time or both want to play with the same toy, they may fight fiercely to obtain these resources. In their cognition, only through struggle can they obtain what they want. And dogs are also extremely concerned about their owners' attention. When a dog feels neglected by its owner while another dog receives more care, it may develop hostility towards the favored dog, leading to aggressive behavior. We recall our usual way of treating dogs, whether we inadvertently made them aware of resource competition, and our hearts are full of self blame. We hope to adjust in a timely manner, so that dogs can feel equal love.

Health issues can also lead to abnormal behavior in dogs, including aggression towards other dogs. Certain diseases or physical discomforts can make dogs restless and easily irritated. For example, if a dog suffers from ear infections, arthritis, and other diseases, the physical pain can make it emotionally unstable and reduce its tolerance for other dogs. When other dogs approach, it may vent its anger on them due to its own discomfort. We carefully observe the daily behavior of the dog to see if there are any other abnormal behaviors, such as frequent scratching of the ears, abnormal walking posture, etc. We anxiously want to take it to the veterinarian to confirm if it is a health problem that has caused its aggression.

When we discover that a dog is aggressive towards other dogs, we should not rush to blame it, but patiently search for the reasons behind it. Every dog is unique, and there are complex factors behind their aggressive behavior. We need to give dogs more care and understanding, and through proper guidance and training, help them gradually overcome aggression and learn to be friendly with other dogs again. We believe that as long as we explore the reasons with our hearts and guide them with love, dogs can definitely get rid of aggression, reintegrate into harmonious social life, and accompany us through countless beautiful days.