When Two Dogs Don't Get Along

What can you do if a dog doesn't get along with other animals? Who hasn't experienced it – during a walk you meet another dog with its human. One of the dogs barks and pulls wildly at the lead. In short, it gets terribly worked up. It is often the case that the other dog then starts to act up too. This is actually not entirely unusual behaviour. In fact, consistent ignoring often gets you a long way.

How did this behaviour come about

Sometimes a dog has already had negative experiences with others, and for it attack was the best form of defence. It may also be that a dog is generally rather insecure and expresses this through heightened aggression. Almost always the situation is made worse by the owners. They soothe with kind words or intervene somewhat more forcefully. Unfortunately, this is often misunderstood by the dogs, namely as confirmation of their current behaviour. As a result, the dog's efforts to really let rip now intensify.

The self-control of the person handling the dog is important

This is simply down to your own aura. When you're out walking the dog and see the approaching person, your heartbeat often quickens because you don't know exactly what will happen now. This also changes the person's scent. Stress hormones are released, which the other dog perceives too. Anyone who tightens the lead in fright or unconsciously changes their step is unconsciously giving the dog the command to attack. If the person handling the dog reacts in a relaxed way, because they assume they have the situation under control, the four-legged friend usually is too.

• Keep calm yourself and radiate composure
• Avoiding unconscious confirmation through reassurance
• Keeping the lead loose and showing self-assurance
• Consistently ignoring the dog in the case of misbehaviour

The social structure and breed-specific differences

So when two dogs don't get along, it is usually a home-made problem. Dogs generally get along well, even if this sometimes first requires a bit of clarification. Dogs do it just the way dogs do. Sniffing, growling and perhaps having a scuffle, and afterwards things are usually fine again. Unfortunately, these days there are many dogs bred to be very small. When a large dog then wants to teach manners to the small – and often completely spoiled – dog, you should protect the little animal. The little dog doesn't know how small it actually is. Nature had not intended it that way, and, as so often, it is influenced by humans.

This article serves as general information and as support for a relaxed coexistence during encounters with other dogs.