No dog owner wants an aggressive pet, and stopping this aggression is vital for many. Aggression between dogs can be scary and could lead to straight out violence and fighting between the two of them. An all too realistic risk is that either of the dogs is badly hurt - this is not only expensive and stressful but can have a long term effect on how they act. For all these reasons, it is important to try and prevent dog and dog aggression from the very moment you see the warning signs. The following is a basic guide to understanding and preventing this kind of behaviour.

To begin with, it can be useful to simply limit the potential damage. A muzzle will prevent your dog from biting, while you work on their deeper behavioural problems. This will prevent them from getting into scrapes with other dogs in the short term. In the longer term, you need to think about ways of training that will change your dog's behaviour. Ideally these should result in your dog getting on in a much better way with the other local dogs.

It is easiest by far to stop dog on dog aggression through training a puppy from a young age. Puppies will love playing with other young dogs and engaging in friendly roughhousing - this will teach them the acceptable limits of behaviour. Just think - if a person grew up without any kind of contact with other humans, they would hardly be likely to be friendly. The same is true of dogs, and you are simply less likely to see dog on dog aggression if your dog has been accustomed to other dogs from a young age.

We don't all have the opportunity to prevent our dogs aggression towards other dogs through raising them as puppies again - they are already grown. In many cases, the best thing to do is to consult a professional. A good professional dog trainer will quickly be able to spot what is causing this aggression in your dog. They will also be able to recommend a course of action to remedy this dog on dog aggression. It has become accepted practice now for medication to be provided for dogs with behavioural problems to help them overcome these issues.

The solution for aggressive behaviour in dogs, whether directed against humans or other dogs, is never to match violence with violence. In the past a kick at the dog would have been prescribed, but it is accepted now that this is the wrong thing to do. Stern reprimands and firm pulls on the dog's leash will help in calming things down, but do not take it too far. It is also likely to make your dog afraid of you and have them snap at or even bite you in what they see as self defence.

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