Dealing With Fighting Dogs

Here in the UK I've been reading rather a lot about fighting dogs recently. I don't mean dogs that were bred to fight, rather dogs that, for one reason or another, have been getting involved in brawls and causing trouble.

The most high profile of these cases has involved Princess Anne. If you live outside the UK you've probably not heard anything about it, but she's been getting a lot of bad press recently over the fact that one or more of her 3 bull terriers has been putting the royal boot in.

First of all one of them attacked a favourite corgi of the Queen's just before Christmas. It must have grabbed it by a leg as the upshot was that the corgi's leg was badly broken in several places. Unfortunately the damage was so serious that the corgi had to be put to sleep the following day.

Then not long afterwards the same bull terrier attacked a royal servant, biting her on the leg also.

The Princess Royal and her bull terriers are getting a bit of a reputation for themselves; not so long ago another one of them chased a boy cycling through Windsor Great Park and attacked him.

About 6 weeks ago I read about a man who'd been walking his dog when it was suddenly attacked by another dog being walked by someone coming towards him. The victim's owner took umbrage and kicked the attacking dog, whereupon its owner retaliated by picking up a big stick and laying into the man who'd just kicked his dog. In no time it had erupted into an all round brawl.

Around the same time I was walking my two dogs when I met someone walking three. I've seen her loads of times and know her by name. I've only ever seen her with 2 dogs before. On this occasion as well as her usual two she also had an elderly boxer with her.

As we passed each other, to my astonishment the boxer launched a frenzied and totally unprovoked attack on Bracken. She's no brawler by any stretch of the imagination - she's normally completely submissive to strange dogs. But by the same token she'll stand her ground if she's attacked so, predictably, she retaliated. Within a split second the pair of them were going hammer and tong.

And over the years I have to say that all of my dogs have at one time or another been the subject of a completely unprovoked attack by another dog. (Actually that's not quite true. I've just realised that young Tufter, who's now seven and a half months, hasn't been. But it wouldn't surprise me if it happens at some point....)

So what am I getting at?

The point I'm trying to make is that there seem to be rather a lot of untrustworthy dogs about. Don't get me wrong - they only represent a minority, but unfortunately because we come across dogs in all walks of life, even a minority can add up to a sizeable number.

And it's all so completely unneccesary. Socialising a young pup is incredibly easy - all you have to do is take it out and about so it meets plenty of other dogs and people.

And that's pretty much it really. Obviously if you see some savage, snarling hell-hound that eats puppies for breakfast that's one to keep off your guest list. Introducing your youngster to a dog like that will do more harm than good.

But so long as the other dogs you meet are normal, well adjusted mutts, the more the merrier. Actively seek out other dogs and take yours up to meet them. How can your pup possibly be expected to learn how to interact with other dogs if it's constantly denied their company?

It's the same with kids - they only learn how to get on with other people once they're thrown into the rough and tumble of nursery, playgrounds, school etc.

On the mercifully rare occasions that we hear of parents who've shut their children away and denied them all contact with the outside world, we discover young people who are bewildered and frightened, and completely lacking in the skills necessary for normal everyday communication.

I know that's an extreme example, but the basic principle with dogs is the same. If you never allow your dog to mix with others, instead always keeping it away from canine contact, it will never develop its social skills. It is likey to grow up into just the sort of dog that will attack other dogs for no apparent reason.

So go out of your way to meet up with other dog owners - your local park is probably the perfect place.

Or what about contacting your vet? Here in the UK many vet's surgeries are now organising regular 'puppy parties'. These are 15 - 30 minute sessions where a whole bunch of similarly aged puppies can come together to meet one another. They are an *excellent* idea.

Or maybe your local dog training class will do something similar.

If you draw a blank with either of these two don't give up. Just try and get creative. Try proactively tracking down other owners. See if your vet will let you put up a notice in the surgery saying you want to get together with other owners.

Do any of your friends or neighbours have young dogs you can meet up with? Or maybe they know of other people they can put you in touch with. Just ask around and get the jungle drums beating. But please *do* make the effort - it's so important for the future wellbeing of your dog. (Not to mention it can be great fun for you too - watching dogs playing together is one of the joys of dog ownership. And you just might find you build some terrific friendships of your own in the process. A common love of dogs, and lurchers in particular, sparked a friendship for me almost 15 years ago that's still going strong. In the 15 years since we met, this particular friend and I have seen loved people and dogs come and go, we've both settled down and had families and our lives have changed dramatically. But still our friendship endures and we still regularly go for dog walks together.)

When I'm out with my dogs I regularly meet people who obviously don't trust their own dog with others. They wrap the lead several times round their wrist, and some even cross the street to avoid direct contact. They're obviously anticipating trouble. Either they must think me and my dogs look a very unsavoury bunch (!), or else they know their own dog's a trouble maker.

That's just so sad. Not only are they denying their own dog the pleasure of meeting and playing with other dogs, but they're also just perpetuating the problem of aggressive dogs.

Please, please don't become like this yourself. If you haven't already done it, get your dog socialised. Get out and about with it and actively seek out other dog owners.

Recommended reading "Dog Training Blueprint To Success".

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