One of the reasons for PetHub's goal to get lost pets home quickly is to avoid injuries by other animals. Still, dog fights happen, even in normal day-to-day situations where your pet might not be missing and is safely in your care or the care of your pet sitter, trainer, etc. Dogs are protective of their territory and especially of their human "pack members," as well as food, toys, and so on. Because of this natural instinct, it's not uncommon for dogs to get into fights with one another, particularly if both are dominant and aggressive animals. (Even the smallest dogs may provoke fights from time to time).

It’s important to ensure that neither animal is physically injured as the result of an altercation and that emotional trauma is minimized (both for the dogs and their caretakers ;-) Fights between dogs can cause even more problems when the two animals live in the same home and share the same family. While it may take some time and work on your part, in almost all instances the two dogs can be positively reunited and taught to play together again, safely.

When two dogs are fighting, the results can be brutal, even deadly. The important thing is to attempt to separate the two animals without putting yourself or others in harm's way. Once the animals have been separated and placed out of reach of one another, the next item of business is to check both dogs for wounds, blood, or bite marks. Virtually any puncture, laceration, or other wound has the possibility of becoming infected, so if you spot any evidence of these problems, be sure to thoroughly clean the area and, in some cases, if the injury is substantial enough, take your dog to your vet.

It's normal to expect both dogs to behave abnormally after a fight; they may be shaky, aggressive, or completely terrified. Once any physical wounds have been tended, the best cure is rest, relaxation, and affection. Some have recommended that the dogs not be anywhere near one another for at least 48 hours following the fight, even if they live in the same household, while others recommend that getting a positive interaction between the two animals as soon as possible is the best course of action -- at the end of the day, however, you know your dog better than anyone, trust your instincts and don't force anything.

After an attack, particularly if your dog was not the instigator and does not naturally have an aggressive personality, it's likely that your pooch will experience symptoms of fear and anxiety. If you need to visit your vet following the incident, it's a good idea to mention your dog's symptoms. In some cases, anti-anxiety medication or a mild sedative may help your dog relax following an attack, helping him to recuperate faster.

Following a fight with another dog, your dog may be more clingy than usual, and need an extra bit of comfort and attention. While it's perfectly fine to offer this kind of reassurance and affection, it's important that you don't coddle your dog. Overly protective behavior may just enhance a dog's sense of fear and anxiety, creating phobias and clingy behaviors that may stay with your dog long-term. Allowing your dog to constantly be carried around or sleep in your bed will not help him recover from the fight, and is likely to enhance a feeling of fear and powerlessness your dog is suffering. The best thing you can do for your dog is to provide as normal of an environment as possible, encouraging him to remain independent and assertive in his everyday life.

It is not uncommon for dogs to act out after an attack; soiling indoors, behaving aggressively toward others, and doing things he knows he's not allowed to do. While you may want to be gentler in disciplining your dog, it's important that you don't give him a free pass just because he may have been hurt or injured. Make it clear to your dog that the rules haven't changed, and that you're there to show him affection, but bad behavior will not be tolerated.

If the fight was an isolated incident, there's a fairly good probability that the dogs can be taught to live together peacefully, or to play together without incident. Dogs that have had a pattern of hostility towards one another may not ever reconcile to the other's presence, and if they continue to fight or instigate trouble, it's best to keep the dogs apart. Choosing to let the dogs work it out can result in one of them being injured or even killed.

In order to reintroduce the dogs, you'll need a helper to handle one of them. Take the dogs out in an open space, preferably not anywhere near where the fight occurred. Start on opposite sides of the yard from each other, drilling each of the dogs on basic commands. The idea is that the dogs are each so focused on their handlers and the task at hand that they're virtually unaware of one another. Lots of treats, rewards and positive reinforcement as with any training is equally critical here.

Once the dogs are paying attention to their respective handlers and performing their commands, try moving a few feet closer to each other and repeat the exercises. If either dog fixates on the other, becomes aggressive or frightened, or becomes too over-stimulated to pay attention to his handler, back up a few feet until you can get the dog's attention again. If the dogs politely acknowledge one another without hostility, they should be given praise and treats. This may need to be repeated daily until the dogs show no indication of being bothered by one another.

As with any kind of training, patience, affection and positive reinforcement win the day. Keep your pet safe with a current identification tag so that if he does get away from you and into a fight with another animal, you can get him home again quickly.

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