LIFESTYLE NEWS - Many pet owners have experienced the distressing scenario of their dog being attacked, whether during a casual walk or amidst the chaos of a multi-dog household.
Imagine enjoying a peaceful stroll when, out of nowhere, an aggressive dog lunges at your beloved companion. Alternatively, you might witness two of your dogs engaging in a sudden, aggressive confrontation in your living room.
After breaking up the fight and rushing your dog to the vet for treatment of any scrapes or puncture wounds, you might think the worst is over.
However, the emotional scars left by such encounters can have profound effects, transforming your once-friendly dog into a more apprehensive and reluctant socialiser.
Local animal behaviourist George van Huyssteen, explains more about this topic.
After an incident, it's common to observe behavioural changes in your dog.
What was once a sociable pup may now display hesitance around other dogs, or, in the case of a multi-dog environment, the relationship between the two that fought may become fraught with tension, possibly leading to more frequent and serious altercations.
Understanding the reasons behind such transformations and knowing how to address them is crucial.
Often, these attacks occur due to several factors, such as insufficient supervision during walks - especially if dogs are allowed off-lead - or failure to recognise the signs of play turning into over-excitement and, eventually, aggressive responses.
The personalities and play styles of dogs can vary significantly.
For instance, some dogs possess poor social skills, while others may feel uncomfortable in the presence of unfamiliar dogs. This can lead to misunderstandings where playful interactions escalate into serious fights.
Additionally, dogs that lack proper socialisation during their critical development phases may misread other dogs' body language, triggering more aggressive responses. Regardless of the initiating cause, a vet visit is often necessary, but emotional recovery requires attention as well.
It's about chemicals
The release of adrenaline and cortisol during stressful events is regulated by the sympathetic nervous system, which plays a crucial role in the body’s response to perceived threats.
In the wild, these hormones were vital for survival, helping animals react to danger either by fighting or fleeing.
While these responses are still relevant today, an overactive sympathetic nervous system can lead to heightened arousal in our dogs, which may have negative consequences.
When a dog experiences stress, the surge of cortisol leads to significant physiological changes. Heart rate, breathing rate, and blood pressure all increase, preparing the body for immediate action.
Digestive processes slow down as energy is redirected towards muscles to enable the ‘fight or flight’ response. Furthermore, the heightened release of adrenaline and cortisol alters brain function, making the dog more reactive to environmental stimuli.
Rather than evaluating a situation thoughtfully, the dog may respond instinctively to stressors, which can lead to aggressive behaviour.
Additionally, sustained high levels of adrenaline are linked to increased vigilance and anxiety, causing dogs to be more sensitive to minor stressors in their environment. This hyper-arousal state can persist, with it taking up to six days for hormone levels to normalise following a stressful event.
If a dog continues to live in this heightened state of arousal, he might struggle to remain calm and may find it difficult to process situations rationally. Over time, this relentless stress can lead to physical health issues and behavioural problems, making it easier for the dog to react excessively or inappropriately to everyday situations.
The cumulative effects of chronic stress can result in significant physiological maladaptation, ultimately impacting the dog’s overall well-being.
How can I help my dog after a severe attack?
Protecting from negative encounters: Immediately after an incident, dogs can be exceptionally vulnerable. Stress responses in dogs can take time to normalise—sometimes even several days.
During this recovery period, it’s vital to protect your dog from further negative encounters that might amplify their stress levels. Prevent all off-lead interactions during this time to help your dog regain a sense of safety.
Limit social interactions: For the time being, restrict your dog’s interactions with other dogs until you can see the dog has calmed down significantly. You can allow interactions with a select few bomb-proof, well-socialised dogs that have been thoroughly screened for age, temperament, and social skills.
This controlled exposure can gently reintroduce your dog to friendly interactions. Remedial socialisation strategies might help the dog to overcome possible negative associations made with other dogs in general.
Creating positive experiences: Slowly introduce new, positive experiences through structured interactions with socially adept other dogs. As above, these well-adjusted dogs should be able to communicate non-threatening body language and provide comforting signals to your potentially fearful dog.
Playdates with these selected dogs can help your dog gradually rebuild their confidence in social situations.
Addressing conflicts in multi-dog homes: When dealing with household conflicts, proactive measures are essential. Prevent the dogs involved from rehearsing problematic behaviours. The more these negative interactions occur, the more ingrained they become, making them difficult to resolve.
Keeping the dogs separated until an effective behaviour modification programme can be implemented is wise.
Consulting a qualified animal behaviourist is invaluable as they will conduct a functional analysis to identify specific triggers behind aggressive behaviours and their effects on your household dynamics.
Once your dog has had time to calm down, typically after several days, implementing a behaviour modification programme focused on desensitisation and counterconditioning can be beneficial. This approach aims to modify your dog's negative emotional responses to other dogs.
In severe cases, you may need to consider long-term management strategies, and in some instances, rehoming one of the dogs may be necessary.
It’s critical to refrain from punishing or forcing the dogs to get along, as this will only heighten their fear and exacerbate the issues.
Preventive measures
An old adage reminds us that prevention is better than cure. To protect your dog while out in public areas, keep them on a lead unless you are certain there are no other dogs nearby. Within a multi-dog household, stay vigilant for warning signs that a fight may be brewing.
Look out for body language cues such as stiffness, freezing, intense staring, as well as growling or snarling. These signs indicate that immediate intervention is necessary to separate the dogs and avert a potential altercation.
Maintaining a close watch and developing an understanding of your canine friend’s behaviour can go a long way in ensuring their well-being and creating a secure environment for all dogs involved.
By fostering a deeper bond with your dogs and becoming attuned to their signals, you can create a harmonious living space and help them navigate the complexities of social interactions with greater ease and confidence.
‘Ons bring jou die nuutste Tuinroete, Hessequa, Karoo nuus’
