Can dogs be traumatized after a fight?
Catharine Lemke
2025-06-26 14:43:40
Count answers: 4
One morning while walking him we witnessed a very bad car accident that involved a vehicle losing control and smashing through the window of the restaurant directly across the street from us. The sound of the impact was absolutely tremendous. From there, came sirens, firetrucks, police, and since we'd witnessed the incident I had to stay to give a statement. This, unfortunately prolonged his exposure to this very stressful event. Now since then his fears have grown exponentially, daily. What was once a curious, bold dog, Brennan has now begun to process the outside world as wrought with seen and unseen terrors. Every sound, shadow, sudden movement, car door slamming, car alarm, trees rustling, empty blue bin on the sidewalk, trains, motorcycles, lawnmowers, anything and everything has the potential to be a threat. He is in constant flight mode.
Jed Mitchell
2025-06-26 14:15:14
Count answers: 10
Dogs are highly sensitive to their environments and can often pick up on the stress levels of their humans. When humans argue, it can often be loud and emotional, and dogs are very attuned to these types of cues and can become stressed as a result. Dogs who live in homes with high levels of conflict between their guardians may be more likely to suffer from anxiety and other behavioral problems. This will particularly be the case if arguments are accompanied by loud, frightening, or confusing noises like shouting and slamming doors. If your dog is already prone to anxiety, it is likely that arguments will have a negative impact on their well-being. Younger dogs, especially puppies, are also more likely to be negatively impacted. Another negative effect that fights at home may have on your dog is that they may begin to exhibit aggressive behaviors towards the people you tend to argue with. This is caused by your dog's strong need to protect you as their leader and primary carer. They may bark at or even attempt to bite a family member or friend if they perceive them as a threat towards you as a result of witnessing arguments between you. Arguing also has some physical effects on dogs, studies have shown that dogs living in homes with high levels of conflict are more likely to suffer from cardiovascular problems.
Lexus Feeney
2025-06-26 13:44:28
Count answers: 6
If you own more than one dog you would be considered lucky if you have never had a fight between your dogs. A large majority of the calls I get are based on dogs in the same home who can't get along, and once the pattern of fighting between 2 dogs in the home gets started - it can be very difficult to fix. If dogs are separated after a fight and not calmed down first, they get stuck in a fight state of mind towards the other dog and it gets really bad. Isolate the dogs from one another is not recommended, as a bit of scar tissue develops in their mind, and in your emotions, and after a few fights the scar can become too deep, which can lead to intense dog aggression. Dogs live in the moment and argue and fight like little kids on a playground, they don't hold grudges and once the fight has passed the dogs have moved on, however, some of the most intense dog aggression has been from dogs who live together. After a fight has been broken up you should immediately get both dogs to lay down and become calm where the fight happened, if it takes 30 minutes, so be it, and once they are calm and tired you are going to let them back together. WALK THEM TOGETHER AFTER A FIGHT AS FAR/LONG AS YOU CAN, as this is VERY IMPORTANT, to prevent the development of scar tissue. Once the fight ends and you have calmed them you need to make a quick medical check to ensure there are no serious injuries.
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