Do dogs forgive each other after a fight?
Anahi Wisoky
2025-06-21 00:04:01
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They’re social animals, so it stands to reason that they tend to cooperate and try to minimise conflict. But what happens when there’s a small bust-up or a fight? While they’ll sometimes just walk away and leave each other alone, other times, they’ll go through a process of reconciliation and make up after the fight. In this study, researchers watched dogs interacting with one another at a two-acre dog park over eight months to learn more about why dogs might forgive after a fight. The study found only one theory matched in this context: uncertainty and stress reduction best explained the behaviour of the dogs. They found that both victims and aggressors showed reconciliation behaviours towards one another after a conflict. Both tended to spend more time together after the conflict regardless of if they had an existing relationship. While it seems dogs do forgive after a fight, there’s still a lot more to learn about reconciliation in dogs. It’s not an apology – it’s ‘that situation is over, let’s move on.’ Reconciliation reduces the risk of repeat aggression only in that immediate situation, it does not predict future behaviours.
Sid Ferry
2025-06-12 05:43:03
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: 8
They usually figure these things out themselves, but this time, Bella did not submit. Both dogs have known each other since Reesie was a puppy and have recently started living in the same home. Reesie often resource guards, but Bella generally submits and flips over - she doesn't take up the fight. They are separate but still aggressive towards the other one. Bella's growling seems to come from fear as she visibly shakes when she hears Reesie is behind the door. Reesie's hackles still go up and it is obvious that she wants to continue the fight. I have read about slowly introducing, starting with walks (with muzzles and distance), - but wanted to see if there are any other suggestions?
Angelita Bauch
2025-06-03 20:36:18
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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. If the dogs become calm after a fight they can move on and be fine. After the fight has been broken up you should immediately get both dogs to lay down and become calm where the fight happened. If it takes 3o minutes, so be it. WALK THEM TOGETHER AFTER A FIGHT AS FAR/LONG AS YOU CAN. Once they are calm and tired you are going to let them back together. It's really quite remarkable how quickly they move past.
Leon Cummings
2025-05-30 06:21:36
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While we don’t speak “dog”, there may be a way dogs apologize to each other. Usually though, dogs tend to simply walk away after a fight with another dog. After a while, they may reconcile, with the offending dog expressing regret through body language. They also watch for your reaction, but in the case of other dogs, this reaction is likely to be from the other dog involved in the fight. Dog psychology associates many theories with dog behaviors, including their methods of saying sorry. Studies show that dogs express apologetic gestures because of the reaction they get from you, or in this case, the other dog. As a result, it seems like an apology when they respond to you with body language. Usually, dogs tend to simply walk away after a fight with another dog, and after a while, they may reconcile.
Hattie Moen
2025-05-19 13:10:35
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: 12
They were totally back to normal, like nbd. We were more shaken than they were because literally within 30 seconds they were totally back to normal. I think we have an overarching stress factor that we can’t really combat right now, but we can be extra cautious when there’s food around since that’s been the consistent trigger for them. I’ve been thinking about, too, how my siblings and I used to fight. Things that wouldn’t normally push your buttons, on a bad day can totally send you over the edge, and it’s the same for our dogs. Take deep breaths.
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