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My two male dogs are fighting. What can I do to stop their aggression?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Medium (23 - 60lb) | Male | unneutered | 3 years and 1 month old | 50 lbs

My two male dawgs won't stop fighting. Usually me and my brother grab one each and when the terrier lets go of the lab cross, we seperate them. Usually reintroduce them and they're fine until next time it happens. However this time the jack Russell will growl and lunge as soon as the other walks in the room. We kept them both on a lead after walking them. Nothing's working, neither are neutered will this stop it happening? They're 3 and 15 months.

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Jessica Desrosiers

Veterinary Technician

Published on June 5th, 2017

Neutering can sometimes help with interdog aggression, so if you plan on keeping them both, having them neutered may help. If they are constantly fighting with each other, it may also be time to bring in a professional who can view the situation in person and help formulate a training plan to get the dogs OK around each other. You may need to keep them completely separated and slowly introduce them in a neutral location such as on a walk, and then only have short monitored sessions until they can be trusted around each other. However, if one dog is lunging and growling before even being introduced, seeking professional help is best.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT
Licensed Veterinary Technician
Try to determine what is setting them off. Once that is accomplished, you can remove or reduce the negative stimuli. Provide extra food/water bowls, toys and bedding to prevent aggression from resource protection. Feed them separately to avoid food aggression. Pheromone products such as the Adaptil collar or DAP plug in diffuser may decrease anxiety or aggression in the home. Consider a consultation with one of our experts, Dr. Jennifer Summerfield. In addition to being a trainer, she has experience in dealing with pets with behavioral issues.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Jenny, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on November 22nd, 2017
You must first establish what they are fighting over. Is it food, toys, attention, territory? You can start by minimizing the problem. If it is food, feed then separately and take up bowls once finished. You may have to go without toys if they can't get along. Make sure they are both neutered as this can also help. You may need to consult a trainer to resolve any other issues or possibly rehoming one if it can't work for their safety
3Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Jessica Desrosiers
Veterinary Technician
Published on May 22nd, 2018
It's possible, and if there is, having both of your dogs neutered may reduce the fighting. Other possible causes can include pain or illness, as those can both cause sudden behavioral changes in dogs that may cause them to lash out.

I would separate both dogs, and have a vet checkup to rule out any health issues. if they check out healthy, having them neutered may help. If you don't wish to neuter them, it may be a good idea to speak with a trainer or behaviorist in person who can observe their behavior and help formulate a more tailored plan. Slow, careful introductions may help, and if the dogs become too nervous or excited, separating them until they are calm again is best before reintroducing.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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Will neutering help my aggressive dog brothers stop fighting?

Yes, having them fixed can help reduce aggression as dogs fight over territory and females. I would definitely have them both fixed, and I would also recommend professional behavioral training for them both when they are fixed. This can help with the aggressive behaviors, and I recommend using a professional because training aggressive dogs can be dangerous. I never suggest owners do it on their own for safety reasons. First step is to get them fixed, and I would have that done asap.

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Why do my spayed/neutered dogs fight? How to stop their aggression?

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Why is my male dog aggressive towards other dogs? Does neutering help?

Canine aggression is a complex behavior as it can stem from dominance, possessiveness, fear, anxiety, resource guarding or a combination. Most people are not familiar with reading canine body language and training. Because of this, I recommend to work with a professional trainer. Researching on your own will also be helpful. Familiarizing yourself with canine body language and dog training can help you to recognize what your pet is trying to say. You can find many books written on the topic and there is a trainer named Victoria Stilwell who I think is particularly helpful. Certainly male dogs who are not neutered are more prone to fighting and aggression. Neutering him may help but it will not likely solve all the problems. Best of luck.

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My two male dogs fight. Is unneutered status causing aggression?

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My intact male dog fights other male dogs. How can I help him?

I'm sorry you are dealing with this problem! The first thing to do is neuter Loki. His aggressive behaviors to other male dogs could be due to the hormones produced from being intact. Intact male dogs will fight to protect their territory and for females. Neutering him can help reduce the aggressive tendencies. After that is done, I recommend getting him in with a professional behavioral expert. I never recommend owners work with aggressive behaviors on their own due to the serious risks to safety, and it is something that is best left to the professionals. A behavioral expert can work with Loki and you on his aggression, and can help train him to reduce it. Good luck, I hope this helps!

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Why are my intact male dogs fighting after moving in with a female?

Neutering both dogs at 1 year of age may help if this is related to the female (male dogs may still try to claim possession of her even if she is fixed). If the younger dog is already exhibiting undesirable behaviors, you may look at neutering him now. There is a possibility this is not related to the female. Working with a professional trainer may be your best option. Also, after the neutering, the hormones will still be around for about a month so it’s not instantaneous. I hope this helps.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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