04/08/2026
Most dog fights don't start with teeth.
They start with repeated harassment that owners mistake for "playing."
In behavioural science, this is called rehearsal. The more a dog rehearses a behaviour without consequences, the stronger that behaviour becomes.
If one dog keeps bothering another that's trying to walk away, you're watching a conflict grow in real time.
Your job isn't to wait until blood is drawn.
Your job is to interrupt the instigator before the tolerant dog decides to defend itself.
Think of it like this...
If one child keeps slapping another child every day and the parents keep saying, "They'll sort it out," what happens eventually?
The quiet child snaps.
Dogs are no different.
Stop rewarding bad behaviour with your inaction.
A clear, well timed consequence today can prevent a serious fight tomorrow.
Don't wait for a bite to prove there was a problem.