My dogs fought over a chew toy... should I have let them continue?

I have 2 dogs and they got into a fight over a chew toy. I broke it up because it was scary! One got a hurt leg and the other got a little wound on his head. Should I have just let them figure it out themselves or did I do the right thing? IDK if I made the right call…

You definitely did the right thing breaking it up! If they’re hurting each other, it’s better to step in. Have you noticed any possessive behavior before? Like over food or space?

Mickey said:
You definitely did the right thing breaking it up! If they’re hurting each other, it’s better to step in. Have you noticed any possessive behavior before? Like over food or space?

Yeah, I had a similar issue with my dogs. I had to step in too. One of mine is a bit possessive over food. Maybe that’s the cause?

@Mitchell
That’s a good point. Possessive aggression can be a reason for fights like that. I’d definitely work on training to curb that behavior. NILF program might help a lot.

I’ve had this issue with my dogs too. I usually try to separate them after a fight like that, but yeah, you need to keep an eye on those wounds. Clean it up and make sure they’re not infected.

Nala said:
I’ve had this issue with my dogs too. I usually try to separate them after a fight like that, but yeah, you need to keep an eye on those wounds. Clean it up and make sure they’re not infected.

Oh wow, I didn’t think about the infection part. Good call! I’ll do that. Thanks for the tip.

I think breaking up the fight was smart. But if it’s a repeated thing, definitely look into training. NILF can really help, and make sure they understand who’s in charge. Did you try the leave-it command?

@Sully
I’ve heard of NILF but not leave-it. What’s that? Can it really help stop the fights?

Hepburn said:
@Sully
I’ve heard of NILF but not leave-it. What’s that? Can it really help stop the fights?

Leave-it is a command to stop them from focusing on something they shouldn’t, like toys or food. It’s super helpful to stop fights before they start. Look it up, it’s a game-changer!

I’ve been there too. If you can’t separate them, you might need to remove anything they’re possessive about. It could also help to keep them in different rooms when you’re not around.

Good luck! It sounds like you’re on the right track. I’d suggest getting a trainer who can help you with their behavior, especially if it’s about possession aggression.

Melanie said:
Good luck! It sounds like you’re on the right track. I’d suggest getting a trainer who can help you with their behavior, especially if it’s about possession aggression.

Yeah, I’m going to call my old trainer and see if they can help. Thanks for the encouragement!