There's nothing funny about a dog fight. No matter how adorable puppies may be rolling around in childish wrestling a real dogfight can be extremely dangerous not only to the dogs involved but to anyone in the immediate area. Fighting, like barking and digging is an instinctive behavior, but unlike these it is not enough to deal with the consequences after the fact. Fighting should simply never be allowed.
One step you can and should take is to have your male dog neutered as soon as possible. Males do exhibit more aggressive behavior than females as a general rule. When males reach about six months old they have a big increase in testosterone which triggers aggression and should be anticipated. Neutering will help although its not a cure all
Don't discount the use of a muzzle. The knowledge that he can't fight back will cause him to be far more likely to pass up situations that would normally bring out aggression. Realize, however, that he is defenseless in a muzzle and don't put him in a dangerous position.
Another very helpful piece of equipment is a check or choke collar. Use a sharp check to bring your dog under control as soon as he shows the slightest sign of interest in another dog. Give the “Sit” command and then reward him when he complies. This sends the message that aggression is not only not expected of him but is totally unacceptable.
The added benefit here is that your position as the pack leader will be reinforced and the confidence your dog has in your leadership will be enhanced. The common sense thing to do with a dog who shows any sort aggressive tendencies is to avoid contact with other dogs as much is possible. Just walk away from any potentially dangerous situations.
As you work with your dog to learn good citizenship find a special treat that your dog loves more than anything else. Use this as a reward exclusively for good behavior regarding interaction with other dogs. Give him the treat anytime he comes in contact with other dogs, thus diffusing the situation by diverting his attention. Give it to him even if all that happens is another dog passes on the street. The idea is to associate a super treat with any contact with other dogs causing the association of something good with the presence of another dog. Translation; “Great things happen to me when there is another dog around.” Just remember to reserve the special treat for this purpose only.
Worst-case scenario is that your prevention tactics haven't worked and a fight does start. DO NOT get physically involved. They are past being reasoned with. A usually obedient dog reverts instantly and will be extremely dangerous.
Again, don't get into the middle of the fight. Don't try to get a hold of the collars or push the dogs apart. Instead you may use one of these approaches to try to get the situation under control. Throw a heavy blanket or something of the sort over the dogs. They may be confused and stop at least long enough for you to get them separated if they both have leads on. A water hose or a bucket of water will often stop a fight. If you absolutely must physically stop the fight the best way is to grab the dogs by the tails or the back legs and pull them apart. Hold the leg or tail as high as possible, (above your waist if you can,) to avoid being bitten yourself.
You may find that you have to pry the dogs jaws open. If this is the case use a long broom handle to avoid being bitten.
Again, if you haven't seen a real dog fight you don't have a true concept of the seriousness or the level of violence involved. The animals aren't playing around. They are intent on killing their opponent. Avoiding and preventing dog on dog aggression can't be over emphasized. It isn't the sort of behavior that allows for any bending of the rules.
childish wrestling a real dogfight can be extremely dangerous not only to the dogs involved but to anyone in the immediate area. Fighting, like barking and digging is an instinctive behavior, but unlike these it is not enough to deal with the consequences after the fact. Fighting should simply never be allowed.
