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Dogfights are the result of dog-to-dog aggression and there can be many different causes, making this question difficult to answer. There is disagreement even between animal behaviorists on the types of aggression a dog displays. Is all aggression the same or are there different types, such as same sex, food, possessions, territorial, dominance?

There are many general unscientific theories about dogfights that are accepted as fact.

The truth is that there are no (none that I know of) scientific studies showing that any one breed, age, sex or combination of sexes will lead to or avoid dogfights. It would be unethical (not to mention illegal) for any behaviorist to throw dogs together for the purpose of fighting. The studies that are available are from observations of wild dog and wolf packs. The social structure of these groups is based on cooperation for survival, not rampant competitive fighting. Yet the myths abound: females fight more than males, males fight for dominance, and if you are dominant over your dogs, you can avoid fights.

There are some facts that seem to be the origin of the myths, such as an alpha female wolf harassing other females to keep them from coming into season so they will not breed, or a male wolf fighting to keep his status as alpha. But these are a small part of the complex social structure of wild canines. If fighting were commonplace, they would soon be extinct, as should dog trainers be if they keep passing off myths for facts.

So why do our domesticated best friends seem to have more of a problem getting along than their ancestral counterparts?

There is science available to show that various diseases and physical disorders can cause pain, abnormal thinking and poor judgment in dogs just as it can in humans. Medical problems should always be the first thing you rule out when dealing with aggression. The rest of it is again theory. Here are the theories I find most credible:

AWARNESS There seems to be an upward trend in the reported incidence of dogfights in the home. But it is not clear if this is because there is an upward trend in fighting or there is an increase of multiple dogs in the home. If it is the latter, then there is only an increase in reporting rather than fighting.

POOR COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Dogs are not born with the ability to understand each other. We remove a puppy from its litter before many important skills are learned. This leads to (among other things) a dog that never learns proper communication skills with other dogs. A dog that does not understand proper greeting and play signals can misinterpret them and act aggressively.

LEARNED BEHAVIOR

Dogs can learn through example. We have, through the perpetuation of many training myths, been taught that being dominant (usually interpreted as tough) with our dogs is the way to keep them in line. If you confuse dominance with aggression, you can do away with the cooperative balance a natural pack would have. By example you will teach them to be aggressive.

IMPROPER TRAINING

Not all trainers or owners know the risks involved in using correction training. They assume that what has worked with one dog will work with any dog and short-term results are what counts. An unskilled person can stop an unwanted behavior but fail to solve the problem leaving the dog frustrated and stressed. This can come out in aggression redirected toward other dogs in the family.

LACK OF EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

In addition to poor communication, the lack of knowledge about the emotional needs of your dog can lead to many problems. Not teaching coping skills through proper socialization at an early age can lead to frustrated, unhappy, neurotic dogs that become confused and aggressive.

In my research on this subject I have found many dog trainers that claim to be aggression experts yet few, if any, who are able to state the science behind their training techniques. If you are looking for someone to help you with pack squabbles, then be sure it is a professional that understands the difference between myths and science.