Why Do Female Dogs Fight?

Reviewed By Kim •  Updated: 05/21/22 •  3 min read
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Why Do Female Dogs Fight?

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When you have two female dogs, there may be problems with the girls fighting. This can be normal behavior between female dogs, and it can be a huge challenge to manage. But it’s important to remember that dogs are social animals, and they will have “arguments” from time to time. It’s also possible they may even have a more serious fight.

But what causes this behavior? What’s the problem? There are many issues that can cause two female dogs to fight. We’ve put together information about some of the most common reasons two girl dogs may fight with one another. Let’s get started!

1. Female Dogs are the Same Age & Competing for Breeding Rights

This is one of the most common issues that can cause two female dogs to fight. In the wild, a canine pack never has two females of breeding age together. Our domesticated dogs still have this instinct and when we force two females into an unnatural relationship (being together in one home), it can lead to the dogs fighting.

If the females are close in age, they may be fighting to win breeding rights. This may be the case if there’s also a male dog in the household or if there are male dogs in the neighborhood.

This problem is more common in female dogs that have not been spayed.  Spaying the dogs may help ease the problem.

2. Leader of the Pack

Wild dog packs have a social hierarchy, and our domesticated fur babies still carry this instinct. If you have more than one dog in the home, it’s possible one dog may try to act as the leader of the pack. This can lead to aggression between two female dogs.

3. Access to Resources

Dogs will also fight over access to resources. Your dogs are probably well-fed and have plenty of access to water. However, a female dog that wants to be dominant may try to keep the other dog away from the water and food bowls. The female acting as pack leader may also keep the other dog from coming to you, as you are viewed as a resource not to be shared!

Solving this can be challenging; however, having two sets of food and water bowls may help. It can also help to have two sets of toys, beds, and more. However, when it comes to you, it’s necessary to spend quality time with both dogs together at the same time, if possible.

Summing It Up

These are some of the most common issues that may cause two female dogs to fight. If you’re not able to resolve the problems between the dogs, it may be a good idea to have the dogs examined by the vet. If the girls are healthy, the vet may suggest having them spayed and/or taking them to a professional animal behaviorist to learn how to get along.

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Kim

Kim is a talented author, who loves animals especially dogs. She engaged in writing books and articles relating to animals a decade ago. Kim resides in Chicago with her husband and son. The family is the proud owner of a dog and a parrot (Jack and Lily). Kim wanted more than these two pets, but her husband put his foot down... She often visits elementary schools to talk to the kids about what she learned about pets and how they could learn from them.