Skip to content

What about male dog fights over females in heat…do they try 2 attack "privates"?

Behavioral Issues
  • A friend of mine said her brothers dog was in a fight and almost lost his testicles. Is this unusual behavior or have any of you ever hear of this happening when two males fight over a female???

  • Hmmm…I don't know...my hunch is that it was probably just a coincidence. Most of the damage I have seen in dog fights is neck, face, front legs...I haven't really ever seen much around the rear end....

    I suppose it would depend on what was happening during the fight...if the one dog was trying to run away, and the other dog grabbed him then in the rear, that would make sense. But again, my hunch is that in dog fights they both want to control the head, where the dangerous tools are. If you are biting someone in the butt...they could also be biting you in the butt. So better to bite the head/neck, and push them down.

    Of course this is all speculation :) I hope your friend's dog is okay.

  • Eddie will bite a dog in the butt to break up a fight, then Ed runs and hopes he can outrun the dog he bit!

  • When I watch the dogs play, I often see them flip around and throw their butt in the "attacker's" face. I assumed this was a protective measure, to keep the more vital areas like the neck away from being bitten, and also to allow the dog the freedom to be able to swing it's head around and bite it's attacker? Could this be part of what they are doing when they are actually fighting too? Making sure that the rear is the most likely target to protect the more important areas? Also I know the dogs attacking will want to go for the neck, but if they're chasing another dog, the rear end is the closest. lol That may end up getting the brunt of the bite just for proximity's sake? And of course the privates are very vulnerable unfortunately.

  • @kiroja:

    When I watch the dogs play, I often see them flip around and throw their butt in the "attacker's" face. I assumed this was a protective measure, to keep the more vital areas like the neck away from being bitten, and also to allow the dog the freedom to be able to swing it's head around and bite it's attacker? Could this be part of what they are doing when they are actually fighting too? Making sure that the rear is the most likely target to protect the more important areas? Also I know the dogs attacking will want to go for the neck, but if they're chasing another dog, the rear end is the closest. lol That may end up getting the brunt of the bite just for proximity's sake? And of course the privates are very vulnerable unfortunately.

    We call that "butt check" at our house ;) Yeah, definitely a big part of play…I wanna say that might be a way to say 'see we are still playing here'....I can't imagine a dog in a real fight taking the chance of turning his back on the attacker. Though, I am used to seeing girl, girl fights...where neither girl is willing to surrender...it could be that a dog who really doesn't want to fight will try to protect his head and neck by offering other 'parts'...it would definitely indicate that the other dog wasn't reading his signs correctly...either by the dog offering surrender, or running away...it isn't really appropriate for the attacking dog to continue attacking.

    I am rambling :)

  • @MacPack:

    Eddie will bite a dog in the butt to break up a fight, then Ed runs and hopes he can outrun the dog he bit!

    Querk will bite butts to get the girls ALL riled up so they chase him…the only one who REALLY takes offense to it is Ivy ;)

  • @Quercus:

    …I can't imagine a dog in a real fight taking the chance of turning his back on the attacker. Though, I am used to seeing girl, girl fights...where neither girl is willing to surrender...it could be that a dog who really doesn't want to fight will try to protect his head and neck by offering other 'parts'...it would definitely indicate that the other dog wasn't reading his signs correctly...either by the dog offering surrender, or running away...it isn't really appropriate for the attacking dog to continue attacking...

    This is probably what may have happened. I don't think anyone actually saw the fight… So it's hard to tell, but my friend now thinks it is a part of male dominance fighting! I told them I would ask on here and see if it is common or not...

Suggested Topics

  • 0 Votes
    22 Posts
    5k Views
    J
    I'm no Basenji expert since I've only had one. And, I don't want to start a dog park argument. I'll just share my experience. Jengo LOVED running free, but he's a Basenji. Can't do that cause... cars. The dog park near our house is HUGE. A big completely enclosed lawn area the size of a football field with towering oak trees. We were OCD about keeping Jengo's vaccinations up to date. He was chipped and wore a collar with contact and rabies tags 24/7. He loved the dog park, but not all the dogs there. He hated any dog of any size that would try to dominate him in any way. He rarely instigated it, but he never tolerated it meaning regardless of size... he wouldn't back down. He also hated if another dog approached him from behind and would snap immediately. My solution was to stay near him and to keep moving. We would walk laps around the perimeter and by about the second or third lap he'd been or had checked out all the other dogs. Then things were good. If I saw that he was getting anxious I'd usually catch it before he reacted and would tell him "Easy". 9 times out 10 that was enough. I'd also make sure that he was aware of dogs in our vicinity so that he wouldn't be surprised if they came from behind. We went to the park for years. He never caught anything that I was aware of. I did pick him up and leave if there was another dog he and/or I weren't comfortable with. And, I also recall walking away before ever entering the park if there was a dog we didn't like already there. I guess my point is that part of protecting your dog and others is knowing and focusing on them without over-reacting at the same time. I don't want to set him off. But, I want to know what he's going to do before he does. You have to read him. All dogs give signals one way or another. Tune in to your dog, not the other people at the park. I liked the other people at the park, but I wasn't there for them. My focus was always on Jengo.
  • 0 Votes
    2 Posts
    3k Views
    tanzaT
    In the US most all dog parks do not allow intact males or females
  • Dog Park fighting

    Behavioral Issues
    17
    0 Votes
    17 Posts
    4k Views
    wizardW
    I've taken my previous basenjis to the closest dog park and everything was fine for the most part. There were occasional dominance type snarkiness events but only once did a real fight start (and the owners pulled their dog immediately). Never encountered a jerky owner. But I was very careful not to go when the prime times were - Saturday mornings (and if I had a day off then around noon) were usually the times only a handful of dogs were there and it was easy to keep an eye on them. I haven't taken Gossy since she goes to doggy care once a week and has a lot of fun there. Also I've discovered that though she is exceptionally friendly, if another dog becomes nasty aggressive to her, she will definitely fight back. So the dog park will require more vigilence on my part I think - this park is half wooded and kind of large - I'm a firm believer in owner socialization comimg second to keeping a watchful eye on the dogs.
  • 0 Votes
    13 Posts
    4k Views
    agilebasenjiA
    @Jylly18: The only bad thing about the "trade" strategy, is that Tosca learned that everytime she takes something she shouldn't (DVD, Remote, etc) she will get a treat to give it back to me. This has actually reinforced the behavior more! So manipulative :) There are days I'd be happy for anyone to find the remote in this house! Just put it on a "find the remote" cue. (Or just put it up when you're finished with it. - nah)
  • Lenny "likes" other dogs!

    Behavioral Issues
    5
    0 Votes
    5 Posts
    2k Views
    Tayda_LennyT
    yeah, it really was… especially with all the drama i have going on with my current living situation it is a relief that something is going right. My boyfriend has been having a heck of a time finding a place to rent that will allow my dogs and me to visit on the weekends. So we finally found a place that would allow it, and then we had to visit to make sure the dogs got along. i was so relieved that not only was Lenny polite, he was playing! yay. anyway, i'm moving out of my apt at the end of November... thankfully my company is going to move me again so I don't have to do it myself! Good thing i haven't really unpacked yet!
  • "Conquering"

    Behavioral Issues
    27
    0 Votes
    27 Posts
    14k Views
    N
    I think you're Mom's on the right track. By adopting a 'submissive' pose, you're making the dog anxious. She thinks she's expected to do something, but she's not sure what. She would prefer it if you would act like a grownup, so she won't have to! What is inoccuous or meaningless to us can be very significant in 'dog culture.' Basenjis are all about the pack and have a lot of ancient customs we don't always understand. It's part of their intrigue and charm.