Dog Drags Another Dog by the Collar? [Solutions]

Zack Keithy, our author, is a certified veterinarian technician (UC Blue Ash) for over 6 years (contact him here). The articles written here are based on his expertise and experience, combined with a review by our expert vet reviewers including Dr M. Tarantino. Learn more about us here.

Your dog is about to make the acquaintance of a new pal, and your heart is racing with excitement.

The next thing you know, your dog is dragging its new friend by its collar.

Just like that, you get an earful from the other dog’s owner, or this could be between your own dogs.

Whichever the case, it can actually be dangerous for everyone involved and run the risk of your dog choking.

So what do you do? How do you get your dog to stop pulling on other dogs’ collars?

It may seem impossible at first glance, but there is hope!

You just need a little bit of knowledge about what’s going on here before fixing the issue.

Why Does My Dog Grab Other Dogs by the Collar?

If you’ve ever experienced two dogs playfully fighting with each other, you probably saw some behavior that will cause you concern.

Loud grunting noises while pinning each other down seem like dangerous play, like when one dog puts its head on another dog’s head, and when you see one grabbing the other’s collar, that might seem overkill to you.

However, in most cases, this is simply harmless playing for them.

I’m sure you might have experienced a game of tug with your dog and they love it!

That said, you will need to bear in mind a few key things to avoid this becoming ugly:

Size of the dogs

When dogs of vastly different sizes play together, it can look cute but there is a worrying aspect to it too.

If a large dog starts tugging a little one around, it can easily cause serious damage to it.

Always start out slow and let them get to know each other better first.

At the first sign of trouble, you need to step in.

Doggy says, you might like this too: Dog Lays Down When Another Dog Approaches? [3 Solutions]

Owner of the dogs

Not every dog owner has the same approach when it comes to their pets.

Some are more relaxed while some others treat their dogs as super precocious.

When your dog is playing with a stranger’s dog, you might want to pay extra attention to it so that you do not end up offending someone else.

You can also have a quick chat with the other owner and point out your concerns first.

Two sets of eyes on the dogs are definitely better.

Behavior of the dogs

As you observe the dogs playing, keep a look for positive signs such as taking turns to be “dominated”, relaxed posture, play bowing, and returning to play.

If you see signs that tell you otherwise, for example, becoming disengaged, rolling on its back and becoming submissive, or low growling, you will have to step in and stop the play.

Why Do Dogs Grab Each Other By The Neck?

Similar to when a dog grabs another dog’s collar, ‘biting’ each other’s neck is considered normal during playtime.

In fact, this is highly instinctive in all dogs and they learn this when they are young and in a litter.

Not only do they learn how to control their bite force (bite inhibition), but it is also one of the ways they get sociable with one another.

There are times when you need to be concerned though, especially when you notice the following:

• growling sounds
• not playing fair
• one running away from the other
• grabbing other dog’s neck and shaking

What Causes a Dog to Bite Another Dog’s Neck Aggressively?

It is important to be a concerned dog parent, so I wanted to share a bit more about this unique behavior and why dogs can turn aggressive.

These might serve as signs for you to break up playtime and figure out the right treatment for your dog.

Territorial behavior

This is a common cause of aggression in dogs and often happens when one dog feels threatened by another dog entering his territory, so he will try to defend it.

Territorial behavior can happen during playtime and might be difficult to notice right away.

If you have multiple dogs in your home, then it is important for them all to understand their role in the hierarchy of the pack to prevent this from happening.

Fear

Some dogs will become aggressive if they are afraid of another dog.

This is especially true when they are in a new environment or around something unfamiliar.

It can happen when one dog is curious about something and the other dog feels threatened by it, so he becomes defensive.

Natural prey instinct

Some dogs are predisposed to hunting and being aggressive toward small animals like cats, rabbits, or smaller dogs.

This can happen when they see another animal running around outside.

If your dog has a prey instinct, then it will be important for him to be socialized at an early age so he understands what is acceptable behavior.

Doggy says, you might wanna read this too: My dog killed a rabbit!

Feeling pain

A dog who is in pain may become defensive or aggressive.

During playtime, an accidental nip or a playful bite that is too excessive might give a dog a shock and trigger a defensive action.

If your dog seems fine one minute and then becomes aggressive out of nowhere, it could be because he feels pain somewhere on his body that you don’t know about yet.

Doggy says, you might like this too: Dog Obsessed With the Water Hose?

How Do I Get My Dog to Stop Pulling on Other Dogs’ Collars?

Once you’ve made it clear to your dog that pulling on another dog’s collar is unacceptable behavior, there are ways to stop it from happening.

• Keep your dog on a leash at all times when walking around other animals or people. This way, if they do decide to lunge at someone else’s pet or try and get into their kennel at the dog park without permission, their movement won’t be restricted by something like an adjustable collar or retractable leash (which could cause injury)
• Use a breakaway collar. This unique type of collar will separate itself if pressure is applied when the collar becomes caught or snagged. The goal here is to prevent injuries—both to dogs and other animals—in the event that your dog tries to lunge at another animal or a tooth gets stuck somehow.
• Stop the action immediately. When your dog pulls on another dog’s collar, stop the action right away and give it praise for following instructions. This will reinforce positive behavior while discouraging negative behavior.
• Train it to listen to commands. First, get your dog comfortable with the command “leave it.” Then, practice this command while playing with your dog in a safe environment (like your yard). Once he has mastered this skill, you can begin using it in situations where he might pull on another dog’s collar. This will be extremely useful when you bring your dog to the dog park.
• Do not bring your dog to the dog park. I know, I know. You’re thinking, “But I love the dog park! It’s so much fun!” And you’re right! It can be fun! But if you’ve got a dog who pulls on other dogs’ collars and has no impulse control, it’s not going to be fun for anyone—especially not for your dog and their new friend. Wait till you are certain this behavior will not happen before doing so.

Doggy says, read this too: Dog Will Only Walk With Both of Us/One Person? How to Solve This?

How to Stop Dog From Chewing Other Dogs Collar?

While chewing is a natural behavior for all dogs, they should know some boundaries.

After all, you don’t want your dog chewing on every single thing, right?

Here are some useful steps to correct the behavior:

• Keep him from chewing on other dogs’ collars by making sure he doesn’t get too close to them when they are wearing them. Use the command ‘leave it’ or ‘off’ and offer a treat if it follows your instructions
• If your pooch likes chewing its own leash/harness, try applying a no-chew deterrent. Dogs don’t like the taste and will quickly stop trying!
• You may also try using a pet corrector spray(essentially a hissing tool) that quickly stops a dog in its tracks and drop what it’s doing
• Offer your dog a chew toy instead. Stuffing it with a few of its favorite treats almost always does the trick. Something new that I tried recently is the Zaggler. It combines a chew toy with a play toy and is super awesome!
• Buy a collar or dog leash that has metal parts on it. Dogs really don’t like chewing on metal!

Doggy says, read this too: Dog won’t move with cone on?

In Conclusion: Dog Drags Another Dog by the Collar

The best way to get your dog to stop pulling on other dogs’ collars is to train them.

It can be a very difficult behavior to break, but it’s not impossible.

Be patient and consistently show them the right way, and you will start to see the right kind of behavior.

Browse around and learn other dog behaviors such as why do dogs put their ears back, why does my dog shake his head after he barks, why does my dog lunge at my face, and many more!