Many dogs often show extreme negative behavior, like barking, biting, and fighting. Of course, it hurts other dogs, but the dogs end up hurting themselves. As various training collars are used for different training purposes, dog owners wonder if one can use a shock collar or any other training collar to break up a dog fight. Here is the complete guide regarding why dogs fight? Can a shock collar stop fighting dogs? What are the alternatives? And what can one do to avoid dogs from fighting?
Reasons Dogs Are Fighting
Before stopping a dog fight with a shock collar, one must know the reasons behind the dog’s fight. Most of the time, only aggressive dogs are considered to be the ones getting into the fights, though that’s true. But that’s not always the case. There are many other reasons why dogs fight. Here are some of the main reasons:
Lack of Socialization
Socialization is as important to dogs as it is to humans and other animals. Normally a dog should be socialized with other dogs, humans, and as well as animals from other species. Furthermore, this process must be started at an early stage of their life. If a dog is not properly socialized, he becomes nervous easily when he is exposed to other living organisms. He does not know how to react around them and becomes fearful. Usually, this fear induces a reactive response in him. He is unaware of how to deal with others surrounding him; he takes everyone as his rival and becomes reactive to defend himself. He can start barking, biting and can even end up fighting other dogs and animals. The consequences are probably unwanted injuries for both the opponents.
Such dogs become sensitive to even minor things and become hard to handle. When you calm them down, they become more aggressive. To avoid the dogs from becoming uncomfortable and breaking into fights, one must pay attention to their socialization. Ideally, a dog should be socialized through pre-schooling and walks to dog parks at the age of 7 to 8 weeks. But if you have a dog pet who has passed this age and starts fighting as soon as he is around other dogs and humans, you can still socialize him.
Fear
Dog anxiety is a very common issue these days. According to a recent report, 72.5% of the dogs displayed anxiety in their behavior. All of them were diagnosed with different reasons behind their anxiety. Like 32% of dogs were anxious about loud noises, 17% showed fear towards other dogs, 15% feared strangers, and 11% were fearful of new situations that they had not gone through before. The type of breed and the inheritance of ancestral DNA also affect the level of fearfulness in a dog.
Such dogs always remain fearful of the things and the people that scare them. They easily start fights with others, most probably because they cannot stand the sight of them or they are trying to protect themselves by giving aggressive responses. Fear-based wars can be stopped if one notices the signs shown by dogs. In this case, most dogs tend to become alert and more active than ever. Often they become nervous and start trembling. If the dog’s owner does not notice these signs, extreme fear can make the dog lose control and faint. Though it is often preceded by sweating, dizziness, wet skin, fatigue, nausea, abdominal pain, chest tightness, and difficulty in breathing.
Aggressive Behavior
Dog’s aggressive behavior urges him to break into fights with other dogs. Of course, there are reasons behind this aggressive behavior too. The most common dog aggression observed is territorial aggression. These dogs become over-protective of their land. They protect it from other animals and won’t allow the owner to step into their specified area. These dogs show the most severe aggressive responses. They are not reluctant to bite others and end up leaving them with injuries and bites. Besides land, dogs continue to protect their food and toys as well.
It can also lead to same-sex aggression among the dogs living within the same household. Mostly, it is observed among the dogs in which one dog (usually a small dog) was completely fine in living with the second dog, but as soon as it matures and grows up, it starts challenging the big dog. It starts intervening in its local shelter and takes its food or toys away. Do you think the older dog will stay calm? He will fight for his possessions, and the other dog will be reluctant to give them back, resulting in a fight. It is called same-sex aggression because it is observed among dogs of the same gender, with more number of incidences in males.
Another reason for dogs to break into a fight is frustration. When dogs are frustrated either because they wanted their favorite person’s attention or wanted something and someone came in the way, their frustration is converted into aggression which is often released in the form of a fight. It is the worst type of dog aggression as the owner is equally at harm to the aggressive responses as other dogs and animals are.
Trigger Stacking
As the name shows, trigger stacking is the stacking (piling up or gathering) of the stressful events that result in the burst of emotions to a minor stimulus or stress in the end. Most of the time, this burst is in the form of aggression. A writer compared trigger stacking to volcanoes, and he is absolutely right. Just like the magma in a volcano will not erupt until the gases accumulate, create pressure, and result in a loud massive explosion. The same goes for trigger stacking. Frustration due to small unfortunate events is accumulated within the dog, and he ends up bursting up due to the minor issues in the end.
The phenomenon is well observed in humans too. For instance, you had an important presentation for which you bought new clothes and a nice pair of shoes. Imagine waking up with stains on your clothes (maybe due to a pet or any other reason). Now you abandoned the dress and picked up another one to match up with the shoes. You wore the shoes, and the buckle fell off. While changing shoes, you see the time and realize you are getting late and in a hurry, you forgot your purse inside the house, and a friend is calling you out of nowhere in the morning when you were on your way to pick up the purse again. In the end, you appeared late for the presentation too. Suppose in amidst of these things, if someone stopped you just to ask how was your morning, you would take out all your anger on him, saying that you are getting late because of him.
The same can happen to dogs. Minor inconveniences can accumulate frustration in him. When the level rises more than his tolerable range, he will burst up and fight with the one who appeared right after he reached his tolerable limit. Ah, that poor soul!
To avoid dogs from fighting due to trigger stacking, notice the things that stress them out. It would be best to keep them away from the dogs. Help them live in a calm and peaceful environment. Learn their body language and recognize the signs of stress. Moreover, keep track of your dog’s threshold. Do know what things and actions he can tolerate before turning into an aggressive dog.
The Dog Might Not Like the Other Dogs
Some dogs are quite friendly with you but do not like the presence of another dog in the same house. There are many reasons why a dog hates another dog. It can be the dog’s size, smell, or other physical features that irritate it. It is quite possible that the first dog does not like the breed from which the other dog belongs. It might be due to trauma from the past. For instance, if large, aggressive dogs attack smaller dogs like German Shepherd, Siberian Husky, Dachshunds, or others, the young dogs will probably remain fearful of them and will not like any dog from that breed.
Similarly, while keeping two dogs as pets, buying the two from the opposite gender is always advised. Though there is no scientific logic behind it, neither is there any proof that opposite genders tend to live together without fighting. But the dogs of the same sex do fight for sure.
Some dogs are antisocial, or we can say introverts, by their nature. They don’t like living in packs and often start fighting with other dogs. Even though you are not going to keep the entire pack at home, the dog will not stand the sight of another dog in the home. Most dogs hate other dogs because of the leash. It also has a scene behind it. You take the dog on a walk, and probably another dog approaches your dog. In order to protect your dog, you suddenly pulled his leash. It will cause unnecessary pain and irritation. If the process is repeated a few times, the dog will associate the pain with another dog approaching. Next time as soon as another dog comes near, your dog will start barking and might fight him off if he crosses his boundaries.
Besides all reasons for dogs to fight among themselves, illness is another major cause. For example, if your dog is normally a good boy who has got all the manners and etiquette and starts reacting aggressively toward others, he is probably sick. In this case, visit a vet as soon as possible. In contrast, in any of the above-mentioned cases, reach out to a professional dog trainer to rectify the dog’s aggressive behavior.
Does My Dog Fight With Others Because He Is Alpha?
You have probably observed your dog being dominant over other dogs, taking away their food and stuff. You must have binged the “Dominance in dogs” on the internet to know the core reason. You have probably gotten a lot of results telling that your dog is the Alpha dog – the pack leader who is always this way. Dogs have formed a hierarchy among them, and others are the subordinates who respect the alpha dog’s will. This is what we call “Alpha dog theory.” But now, the theory has been debunked. Here is the reason why:
The theory was given by Swiss scientist Rudolph Schenkel who observed the behavior of wolves pack. After some time of keeping the wolves, one of them started dominating others, demanding food and mating anytime he wanted. Others acted as subordinates and respected his needs. Scientists believing that wolves are the ancestors of dogs concluded that dogs must observe the same hierarchy among their pack. But it is not true. The main reason is the unnatural setting in which the wolves were observed. Wolves are wild animals and don’t act this way. It was later confirmed by other scientists who observed them in the wild. Secondly, dogs are quite different from wolves. It is not important for dogs to do whatever wolves are doing just because both of them are canines.
If one keeps any kind of animal group in an unnatural setting with limited resources, they will act the same way wolves did. It is an ecological relationship called competition. All the animals fight for food and shelter, with the strongest one winning the competition. It does not mean one can label the strongest animal as Alpha and call him dominant over the others. In short, your dog is not an alpha dog, as there is no such thing.
What About the Alpha Dog Training?
Alpha dog training, also called dominance training, is nothing except mistreating the dogs. In such a training program, a dog trainer will probably make use of aversive collars like prong collars, choke chains, and E collars. A prong collar is labeled a corrective collar, but in reality, it is just a cruel tool to teach the dog some obedience commands. Choke chains can choke or suffocate the dogs to death if not used properly. Similarly, E collars give an electric shock to the dogs and make them more aggressive. In a worst-case scenario, trainers apply physical force with their hands and hold them against the ground. The act is continued until the dog stops moving its limbs. According to the trainers, as the dog stops struggling, it means he is surrendering. He accepts that he is not that powerful and is willing to become a subordinate. This training campaign was started to avoid the dogs from fighting among themselves and make the dog drop its negative behavior before it starts thinking of itself as stronger than its owner.
The fact that there is no such thing as an alpha dog implies that there should be no such training. Because even if the training is successful and the dog is willing to remain obedient to its owner, it will be out of fear and anxiety and not because of trust and love. Before signing up for any of such training classes, contact a professional dog trainer.
Should I Let My Dogs Fight It Out?
Many dog owners worry that letting the dogs fight can result in severe injuries that take a lot of time to heal. It is not always true. In fact, sometimes letting dogs fight is a great idea. Most of the time, dogs give each other clear signs. The dog who is getting annoyed often growls and curls up his lip. It’s like saying, “That’s enough. You better stop now!” Small dogs often don’t give signs and start fighting, while the adult dogs give clear signs. The advantage of one dog showing the other that he is reaching his tolerance limit is that the other dog respects the warning signs and stops getting on his nerves. He will probably return his food or will stop playing because the other one is not in the mood. So, there’s no fight to begin with.
Just like humans, dogs have their own boundaries. If any dog crosses them, the other one has to teach him a lesson. For this purpose, dogs often fight, but they rarely get serious enough to hurt one another severely. In this case, your intervention can worsen the condition when it was nothing serious in reality.
Though the fights can get serious when one dog ignores the signs that the other dog is getting annoyed, the risk of the fight is greater when there are three or more dogs. It becomes a gang fight. Everyone has a grudge against one another and gets an opportunity to take their frustration out. Similarly, the risks of severe fights are higher when there is a great difference between age and size. The larger dogs can get the small dogs with just a single punch, and the small dogs, no matter how hard they try, cannot beat the larger dog the way they want. In any case that the fight gets severe, you need to interrupt the dogs.
Can a Shock Collar Stop Dog Fights?
Shock collars, also called E collars, are the remote collars that work without needing the dog owners to be present. Let’s first see how these collars work. E collars have two parts. One is the transmitter, and the other is the collar. The transmitter is a handheld device that the owner or the trainer can hold in his hand to control the dog easily. The collar is worn on the dog’s neck and gives him a shock. That is why they are called shock collars. The collars have two metallic prongs that act as a contact point. The transmitter has a varying level of stimulations that can be set for each dog differently. The levels range from one to a hundred. When the owner gives the command, the prongs on the collar deliver a shock. Regarding shock, many owners ask if the E collars are humane. Interestingly yes, E collars are completely humane and safe. The shock is the static shock that we often suffer in our daily life, so there is nothing to worry about.
Now the question arises if one can use the E collar to stop dog fights. The answer is no. It is because many owners and trainers don’t know the right use of collars. Many of them don’t know how to set the right stimulation and end up giving the dogs shock higher than their tolerable range. Some don’t know that the collar needs to be turned off while putting on the dog’s neck, which gives them an unnecessary shock. In fact, many don’t buy the right collars. Still, some companies are making collars that don’t have varying stimulation levels. These things make the dogs fearful of the collars. If not avoided, the fear can turn into aggression.
Even if one knows how to use a shock collar properly and gives enough electrical stimulation to the dogs, still they are prohibited from breaking up a fight. It is because the shock is unpleasant and makes the dog more aggressive while he is already fighting with another dog.
Other Ways to Stop Dog Fights
A shock collar is not an option to stop dogs from fighting. But there are many other ways to break up the fight. If one follows the following step-by-step guide
Keep Children Away From the Fight Scene
The first step that you need to take is to clear the fight scene. Make sure the dogs that are fighting are not surrounded by children of 9 years or younger. It is because the dogs show fear-based aggression toward children and often harm them during their fights. Children are always happy and exciting and make loud noises. They even scream out of happiness when they see a cute pet. This happiness and loud noises can scare the dogs and make them aggressive towards children. Another factor that makes children more prone to a dog bite is the similarity in their height. Both the dogs and the children are at the same level leading to more interaction and hence more risks. Their interest in similar things also put them at risk. Both of them are interested in food and toys, and these things bring each other closer.
But often, dogs don’t consider children their friends and companions because they end up doing weird stuff with them, like pulling an ear, leg, tail, or hair. Though it’s not on purpose, it scares the dogs. According to a report by CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), more than 4.5 million people get dog bites each year. Out of them, more than 800,000 seek medical attention, and half of this number are children. The report showed the figures solely from the U.S.; in other countries and worldwide, children getting bitten by dogs are even greater in number.
Spray the Dogs
To divert the dog’s attention and refrain him from unwanted behavior, trainers have adopted a traditional method of spraying water in the dog’s face. The best practice is to take a garden hose and put water on the dog’s head. If a garden hose is not available, spraying water from a bottle or a bucket is also sufficient. It will distract dogs like the water flowing down from the head, making the vision blurry and dogs stop fighting. This practice is best if there is a dangerous dog as it will calm him down. Water is not meant to harm the dogs, so don’t put it in the dog’s face with pressure. A small quantity that separates both the dogs is more than enough so that dogs don’t associate spraying water with a punishment. Spraying water should be accompanied by vocal markers. There should be a firm, loud NO so that dog can associate it with its previous obedience training and recall that NO means to refrain from a certain action.
Many people say that mixing vinegar in water is a good practice as it has a sour smell and will stop the dogs immediately. Though vinegar is safe for a dog’s skin, it is not safe for his eyes. Vinegar is acidic in nature and can cause irritation, redness, and injuries to the cornea. Another spray called citronella spray is also being used by a lot of people to stop dog fights. The same goes for this spray. It is not safe for the eyes. It also causes skin irritations and rashes. Moreover, if the dog licks it off from his skin, it can cause many digestive issues. So, don’t mix water spray with vinegar, citronella spray, or pepper spray.
Spraying water is not only used for stopping dogs from fighting but is also used for multiple training purposes like stopping them from excessive barking, to stop them from biting without any reason, to stop them from chewing things like mats and fabric, to stop them jumping on furniture, and to stop them from attacking guests and strangers. Another amazing thing about this practice is that water is available to everyone, and an average dog owner can easily stop his dog from practicing unwanted behaviors using this method.
Use Objects to Separate Them
A professional trainer always advises to separate the fighting dogs through objects and not to jump between their fight thoughtlessly. The only purpose of throwing objects between them is to distract the dogs so that two people can separate them easily. Try to look for soft objects around the home as soon as the fight breaks out. Throw a soft blanket or a jacket over them. Remember, don’t throw any hard object over them as it can increase the risk of injuries.
But one can place hard objects carefully between them. Like, drag a chair towards them so that they get distracted. One can also drag a garbage can or a laundry basket. If the dogs are fighting in the backyard, you can also place a piece of wood between them. Make sure to place these things from a distance so that any of your body parts, especially your arms, don’t come near the dogs’ mouth as they can bite you out of frustration and anxiety. You can also use an automatic umbrella. Just make sure it is long enough so that you can hold it from a distance.
It is possible that these things won’t break up a dog fight, but they will be distracted for sure. The main purpose is to calm them down a bit so that they don’t harm the owner when they try to separate them physically.
Two People Can Physically Separate the Dogs
Two adult people can safely separate the dogs while they are fighting. Don’t hold the dogs from the mouthparts as dog bites are a risk. Instead, there is a wheelbarrow method. It involves holding the dogs just like one holds a wheelbarrow. Two people should silently come behind both the dogs and hold them from their hind legs. Make sure to grip the legs tightly so that even if dogs resist, they are unable to free themselves. Now start moving the dogs backward. Don’t delay the timing. Both of them should be separated at the same time. In case a dog is holding the other tightly with its jaw, try to let the other dog go first. Otherwise, the dog can suffer severe injury. One can press on the ribcage or use a bite stick. Don’t use this method if you don’t have any practice. Better let the professionals handle it or get the practice.
After you have taken dogs through some distance, don’t free them. They will turn back and bite you for not letting them complete their revenge. Instead, start moving the dogs in a circular motion and take them away, at least where they cannot see the other dog or dogs. Take the dog to their enclosure and free them. If there is no such space, then keep circling them until they calm down. Remember, this type of separation needs a lot of carefulness. Don’t participate in this activity if you think you cannot hold the dog, as there are chances for you to get injured.
What to Do if You Are Alone?
You cannot use the wheelbarrow method if you are alone, as you cannot handle two dogs at a time. But you can modify the method a bit to safely separate both the dogs. Try holding the hind legs of one dog firmly and drag it to a place where you can tie its leash. The other dog will come all the way along with that dog. Tie the leash firmly. Now hold the legs of the second dog and practice the steps described above. Take him away from where he cannot see the other dog. Circling the dog for some time will calm him down. Don’t try to leash down the second dog without calming him down, as he can turn around to bite you.
Post-fight Examination
After you have separated dogs from each other, calm them down. Play soft music as it always relaxes the brain. One can also apply essential oils to the dog’s body to soothe him, pat him to ensure that you are by his side, and give him his favorite treat as a positive reinforcement act. Now check for injuries. First, examine the area close to the mouth and neck as they are more prone to getting bites on. Then check the lower body parts, including the belly and limbs. Look for wounds and cuts. Give him first aid if he is severely injured. Instead of treating by yourself, take the dog to the vet as he can better examine the dog by looking for wounds under the fur, which you will probably overlook. The vet will also prescribe a medication to soothe his pain and for the wounds to heal.
Keep the dog in a safe place. If both the dogs that fought are yours, it’s better to take them both for a medical checkup and later keep them in separate places. Make sure they are comfortable and keep a check on the wounds so that they don’t lick them and delay the healing process.
Things You Should Never Do to Stop a Dog Fight
You should never do some things to stop dogs from fighting. There can either worsen the situation or get you hurt.
Don’t Jump Between the Two Dogs Fighting
It is always advised not to separate the dogs directly by intervening between them. It is because dogs often suffer from frustration-aggression and can bite their owner if he tries to break the fight. Aggressive behaviors of dogs can turn out to be bad for you. The dog can bite you, and that’s not where it ends. The bite can get worse if it gets infected. If a dog’s saliva gets into it, bacteria can cause infections, including tetanus and sepsis. If the dog is not vaccinated, viruses can transfer from the dog’s body to the dog’s owner, causing rabies and other serious infections.
Following signs appear if the dog bite gets infected: pain for more than 24 hours, redness, swelling, wound feeling warm with pus coming out of it, and the infected area feels difficult to move. Severe cases can cause fever, night sweats, and shaking.
Before the infection worsens and becomes life-threatening, do visit a doctor to get immediate treatment. After getting the wound bandage, such complications can be avoided if one contacted the doctor.
Don’t Waste Energy Yelling
Many people start yelling as soon as they see dogs fighting. At times when I see someone yelling at dogs, I feel that urge to stop them from yelling, calm them down, and tell them to relax as their yelling and screaming are only going to worsen the condition. Their purpose is to distract the dogs, but many people do yell because they panic and don’t know what to do. Does yelling stop the dogs from fighting? Not at all.
Firstly, if a fight breaks out between the dogs, don’t panic and relax as much as you can. Secondly, your voice is not enough to distract the dogs. Try something louder. An air horn or banging two metallic things together might get the dog’s attention. However, even this much noise is not enough to distract dogs from an intense fight. It can only help when the dogs suddenly get into a short, less intense fight.
Tips to Avoid Dogs From Fighting
In fact, one can avoid dogs from getting into fights. Here are the tips on that:
Observe the Dog’s Body Language
An aggressive dog is a dangerous dog and can start a fight irrespective of what kind of dog is in front of him (it might be his partner or a stranger dog that he is seeing first time in the neighborhood). The dog also doesn’t care for the fighting place. It can be your home, dog’s kennel, or a dog park.
Normally when a dog is in a relaxed position, his mouth is open, and he is panting. His tail is wagging, and has floppy ears. But when a dog becomes aggressive and is about to attack someone, he changes his body posture. The body becomes rigid with the mouth closed and tail tucked. Muscles are also rigid, and the dog looks more focused on something. It might be followed by growling or barking.
There are some other signs that can be observed if one notices closely, like one dog getting irritated and showing these signs to the other dog, with the second dog ignoring his signs and continuing what he was doing. Another sign is the stares between the dogs. Often the two dogs who are about to fight get very silent and stare at each other coldly. It is one of the sure signs of a fight. It would be great if the owner separates both the dogs before they begin fighting.
Make Them Wear Muzzles
A muzzle is a device that is placed over the dog’s mouth to stop him from biting other people and animals. It is a kind of training tool to make the dog learn a specific behavior. If your dog is really very aggressive, especially to new people, new animals, and strangers, making him wear a muzzle can avoid unnecessary drama. Not only will the dog be unable to harm others, but also others will feel comfortable around him. If your dog gets furious when he is around children, then definitely go for this option to keep the children safe around him.
There are various types of muzzles. Choose the one that suits your dog. They are available in different sizes. Make sure to opt for the one that fits your dog’s mouth without causing him trouble in panting and eating.
Not every dog wearing a muzzle is an aggressive dog. Some people make their dogs wear muzzles to keep them safe from humans. Usually, a dog with a muzzle on is considered dangerous, so people tend to stay away from them.
Feed Dogs Separately
If you have multiple dogs, feed them separately. The number one reason is the possessive aggression in the dogs. Dogs are quite possessive about their things, including their territory, their food, and their toys. So if you feed both the dogs in one bowl, both of them will think that the bowl belongs to one of them when it is meant for both.
Another reason to feed the dogs separately is that each dog has his own preferences. Each of them tends to like different treats and hates certain treats. It would be great to treat each dog his favorite treat. Moreover, many dogs are allergic to certain foods. Some can consume dairy products perfectly while some cannot, so taking care of each dog separately is important.
Socialize the Dogs More
The major reason behind dogs fighting is the lack of socialization. Consult a dog trainer and opt for a training class to help your dog to be more socialized. As the dog learns to interact with new people and animals, they don’t get furious when they are taken out into the real world. Fear and aggression are eliminated from his life. The risks of fighting with others are minimized to a great extent. The dog can easily cope with the challenges of life and is not hesitant in trying new things. He won’t create scenes if you take him to a crowded market or a vet clinic. His mental health remains good, and the dog tends to become happier.
But remember, shy dogs need to be socialized with other shy dogs who are also in the process of socializing with others. Consider this from a human perspective. What happens when a shy and talkative person meets? The talkative one talks about many things, and their conversation ends without the shy person getting a chance to speak. But now let two shy people talk with each other. Both of them will contribute equally to maintaining a good conversation. The same goes for the dogs. Socializing the shy dogs and speaking out less bring far better results.
Work More on Their Basic Obedience Training
If one works more on the dog’s obedience training, he can avoid fighting with other dogs. Let’s suppose your dog has learned some good obedience commands, like sit, stand, come, go, and stop. It would be great if your dog also knew what he is supposed to do when you said Yes or No. As soon as he gets in a fight, you can firmly say, No, and your dog will refrain from fighting if he really knows what No means. Similarly, if your dog is giving signs of aggression towards another dog, you can call your dog by saying out loud, “come,” and can stop the dog from fighting.
Let’s look at the other side of the picture. If the dog does not know any of the basic obedience commands, how will you stop him from fighting? Thus, obedience training is way too important to rectify the dog’s behavior. Remember that it should be associated with positive reinforcement to encourage the dogs to learn more. If you think you cannot focus on your dog’s obedience training much, it would be great to ask for a professional trainer to help.
Conclusion
There are many reasons dogs fight. Some lack social skills and can’t act normally in the presence of other animals and humans. Some have built-in fears that make them get into fights. This type of fight is the defensive one. Dogs tend to fight others in order to protect themselves. If this fear is not resolved, it turns into aggression. Dogs become aggressive and fight others. Sometimes dogs fight in response to minor stimuli. The reason is that many things have already frustrated the dogs. The addition of the last minor stimulus creates a lot of pressure, and the dog becomes aggressive. For example, your dog might fight another dog because he does not like the way he looks or the way he smells. Some people believe in the alpha dog theory and believe that the dog fights because he is dominant in his group. The theory is not true, so there is no need to opt for dominance training.
The question is whether shock collars can be used to stop the dogs from fighting? No, shock collars give electrical stimulation to dogs. Though it is not harmful, it is unpleasant. In addition, it makes the dog more aggressive. Instead of refraining from the fight, he fights more vigorously. So, never use a shock collar to stop the dog from a fight.
In fact, there are many other ways to separate the dogs, like holding their hind limbs and dragging them back until they cannot see each other. But, of course, this method requires two people to separate the dogs safely.
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