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Two female dogs fighting
We own two female dogs, one is a rescued Husky/Shepherd/Dobie mix who is 6 yrs. old and a high-strung female Springer Spaniel who is 7. We recently listed our house for sale and also lost our 3rd dog, an elderly Golden last month. I know that both of these things have caused stress for our remaining 2 dogs and that can cause behavioral changes. The two dogs would occasionally "mix it up", but not as frequently as they do now. Their fighting seems so much more vicious. When trying to break them up recently, I received a nasty bite on the arm. It doesn't seem that one or the other is the regular instigator. The stress level in our home has gone up immeasurably. We have a 23 mo. old grandbaby and I am terrified that he will get in the middle of a dog fight one of these days although neither dog has shown outright agression toward him. I am at the point where I am planning to purchase muzzles for the dogs as this continues into the night and we are losing sleep. Both dogs are spayed.
Asked by
Jessie
on Nov 2nd 2009
in Aggression
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Answers
Along with the upheaval of cleaning and packing - your dogs lost the leader of the pack. Mollie's death a month ago has left these two with out proper guidance, rules and disipline. I know you're busy. But if you want sanity restored you either rehome 1 or re train both.
Prolonged down stays. Lots of leash time - inside and out. And exercise, exercise, exercise! to vent the energy. Never put your hands into a fight. Grab the butt end and hold it up so the dog can't turn - not collar. If you keep them leashed it's even easier to get them in line.
Look for the body language that will BECOME a fight and stop and down stay them. Get to a trainer to evaluate which dog starts it.
Be more bossy and controlling. All the (dog) stuff is yours, they have to earn it. Toys, meals, pets etc., all EARNED. Be the pack leader and you won't need muzzles. **PACK LEADERS ARE NEVER ANGRY, FRUSTRATED, AT WIT'S END. You must adopt a calm, controlled parental role.
Pepper
answered 3 weeks ago.
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Training is the answer, however, given your life just now, separate the dogs. Keep them in different rooms, Keep one in a crate while the other is out or get an X pen to separate them.
When you get moved and things settle down, start working on the training, get a trainer or go to a class. Everybody will be fine; it will just take time and effort.
Fritz
answered 3 weeks ago.
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I agree with both answers above. And female tend to fight over alot of things.
Spayed or not.
Females will fight for many reasons.
I would seperate and also do the training. Enforce the rules is best and be serious.
Let them know it must stop. But, if they continue it would be best to seperate them or find one of them a home with no other dogs and let the family know why. You can be injure in a dog fight so be careful and seperate them in crates and try to incorporate training. You may need to seek help in doing so.
Dieta
answered 2 weeks, 6 days ago.
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