Dog Fight

[ellensy]

All of a sudden my dog bit my other dog. They are both female. And they have been together for quite some time. How come?
Thanks!

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e.m.s.

[KYS]

posted by ellensy:
All of a sudden my dog bit my other dog. And they have been together for quite some time. How come? >>>>>>>

Ellensy, were you able to observe what happened before the fight started?
There could be many reasons why one dog bites another even when they have gotten
along for years.
It could be as simple as a toy, food or
even a dogs regurgitating,jeolousy or
not feeling well.
In my household I remove all favorite
toys, goodies, bones when I am not home.
I also feed the two large dogs separately
so they do not guard their food bowls.

[ellensy]

I temporarily caged the other dog, and if i let her out again, will my other dog bite her again?

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e.m.s.

[KYS]

I temporarily caged the other dog, and if i let her out again, will my other dog bite her again?>>>>>>>

Did the dogs break skin and how bad was
the fight?
Dogs have a memory like an elephant,
they forgive but do not forget.
It depends on how bad the fight was.
I have heard different theorys on separating.

My male's breeder always told me
that if I want my dogs to live in harmony
than remove anything tempting
that they might fight over.
IF they do fight than do not separate them but have them lay down in the same room as me under a watchfull eye. If they so much as rumble than swiftly
correct them. She also suggested that I separate them when I am not home. I have not had to do this.

Another theory which I choose not to
use.
A trainer once told me to let the dogs
at it (using muzzles), and once a top dog has been
established again there should be no problems. (I chose not to use this method)
But I do let my female repremand my male
and I will not interfer.)

A woman who works in Akita rescue who
lives with multiple Akitas,
told me to remove anything possible
that a dog might fight over and not
to allow them to fight.
That if a serious fight was to developed
it could work 2 ways. 1) A pecking order
could be re-established. 2) the above could back fire and cause serious enjury to the dogs and they would have to be separated
the rest of thier lives.

If your dogs have had a drag out fight,
you probably should separate them when you are not home to be on the safe side.

[KYS]

continued:

The breeder, the rescue and the trainer all suggest sometype of daily obedience with my dogs. It could be as much as your regular basic obedience or as simple as making your dogs sit for a treat or
a toy etc.

[ellensy]

beethoven, the larger one bit Crunchy, the smaller one on the neck. The first time was when I came home and I forgot to pet Beethoven first, she suddenly bit crucnchy on the neck (she didn't want to let go for about 5 seconds). And then on that same day, later at night, this happened again, but I didn't pet any of them as to avoid any fight.
How come?

[KYS]

Where you able to see what happened before this incident?
What were the dogs doing before the bite occured?

[KYS]

IF Beethoven is the Alpha dog.
(sounds like a pecking order problem/
Jeolousy)

For the first bite it sounds like
Beethoven was letting Crunchy know
that I am top dog and I should be petted first. Which means you need to greet
Beethoven first, even putting your body
between Beethoven and Crunchy, till you
are done with the greeting.
Beethoven should move away when he
is done getting his greeting and allow
Crunchy to be petted.
If not, than upon greating Crunchy
if Beethoven growls or nips you can
give him a correction.
This is just one suggestion for this particular inncident.
Unfortunately there might be other incidents
as Beethoven is trying to inforce his
top position or possibly he is
challenging Crunchy for top position.

[ellensy]

Hi KYS
Thank you very much for the tips. I would let u know bout the results!
God bless!

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e.m.s.

[ownerof3dogs]

what kind of dogs are they?

[ellensy]

Originally posted by ownerof3dogs:
what kind of dogs are they?

Beethoven is a mixed, while Crunchy is a pomeranian.

[ktreva52]

ellensy: I'd guess you have a dominance thing going here and you are going to have to put yourself in the Alpha position to get much in the way of peace. I have a T-shirt that proclaims me Alpha Bitch at my house, but the fact is, I AM the alpha bitch, by right of teaching the dogs through tricks and obedience work that I can tell them what to do. My two oldest girlies got into it on occasion and water on them would break it up, and then both went to crates, no matter who started it. They went into "timeout" for about fifteen minutes and then I would check them over (unless, of course, there was an obvious injury that needed immediate attention). Then, they'd be allowed to leave timeout, but under my watchful eye. When I am not at home, all dogs get crated. There are a couple of reasons for this: No "surprises" of any kind ("presents", trash, etc.), I control when each comes out and gets what attention (another Alpha thing), and, thirdly, if a fire started at the house, they'd be easier for rescue workers to find and save. Most of the time, they travel in their crates for some of the same reasons. I think you need to invest in separate crates and teach the "kids" how to be in them while you're gone and this should help alleviate some of the "rivalry". And, yes, watch toys they may fight over like the Buster Cube -- even my Jack Russell challenged the older, larger Cattle Dog cross over that and it (the cube) went to another home. Hope this helps.

[This message has been edited by ktreva52 (edited November 25, 2000).]

[ktreva52]

Somehow my response posted twice -- I'm sorry.

[This message has been edited by ktreva52 (edited November 26, 2000).]

[ellensy]

Hi ktreva52!
Thanks for the advice!



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e.m.s.

[ktreva52]

You're really welcome. It always bothered me that the girls would fight. We had trouble deciding which one was the upper dog as they both behaved like they were top banana. It was really bizarre. I hope this type of info really does the trick.