dog has become very agressive to other do0g

Recently our small dog who is a small terrier mix has been very agressive towards our older lab mix usually out of nowhere. The terrier is about 2 years old while the lab is around 5.The terrier will attack the lab out of nowhere it seems usually biting at the neck and not letting go. Our lab is very good and doesnt fight back but gets very scared of the little dog. Like today for istance i just came home walked up the stairs and was greeted by the small dog i pet her and she went to run in a room while the big dog came out the little one just jumped on her neck and started biting her so i immediately tried pulling the little dog off but she held on very tightly and still wouldnt let go. im scared that the big dog will really get mad one of these times and attack back doing lots of damage b/c she is atleast 3-4 times the other dogs size. they are both female so what could be making the small dog act so aggressive and what can i do to make it stop?

Can you give us a little more information about your dogs? Are either of them spayed? How long have you had each of them? If you haven't had them since they were puppies, so you know anything about their previous life?

the bigger one if spayed and the smaller one isnt. i've had each of them since they were atleast younger than a year. When the small one attacks there seems to be no reason its completly out of nowhere no food around toys or anything and we show the smaller one more attention then the bigger one so id figure the big one would act this way instead of the small one

Get the terrier spayed ASAP. This should greatly minimize these attacks. The terrier is a mature adult now and is acting like one. Same sexes in dogs won't always get along, especially when one is fixed and the other isn't. The terrier is hormonal and territorial. By giving the terrier more of your attention you're spoiling her and she doesn't want to share you with the lab mix. These attacks seem to be happening when you are around, so you are what the fights are all about.

yes spaywill help some but i think you also need to consider the breed. if it is a terrier mix you have to realize that terriers are not always friendly with other animals esp dogs.

look at the excerpts from the akc page

on terriers in general . . .

Terriers typically have little tolerance for other animals, including other dogs.

sometimes the temperament requirements in the standard reflect dog-dog aggression in a breed.

scottish terrier . . .

The Scottish Terrier, while loving and gentle with people, can be aggressive with other dogs.


some of this aggression may be hard wired. i would suggest treating the terrier when she is behaving around the other dog. pet the other dog treat the terrier if she behaves.

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Originally posted by Pit Chick
Get the terrier spayed ASAP. This should greatly minimize these attacks. The terrier is a mature adult now and is acting like one. Same sexes in dogs won't always get along, especially when one is fixed and the other isn't. The terrier is hormonal and territorial. By giving the terrier more of your attention you're spoiling her and she doesn't want to share you with the lab mix. These attacks seem to be happening when you are around, so you are what the fights are all about.

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Actually when it comes to females, the majority of the time, spayed females do not get alone with each other more so than any other combination of sexes, neutered or spayed or not.

If it is bad now, it may get worse after both are spayed.

As stated before terriers can be... well just that terrors LOL. They are great dogs don't ge me wrong, but they can be a difficult breed.

I would contact a behavorist asap.

Good luck