I need help with

[h2t99]

Ok we started dog sitting my niece's boxer and we already have 2 heelers and a heeler cross, all fixed. We got the boxer Labor day weekend and she was scared of everything!! She got along great with our dogs. Our head dog, Cutter, had surgery to remove a tooth that had been broken by one of our horses, so he had not put Skyler in her place that he was head of the house. Well he feels better now and Sky has decided to be the boss, she just will get mad all of a sudden and start a fight with him. My husband started taking her in the semi with him and this morning they got home and she came in the house and just attacked Cutter!! We could not get them apart and decided to let Cutter put her in her place. Well that did not work we sprayed them with water, tried pulling them apart and Cutter did let go and tried walking away but SKy will not let it go and went after him again and again. We finally broke them up and got everything calm and came back into the house. Well an hour after this she just attacked out heeler mix, he is not aggressive at all and he was trying to get away from her, I broke them up and she went after him again!!! I need help!! My niece told us we could have Sky and we do like her but if we have to choose then she will go. Oh and she is pregant. SHe has no history of aggression, they have a chiauaua(SP) and she was the boss. So Sky has always been the low dog. Any help??? We do not know what to do!! Oh and it is always the boxer that starts it and once all is calm then the 2 will start cleaning each other!!!

Please help before one gets seriously hurt!!!!!

 

[Marty]

Definitely been dog fight issues in my house.

Devin and Tracey were raised together as puppies at the same age but it was Tracey who was clearly dominant over Devin. She'd knock him into next year if he got stupid with her.

With Devin and Amy, it's a whole new ballgame and Devin is the dominant one now for a change.

When I brought Amy home as a baby to introduce her to Devin, who is very aggressive I knew there would be problems so I was prepared and watched a whole lot of Cesar Milan's Dog Whisper shows. It really helped and showed me how to get Devin in a good relaxed state of mind so that he would be workable. IF the dogs are tense, that's not good and you have to learn how to bring them into a calm state. I totally suggest watching every show you can find.

For one thing we kept both dogs on leashes that we would hold in our hands as we sat in our chairs and as Devin would approach Amy acting aggressively, Jerry made corrections on him. When Amy wanted to do her "puppy" silliness by jumping all over Devin like she had a death wish, I made corrections with her. You do have to take the time like we did and work with the dogs and not let them out of your sight when they are together. If we had to leave both dogs in the house unattended Amy would be crated for her own protection because if I left them alone, I know I would have come home to a dead puppy. We also walked them together every day. Sometimes I walked one in each hand if Hus wasn't around. That makes a huge difference. Took a while until they both learned they had to share the house and live in harmony. Now, they can't live without each other. Devin thinks Amy is a pain in the a__ but he also is devoted to her too now. But even today when she comes into pounce and play all over top of him, Devin will give her a one time warning to knock it off and she knows now when to back off. Take time with all of them and work with them. Success will not happen over night.

 

[Reijel's Mom]

I think Marty gave great advice.

I also want to warn you - sometimes 2 dogs will NEVER like each other, and will NEVER get along. The fights may get to be fewer and farther between and more manageable, but you may always have to keep them in separate quarters if you aren't around to supervise, you may always have to keep toys picked up, you may always have to feed in separate areas, and you may always have to be very careful about situations that dogs find to be overstimulating (because that is when they will tend to "go off"). Please think long and hard about that before you agree to keep the newer dog. She may be better off in a different home, a carefully selected one, of course.

I live with 2 corgis that are not big fans of each other, and to keep the peace I follow all the measures above. It's nice that they are smaller dogs so if they do get into one of their battles (which thank the Lord are few and far between now!) I am able to separate them. I adopted the 2nd corgi thinking that we'd be able to work through all the problems, and though we have come a long way we are certainly not problem free. Had I known all this going in I may not have kept the 2nd corgi, I would have just fostered him as I'd intended originally, but I've had them both too long now to consider rehoming them. I also think they are both happy and not suffering for it.

Ok, I just re-read your post and I think you were saying that the female boxer that you brought in and are considering keeping is the one initiating the fights and she is pregnant? That might well be some hormones talking there - maybe some others that breed can reply? I'm not a breeder but I have known the pregnant dogs I've been around to become moody, defensive, and more territorial. . .

 

[Mona]

When I brought Amy home as a baby to introduce her to Devin, who is very aggressive I knew there would be problems so I was prepared and watched a whole lot of Cesar Milan's Dog Whisper shows. It really helped and showed me how to get Devin in a good relaxed state of mind so that he would be workable. IF the dogs are tense, that's not good and you have to learn how to bring them into a calm state. I totally suggest watching every show you can find.

hahaha Marty..."Two great minds think alike"! That was the FIRST thing that came to mind...Cesar Milan would have this sorted out within minutes. LOL! Seriously, I have been watching that show every day, and I LOVE it!!

It is on "Dish" Network on channel 524 (National Geographic Channel) every day (Mon-Fri) at 4:00 Central. One really CAN learn a lot from watching it!!

Good Luck with your dogs. I LOVE Boxers! Wish I could help!

 

[Ashley]

We have that kind of battle here with the Bostons. When I first came to the pic, and introduced Mitzy to the mix there was a huge fight, blood and all. Now the two girls are the best of buddies. Poor Spider gets beat up by sweet pea alot, she is the dominate B**** here.

Bella is just a pup. Mitzy and SPider are annoyed with her, however Sweet Pea loves her and plays with her all the time. So far the only thing Bella dominates is the birds she seems to eat every day............

 

[runamuk]

I think Marty gave great advice.

I also want to warn you - sometimes 2 dogs will NEVER like each other, and will NEVER get along. The fights may get to be fewer and farther between and more manageable, but you may always have to keep them in separate quarters if you aren't around to supervise, you may always have to keep toys picked up, you may always have to feed in separate areas, and you may always have to be very careful about situations that dogs find to be overstimulating (because that is when they will tend to "go off"). Please think long and hard about that before you agree to keep the newer dog. She may be better off in a different home, a carefully selected one, of course.

I live with 2 corgis that are not big fans of each other, and to keep the peace I follow all the measures above. It's nice that they are smaller dogs so if they do get into one of their battles (which thank the Lord are few and far between now!) I am able to separate them. I adopted the 2nd corgi thinking that we'd be able to work through all the problems, and though we have come a long way we are certainly not problem free. Had I known all this going in I may not have kept the 2nd corgi, I would have just fostered him as I'd intended originally, but I've had them both too long now to consider rehoming them. I also think they are both happy and not suffering for it.

Ok, I just re-read your post and I think you were saying that the female boxer that you brought in and are considering keeping is the one initiating the fights and she is pregnant? That might well be some hormones talking there - maybe some others that breed can reply? I'm not a breeder but I have known the pregnant dogs I've been around to become moody, defensive, and more territorial. . .

Usually females will rule the roost in a pack. The pregnant part could also be causing more problems. And the possibility that they will never sort it out is something to consider. I live with an aussie and st. poodle who HATE each other. Supervised in the house with ME present they will behave but if only my hubby is around or they are outside in the yard they will duke it out to the death if we let them. So we play musical dogs

I also know some breeds just don't seem to mix well, play styles are different, body language differences etc..... some breeds tend to be more anti pack....chows, akitas, shar pei often can be difficult to keep in groups. I've lived with dog aggressive dogs for so many years I have no idea what it is like to have a pack that gets along OH! OH! OH!

 

[Sonya]

As someone else mentioned some dogs will never get along. I have a friend who has a chow and another dog (I can't remember what the other one is, but it's about the same size as the chow, maybe a little bigger). They are both males and fixed...they HAVE to keep them seperated at all times...they will kill each other, literally...there is no breaking them up. The dogs were introduced as puppies and now 10 years later and trying everything...they still will not get along. Both dogs have had to have surgery at least once for severe fight bights when they managed to get together. One dog stays in one half of the house, the other dog in the other. One dog gets the back yard, one the front...it is a major pain in the butt...and very dangerous too, not only for the dogs, but if someone happens to get in between them...lookout!

 

[Robin1]

I think her pregnancy is playing a large role in this. However, if she carries a grudge (had some do this) she will dislike them when her hormones get back to normal. Make sure the other dogs can't get near her pups or even look in the room.

Robin

P.S. Good luck

 

[Mona]

I would be even MORE concerned if it is her pregnancy doing this, and feel it needs to be stopped NOW, pregnant or not, because after she whelps, and has that new litter of pups, I feel she will become even MORE aggressive!

 

[Lisa-Ruff N Tuff Minis]

If she is pregnant.. keep them seperated for a while starting now.. once she has those pups all heck will break loose.

I am lucky.. I have a communal dog raising thing going on a true pack... many people dont have this. I have 2 litters now (they will be our last) and both moms share the pups in one pen.. nursing eachothers puppies and the other dogs come and go at will and have since day one into the pen to babysit the others all cleaning them and making them go potty and keeping them warm ect. I have males and females that are the aunts and uncles (babysitters and care takers) I realize that this is not normal for many. The pups are never left alone if the moms leave to go outside or play then in steps another one or two to sit with them play with them ect. If they come out and play then they are followed by the babysitter. the social workings of a dog pack are truly amazing I am lucky

If we had a agressive dog either the mom or with pups in the house.. not a good situation at all asking for trouble there be careful. I dont think it is impossible situation but one that will take being on guard for everyone

 

[HGFarm]

I had a friend that had the same dogs for years, and could not put two of them in the yard together. They hated each other and never got over it and they said the fights were horrible. They had to be kept seperated always.

I would certainly keep yours seperated- you dont want your poor guy to get hurt, or her either.

I would either send the one back home, or build a seperate dog run or something because yes, when the pups arrive she will be even worse. He probably thinks he is being tortured.

She was used to the dogs at her other home- not these and she may be stressed about being in a different place. She probably doesnt understand why her family has left her in this strange place with dogs and people she doesnt know.

How come they are not keeping her at their place?

 

[h2t99]

Thank you for all the tips!!

I am thinking it is probably the hormones from being PG. SHe got along great until she was bred and that is when the fighting started. My niece and her husband were living in a apartment and the building had a cockroach problem, well she was pregant with their 2nd child and his parents had them come live with them until the baby was born. Her husbands sister is allergic to dogs so they had to place both dogs. They are moving into a house the end of the month, but she knew we had grown attached to Sky and they are going to take a puppy, unless we cannot get the fighting under control. So we will see if we can get her to calm down. The funny thing is they get into the fight and then after they lay next to each other licking each other!!

 

[capall beag]

She sounds very stressed out and insecure.

Many females show changes in temperament during pregnancy and motherhood.

I would give her her own space during her pregnancy and definately after she whelps.

It will all fall into place after she weans her pups IMO.

I have experienced this more than once with my own dogs.

 

[Watcheye]

Heh - I thought Cesar before I even opened this thread. I have the first season on dvd and its GREAT!! I agree its going to be a bigger problem when she has puppies. Check out the show. You can also buy a soft muzzle to use on and off (obviously supervised). We have had to do that too.

 

[PaintedPromiseRanch]

be very careful... we had two female dogs that would fight from time to time, we would yell at them and they would quit... well one day we weren't home to yell at them and.our roommate (the wife) was afraid of big dogs so she hid in the house until it was quiet outside... went out to find one dog already dead and the other almost. my kids were so mad at her, she didn't even try...

we'd never had this happen before, usually they would start because one of them was jealous of the other getting attention from the kids but we weren't even home...