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| | Author | Messages | |
06woman
Posts:356
 | | 08/24/2007 11:46 AM |
 Alert | I moved in with my friend a couple of months ago who also has a Lab mix like my dog, Darby. They are both mixed with different breeds that we don't know. They really seemed to get along very well in the beginning. Occasionally there would be a fight, but now it seems to be happening very often. I understand that they are fighting for dominance in the pack and that a human needs to be alpha. Well, I am Alpha with Darby, but the other dog needs some work. The last few days have been quite bloody and last night they got into it again. I had my son open the sliding glass door and I told Darby to go outside and finally he let go and then the other dog did too and Darby went outside. My friend's dog was bleeding from the mouth and that eventually stopped and he has multiple "holes" on his head and a swollen eye from Darby's teeth. Darby has a wounded ears and puncture wounds in his neck. My son gave him a bath last night and I had to clean blood off the shower walls. The other dog, retreated upstairs with one of the kids and hid for the evening. I had to make Darby stay on the kitchen floor until he quit bleeding, but he laid down against the wall behind the kitchen table like he was hiding. He looked so sad and didn't wag his tail. He hardly moved at all. This was his demeanor the entire night. He just kept looking at me so pathetically. Bugsy on the other hand, wagged his tail when I came to check on his injuries. Darby is a rescue dog who had a traumatized life in his first 6 mos until we adopted him and he has psychological issues. I just wonder if he's upset about that or that perhaps he didn't win the fight because he let go first.
Anyway, I was wondering if anyone has dealt with this type of issue and how can I stop the fighting before it gets so bloody. I have to mention that at times they are friendly with each other and play or lick each other and their wounds, but then these fights break out for no obvious reason. Thanks for any advice. | |
"Happiness is a journey...not a destination."
"The highest form of ignorance is to reject something you know nothing about." -
Dr. Wayne W. Dyer
This is my son and a Lake Erie sunset. July 8,2007
Senior Member
Posts: 2268
Joined: May 2006 | |
| | Tigg
Posts:549
| | 08/24/2007 11:50 AM |
Alert | Crate them whenever you can't be directly watching them so that if a fight breaks out, you can stop it immediately - before blood is drawn.
Both dogs, not just one, need training as well so that it's easier to keep them from fighting in the first place or to break it up when it does start. If the other dog hasn't had any training, now's the time to start since it hasn't been done in the past. | | | |
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| | 06woman
Posts:356
| | 08/24/2007 12:34 PM |
Alert | | We don't have crates. Darby used to always stay in the laundry room when home alone which is not much bigger than a crate anyway. He actually wanted to go in there when we left. I think he needs to be put in there again. I know they fight when no one is there too. Darby's had 3 collars since we've lived there. One day I came home with a brand new purple collar and new tags for him. He was so excited for me to give it to him. I left for two hours and came back to find it torn in half. | |
"Happiness is a journey...not a destination."
"The highest form of ignorance is to reject something you know nothing about." -
Dr. Wayne W. Dyer
This is my son and a Lake Erie sunset. July 8,2007
Senior Member
Posts: 2268
Joined: May 2006 | |
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| | Tigg
Posts:549
| | 08/24/2007 12:58 PM |
Alert | | If you can't get crates, do something to separate them (especially when noone's home!), but separate them equally so that one of them doesn't get a big head. So, put Darby in the laundry room and the other dog in a bathroom or at least a bedroom - so that the other dog doesn't have the whole house with Darby locked away in the laundry room. But they absolutely should not have access to each other when you are not able to supervise them! The damage is already bad enough, but it could get far worse if the fighting escalates - especially if no people are home to break it up. | | | |
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| | Pet Social Worker
Posts:0
| | 08/24/2007 1:24 PM |
Alert | | double post - sorry | | | |
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| | Pet Social Worker
Posts:0
| | 08/24/2007 1:24 PM |
Alert | | Separation & Training - good advice. It won't stop on it's own. | | | |
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|  | demonica
Posts:850
| | 08/24/2007 3:05 PM |
Alert | WARNING: POLITICALLY INCORRECT POSTING TO FOLLOW:
give them to michael vick!
I WARNED YOU!!! | | | |
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| | demonica
Posts:850
| | 08/24/2007 3:08 PM |
Alert | of course my last post was a joke. in very poor taste. but i couldn't help myself!
seriously, though, separate, separate, separate! yeah, it's a dominance thing. and they will have to work out the pecking order themselves. but when they are unsupervised, it can get out of hand quickly. not to mention having to get blood out of carpeting, etc. a big thing is to make sure that they are both getting equal attention when you are home. each dog should get extra attention from "their" human and less from the other dog's human. good luck! | | | |
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| | 06woman
Posts:356
| | 08/24/2007 4:59 PM |
Alert | | Thanks for the advice. They both a look a little "forlorn" today. I'm afraid of them being traumatized and I can't afford to pay a dog whisperer! | |
"Happiness is a journey...not a destination."
"The highest form of ignorance is to reject something you know nothing about." -
Dr. Wayne W. Dyer
This is my son and a Lake Erie sunset. July 8,2007
Senior Member
Posts: 2268
Joined: May 2006 | |
|
| | Fritzydoodle
Posts:979
| | 08/24/2007 5:12 PM |
Alert | Are they fighting over something - food dish, water dish, bones or toys, the right to sleep in a certain spot or the attention of someone? Or are they just fighting because they looked at each other and their paths crossed? Are they both neutered? If not - is there a female in heat in your area?
It's unusual for dogs that live together to repeatedly fight and actually draw blood. Snarl, roll around and make lots of noise... yes - but not actually draw blood. That seems more than proving who's the alpha.
Is one the aggressor and the other responds or who is starting the fights?
Our JRT takes on the big dog if when we first get home we spend more time petting Ruby than her. She's OK if we pet each with one hand at the same time. She's just jealous she isn't getting equal attention. | |
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| | lmreynol
Posts:17
| | 08/25/2007 7:06 AM |
Alert | 06woman:
Email me at attentivek9@hotmail.com
Only out of fairness to those who pay for my services, I am unable to do training for free except for extreme cases (like the rescue dogs from katrina) but I do not wish for you to go thru trying to work out your dog issue without some sort of experienced help. I no longer live in Copa, however I still have clients out there I am working with. Usually on Saturday mornings (except today since we have rain =) )
However...I had a Copa client who paid for my services, and part way through their training five weeks into an eight week package, their dog died from tumors.... =( I offered to return their $ for traiing and they refused. I refused to take something for nothing so told them they have three session from me "in their pocket" to use down the road on a dog if they buy one or to "gift" out to friends/family...well they read your posting....it hit a heart string, and although they wish to not be named, they called and ask I read your posting and contact you to offer those three sessions for free. So...they are yours for the taking if you wish...free of charge. Only stipulation is your sessions would have to be scheduled on Saturdays, after my first morning client. If for some reason you choose not to take the gift...well it's your choice and I do wish you the best of luck with the pooches. And I leave you with this side note...if left unresolved...the fighting will only continue, and usuaully increases over time. Thus causing more damage to dogs and running up the emergency vet bills which in time will quickly equal out the cost of a trainer....
Leo Reynolds | | | |
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| | njparks
Posts:201
| | 08/25/2007 7:18 AM |
Alert | You need a professional to come in and evaluate the situation. See above post! Once this has started, you need help to control the situation. Even making eye contact can start it all over again.
In the meantime, keep them separate when you can't be RIGHT THERE to watch them. Pick up any toys that might be the cause of the fighting...bones and other items special to the dogs all need to go away, for now.
They could be fighting over territory, food, toys or you. There are lots of reasons. This is not an easy solution, but someone to assess the situation is absolutely necessary! | |
Nancy | |
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| | Tigg
Posts:549
| | 08/25/2007 7:45 AM |
Alert | | 06 - Send Leo the e-mail! He is EXCELLENT and really knows his stuff. I would recommend him to anyone in need of a trainer. If someone is willing to give those 3 sessions to you, take them up on it without hesitation! | | | |
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| | 06woman
Posts:356
| | 08/25/2007 11:54 AM |
Alert | Thank you and thank whomever donated the 3 sessions. I sent Leo the email. All has been quite calm since Thursday night which was the last fight.
I have seen toys trigger the fights, I see that the other dog tries to block my dog from coming over by me and then other times, it's not apparent what the reason is for the fight. No toys are left out anymore and no more bones. They get treats at the same time but only the kind they eat up right away and they DO work for them. They seem to like each other in other ways, it's just whatever starts these fights. | |
"Happiness is a journey...not a destination."
"The highest form of ignorance is to reject something you know nothing about." -
Dr. Wayne W. Dyer
This is my son and a Lake Erie sunset. July 8,2007
Senior Member
Posts: 2268
Joined: May 2006 | |
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