Dog fight

[butterfingersbimbo]

I'm very pissed off, Bean and Chilli just had a proper fight. Chilli had Bean on her back and was not going to let go. We had just been for a walk and as the dogs were wet I was drying them with a towel.....deja vu.....One of my friends is going to have Chilli for a bit to see if her collie puts her in her place. Any idea anyone? Luckily neither of them were hurt.

[saxon]

I had this with my staff x and my OTB a few weeks ago.

The staff was happy to accept they'd had an argument but the OTB still wanted to kill the staff after 3 weeks.
Unfortunately they had another 'real' fight which put the staff in the vets. She was found to have an abdominal tumour, whether this was why Brodie was having goes I dont' know, she had to be PTS as surgery wasn't an option in her case.

I think it really depends on the breed/temperament of each dog.
Often seperating them is not the right option. You could try muzzling them to reintroduce!!!
Another dog 'putting her in her place' will probably not stop her fighting with your other dog.

[butterfingersbimbo]

Thanks Saxon, I'm sorry to hear about your staff you must be heartbroken.

I'm not sure what to do to be honest. I always had male dogs in the past and they don't usually bear grudges like bitches do. I don't know if this is just a sign that the honeymoon is over or wether it's a taste of things to come.....luckily I'm not working today so can keep a close eye on them. At the moment they are in Beans bed having a play fight.

BTW Chilli is a JRT and Bean is a chi / dash cross.

[saxon]

A little bit easier to stop a fight then???
We had hell on with my two.
Gem, the staff, didnt' want to fight but it started as a play fight and just escalated. She had to defend herself in the long run.
Brodie seemed to hate Gem straight away afterwards even though they'd been together since she was only 13 weeks old and she was 9 months at the time of the fight.
Brodie is still fine with the min pin and the rottie but they are dogs. She's even scared of the cats!!

We'll miss Gem but at least the tumour was found before she suffered. We had no idea at all she was still eating and everything 'worked' so I dont' know how long it would have been before we noticed anything wrong.

[butterfingersbimbo]

It's good that Gem never suffered, bless her.

Yes easier to seperate thankfully! Well the pair of them are asleep together now, I'm not sure that sending Chilli away is the best thing as it might make them worse when she comes back.....bitches eh!!!

[AndyJY]

my dogs (2 bitches) fought for the first week never put yer foot between the 2 i got a tooth threw me trainer and me big toe lol anyway i muzzled the new addition (aggressor) for 2 days in the house and they stopped they now even eat their food next to each other and there is no aggression expressed between them.

[feorag]

Sorry to hear that happened, Emma, because I know you were really pleased that they were getting on so well.

I really don't think sending Chilli away will solve your problem though, cos it could all kick off again when she comes home. I think it's something you have to work out in your own house, but I've no experience in that area, so sadly can't give you any advice.

I'm sure someone else will be along with good advice though.

[ryanr1987]

this can be a problem with housing dogs of the same sex. even if raised together they can to compete for pack posistion or play fighting when one dog has enough. some breeds are much more dominant then others i.e akitas, staffs, chowss.

[marthaMoo]

Unfortunatly thats females and terriers for you. You have to be very careful mixing same sex dogs in general, but even more so with Terriers and Bull Breeds.

I'm really sorry for you as its not a nice thing to have to deal with.

Could you just tell me what exactly happened though? I know you said you were drying them off, but which one were you drying when it happened? Did you notice any changes in them up to the fight?

I also agree about not sending her away. It could cause more problems when she comes back. Plus Terriers dont get put in there place and learn from it.

[corny girl]

I have 4 Bitches & 1 Dog here & have never had any real problems. Yes they have the odd grumble but i only have to shout & they stop immediately (they know i'm top Bitch!!!). I will always keep Bitches together but never 2 Dogs again. When i had 2 Dogs it was murder, they hated each other & had to be kept separate at all times. I know you have to let them decide on who is the Dominant & who is submissive but not when they go for an all out kill . I was lucky & never managed to get bitten when trying to separate them, my poor Hubby stuck his leg out one day to stop them & got teeth sunk into it. He never did that again . Give me Bitches any day!!!