Having some fighting issues - YorkieTalk.com Forums

GidgetGirl2009 · 02-07-2013, 09:10 AM

My little yorkie girl and my little chi girl are constantly getting into fights. I will say that it is totally the yorkie that starts it all. My poor little chi slinks around the house with her tail between her legs, just waiting for my yorkie to attack her! It's awful! They got along just fine until my little chi went into heat for the first time before I could get her spayed, I took her and got her spayed, but we are still having issues! I have called a behaviorist that is coming in on Sunday to work with us, but do any of you have any recommendation for in the mean time?

Farleys · 02-07-2013, 09:16 AM

exercise exercise exercise.

When my dogs are getting tense and anxious and snippy with each other. I add more walks. The more they exercise the more relaxed and tired and less focused on each other they are.
My dogs have a huge fenced yard, but they need more stimulation that the same old yard every single day.
A walk a day on a different path or trail or road keeps them happy. And like i said sleepy dogs get along much better.
I also give them bones(something to chew) or a kong stuffed with a frozen treat in seperated areas of the house to keep them occupied

ch774 · 02-07-2013, 09:18 AM

Oh how horrible been there. My male yorkie would get aggressive over another one of dogs. I would have to punished him Not by force. But the time you see them go after it. Just take yorkie and put her on her side every time. GENTLY put your hand on neck and hold down yes, she won't like it but they do learn "Mind did" just enough until breathing is slower and he/she is calm down. That will show you are boss and that this is not going to happen.

Hope this helps sure helped me.

Cheryl

gracielove · 02-07-2013, 09:46 AM

It sounds like a tense situation. Is your Yorkie spayed? There are some females that are more dominate than others. If your Yorkie is spayed I would try gating them away from each other. Your other dog should not have to live in fear all the time.

GidgetGirl2009 · 02-07-2013, 10:17 AM

Yes, she is spayed! And right now we are keeping the separated, but we cannot keep them separated forever. They used to get along, I just don't get what is going on!

ch774 · 02-07-2013, 01:57 PM

I learned my discipline from Cesar, and my groomer. They have
used it on all my dogs. Now they are bud's.

Cheryl

BellaandBailey · 02-07-2013, 03:34 PM

Our male and female Yorkies have fought so bad that we have had to pull them apart and my hubby has been bit! They only fight like that when they have a bone or bully stick. Bailey was 4 mths old when we got him and there were alot of dogs, more than 20, at his home. He never lets Bella have toys, bones etc. but she will fight him for her bone! We are hoping he will calm down once he is fixed and has some training. Until then we just don't give them bones unless they are seperated.

yorkietalkjilly · 02-07-2013, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Farleys

exercise exercise exercise.

When my dogs are getting tense and anxious and snippy with each other. I add more walks. The more they exercise the more relaxed and tired and less focused on each other they are.
My dogs have a huge fenced yard, but they need more stimulation that the same old yard every single day.
A walk a day on a different path or trail or road keeps them happy. And like i said sleepy dogs get along much better.
I also give them bones(something to chew) or a kong stuffed with a frozen treat in seperated areas of the house to keep them occupied

Good advice by all. Exercise and stimulate them mentally as much as possible. It sounds like there are some attempts to decide who will be lead dog or the alpha dog might be going on and they are trying to fight it out as the one tries to wrestle top dog from the other.

I'm sure you watch them when they are near each other for the body language that signals a fight is coming and when you see that first signal, an intense, focusing look, ears back or pricked forward, a paw on the other dog, head raised, tail raised or wagging or quite still, etc., you remind them who is the real alpha dog in that family and it is YOU. Stand up and walk to them with a firm, low and never yelled "No", and send each away to his or her special place to lie down and calm down. Try to spend some time with the instigator, working and getting into obedience training again and the Nothing In Life Is Free program, so that the dog will start to look to you to run the family pack and quite so much trying to have its say over the other dog. That is your job - running the pack or family.

But do exercise them as Farleys suggested and keep them as free of built-up tension as possible as you all work this out that you are the leader of the pack.

brezofleur · 02-07-2013, 04:50 PM

I also recommend exercise! How often are you taking them for a walk now and for how long? Does your Yorkie have any toys that she can play with while at home?

BabyGirl Rosie · 02-07-2013, 05:05 PM

Have either one figured out who is the dominant female? I was breaking up my girls when my groomer told me to stop it. Once I let Rosie pin Mikki and show her she was dominant the fighting decreased. I don't know that it works with everyone but it helped here. We still have little fights but nothing like we had before.

yorkietalkjilly · 02-07-2013, 05:58 PM

I imagine that little Chi walking about with her tail clamped down and living in fear is what the concern is by OP. It's bound to be a terrible way to live - awaiting attacks. As long as she is doing that - waiting for them in fear - they will likely keep happening. That dog's fear could be bringing on the attacks as some dog's want to attack what they perceive as instability or fear. Mostly I let dogs settle their own alpha type disputes but in this case, there is one dog living pretty miserable. Before the attacking becomes a longer ingrained problem and creates a fear-aggressive Chihuahua, I'd interfere and stop the attacker, working with her to make her understand she's gone past my - and that little Chihuahua's - comfort level and teach her who has the authority in our family and no more fighting. Once the aggressor is changed and under control, the OP can work to rehab the little Chi and her probable insecurities. I think the behaviorist is a great idea as that person can get to know what really is the problem as we all just have to give our best guesses with the limited information and not knowing the dogs involved. I'll bet the little Yorkie will be relieved eventually to have what she thinks of as her responsibility of correcting the little Chi removed from her shoulders.

veggienut · 02-07-2013, 06:25 PM

I agree with the others about 'exercise', Then again, it may take time for them to get along and perhaps think about crating them when your away or not able to keep an eye on them. Also, I have a neighbor who had a Lab/Huskey who passed. They also have 2 other dogs. One of the dogs really missed the one who passed more than the other one. Her husband didn't want another one since he was so attached to the Lab/Huskey. Well months later the wife got another Lab mix and the one that misses the one that passed had issues to deal with having another one around. He won't hang around the new pup but the middle dog did. Long story short, he finally is hanging around the new pup which is 9 months old and big now, and it took about 5 months or longer.

02-07-2013, 09:10 AM	#1
GidgetGirl2009 Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 39	Having some fighting issues My little yorkie girl and my little chi girl are constantly getting into fights. I will say that it is totally the yorkie that starts it all. My poor little chi slinks around the house with her tail between her legs, just waiting for my yorkie to attack her! It's awful! They got along just fine until my little chi went into heat for the first time before I could get her spayed, I took her and got her spayed, but we are still having issues! I have called a behaviorist that is coming in on Sunday to work with us, but do any of you have any recommendation for in the mean time?

02-07-2013, 09:18 AM	#3
ch774 No Longer a Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Corpus Christi, Texas Posts: 415	issues Oh how horrible been there. My male yorkie would get aggressive over another one of dogs. I would have to punished him Not by force. But the time you see them go after it. Just take yorkie and put her on her side every time. GENTLY put your hand on neck and hold down yes, she won't like it but they do learn "Mind did" just enough until breathing is slower and he/she is calm down. That will show you are boss and that this is not going to happen. Hope this helps sure helped me. Cheryl

02-07-2013, 01:57 PM	#6
ch774 No Longer a Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Corpus Christi, Texas Posts: 415	fighting I learned my discipline from Cesar, and my groomer. They have used it on all my dogs. Now they are bud's. Cheryl

02-07-2013, 03:34 PM	#7
BellaandBailey Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Prince George, BC Canada Posts: 10	Fighting Our male and female Yorkies have fought so bad that we have had to pull them apart and my hubby has been bit! They only fight like that when they have a bone or bully stick. Bailey was 4 mths old when we got him and there were alot of dogs, more than 20, at his home. He never lets Bella have toys, bones etc. but she will fight him for her bone! We are hoping he will calm down once he is fixed and has some training. Until then we just don't give them bones unless they are seperated.

02-07-2013, 04:50 PM	#9
brezofleur Donating YT Addict Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 6,982	I also recommend exercise! How often are you taking them for a walk now and for how long? Does your Yorkie have any toys that she can play with while at home? __________________ Heather Zeus \| Thalia

02-07-2013, 09:16 AM	#2
Farleys No Longer a Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Idaho Posts: 551	exercise exercise exercise. When my dogs are getting tense and anxious and snippy with each other. I add more walks. The more they exercise the more relaxed and tired and less focused on each other they are. My dogs have a huge fenced yard, but they need more stimulation that the same old yard every single day. A walk a day on a different path or trail or road keeps them happy. And like i said sleepy dogs get along much better. I also give them bones(something to chew) or a kong stuffed with a frozen treat in seperated areas of the house to keep them occupied

02-07-2013, 09:46 AM	#4
gracielove YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: NY Posts: 6,582	It sounds like a tense situation. Is your Yorkie spayed? There are some females that are more dominate than others. If your Yorkie is spayed I would try gating them away from each other. Your other dog should not have to live in fear all the time.

02-07-2013, 10:17 AM	#5
GidgetGirl2009 Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 39	Yes, she is spayed! And right now we are keeping the separated, but we cannot keep them separated forever. They used to get along, I just don't get what is going on!

02-07-2013, 05:05 PM	#10
BabyGirl Rosie I ♥ my girls! Donating Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: With My Yorkies Posts: 18,980	Have either one figured out who is the dominant female? I was breaking up my girls when my groomer told me to stop it. Once I let Rosie pin Mikki and show her she was dominant the fighting decreased. I don't know that it works with everyone but it helped here. We still have little fights but nothing like we had before. __________________ Momma to three sweet Yorkie girls Rosie Marie, Mikki Leigh , and Lily Mae Grace!

02-07-2013, 05:58 PM	#11
yorkietalkjilly ♥ Love My Tibbe! ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: D/FW, Texas Posts: 22,140	I imagine that little Chi walking about with her tail clamped down and living in fear is what the concern is by OP. It's bound to be a terrible way to live - awaiting attacks. As long as she is doing that - waiting for them in fear - they will likely keep happening. That dog's fear could be bringing on the attacks as some dog's want to attack what they perceive as instability or fear. Mostly I let dogs settle their own alpha type disputes but in this case, there is one dog living pretty miserable. Before the attacking becomes a longer ingrained problem and creates a fear-aggressive Chihuahua, I'd interfere and stop the attacker, working with her to make her understand she's gone past my - and that little Chihuahua's - comfort level and teach her who has the authority in our family and no more fighting. Once the aggressor is changed and under control, the OP can work to rehab the little Chi and her probable insecurities. I think the behaviorist is a great idea as that person can get to know what really is the problem as we all just have to give our best guesses with the limited information and not knowing the dogs involved. I'll bet the little Yorkie will be relieved eventually to have what she thinks of as her responsibility of correcting the little Chi removed from her shoulders. __________________ Jeanie and Tibbe One must do the best one can. You may get some marks for a very imperfect answer: you will certainly get none for leaving the question alone. C. S. Lewis

02-07-2013, 06:25 PM	#12
veggienut YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 805	I agree with the others about 'exercise', Then again, it may take time for them to get along and perhaps think about crating them when your away or not able to keep an eye on them. Also, I have a neighbor who had a Lab/Huskey who passed. They also have 2 other dogs. One of the dogs really missed the one who passed more than the other one. Her husband didn't want another one since he was so attached to the Lab/Huskey. Well months later the wife got another Lab mix and the one that misses the one that passed had issues to deal with having another one around. He won't hang around the new pup but the middle dog did. Long story short, he finally is hanging around the new pup which is 9 months old and big now, and it took about 5 months or longer.