My girls have started fighting - need help

[Shanatink]

The past few months chloe will start fights with penny. Thats right! My 2.8 lb yorkie starts fights with my 90lb boxer. She is completely jealous if I ever touch penny(which is ridiculous because penny gets the least amount of attention becuase she doesnt conviently fit into our laps like the other 2 girls) and Chloe will actually start real fights with her but only over me, so luckily I always am there to break it up. Today however, Tinkerbell was in my lap on the couch and penny got up on the couch to lay next to me. My philosophy- the more the merrier. Well apparently Tink does not feel that way and did not want Penny sitting next to me and she started a low growl which initiated a very scary fight. My husband was sitting next to me with Chloe in his lap and of course chloe decided to join in the fight and my husband had to help me break it up, and somehow I ended up with a huge bruise on my arm when I was trying to break up the fight. I dont knwo what to do . Poor Penny is getting less attention becuase Im trying to avoid these fights. My little girls are spolied rotten, and they always throw a fit when I try to give any attention to penny. I am the only person they fight over, they never start fights over food, toys or any other person, they only start fights over my attention/affection. I dont think Penny would ever really hurt the girls but of course it is scary that she is 10-20x bigger than them although she is the sweetest dog in the world. She never ever starts the fight but yet if the girls growl or try to attack her of course she isnt going to just sit there and take it. How and why did this start happening? What do I do to put an end to it? (and getting rid of a dog is NOT an option) I need help!

[Rae Rae]

I wish I had some advice for you, but I don't I'm sorry your girls are acting this way. Sometimes when I go to pet Gizmo, Rocky will push him out of the way. Even if Rocky is off in his own world chewing on a toy or something, and as soon as Gizmo comes by me Rocky has to block him from me. These dogs are real protective. Rocky also has to jump at me whenever I hug my bf. If you find something that helps them not be so protective, please share

[SnowWa]

I have had a few of my pets (dogs and cats) act this way for a few days when I first brought a new pet home.

It sounds funny - but I just don't allow it. I usually have a good hold of the one that wants to start the fight - and I strongly hold that guy down and tell him not to go there and not to even think about it. I am very firm about this.... I'll even put their face between my hands and look them straight in the eye - and tell them "don't even try it!!!!!" Again - I am firm firm firm. And I do keep a hold on them -so that they can't get any ideas about lurching at the other dog or cat - etc.

I don't hurt them - I don't spank them - all of this is done only with the tone of my voice (and I'm not yelling either - I am only talking in a very firm and serious tone.) I am a very easy going person and I have pets that I have never had to talk to firmly in their entire life (and they might even be 10 years old) -so when I do speak with them this way - I think it really intimidates them and they do pay attention. They must think, "Wow - I'm not going to do this anymore."

Personally - I love all my pets to pieces and one of the main rules in my house is that they have get along and be nice to one another. They get away with murder like all our dogs do - but they are not allowed to be mean to one another. I am right on top of this and don't let any of them get a way with this type of behavior for a second.

And, I can say that after a one or two serious talks with a couple of my pets - they have never ever even growled at one another again.

And - I have to go just one more step -- all of my pets (two cats and two dogs) have become fast friends. One cat does tend to only tolerate the dogs, but he will sleep with them on my bed - and they never say a mean word to one another.

****** I think it is so much easier to be firm and strong once or twice - then to have to battle with a problem like this forever!

My rule --- "If you want to live here - you have to get along with everyone!"
And, I am serious enough about this that I think I really would rehome any pet I had that was mean to my other pets. Or - if was my older pet that wasn't nice, I wouldn't keep the new one.

But -- this has never happened.....and I'm not young, so I have had a lot of pets during my lifetime.

Good luck! Carol Jean

[JESSY_RN2B]

I am so sorry Shana. My Melody really surprised me at how her personality changed when I brought the yorkie home. She was so happy for the few first hours and then realized he was here to stay and got very jealous of him. I spend the entire week here with them. The cat on the other hand loves him to pieces.

I too am very easy going and love them all equally but the only thing that works for me is doing what the above poster mentioned. Be very firm when you talk to them (I know it's hard). I also, take all 3 of my pets 'shopping' to the petstore and let them pick a new toy. They absolutely know that I love all 3 equally and we all get along.

As for you, It might be a little different since you own only girls. It sounds like a hormone fest
Try talking to an animal trainer/behaviorist and see what tips they have to offer.

Best wishes to you all

[midnightmist]

I too do the same as SnowWa.I have 3 dogs in the house.If one of them starts trouble[normaly the border collie]I look her in the face and tell her to stop right now.It always works and she hates it.Could be something to do with showing you are the pack leader.Try it .Hope it works for you.

[makemepretty]

I'm so sorry to hear this. I know most people would disagree but I've never thought that little dogs and big dogs mix. Big dogs don't know their own strength and little dogs don't realize they won't win. It only takes one wrong paw to do damage(I've seen many small animals with only one eye due to a larger dog). The larger dog doesn't mean to hurt the smaller one but just using it's paw to push it away or snapping as a warning can do some serious damage. Unfortunately it sounds like you have to do something about the two little ones to end this problem(since you mention getting rid of Penny isn't an option). I really don't know how you stop them from being jealous of each other, contacting a dog trainer would be your best bet.

[Lexi Rae]

what about time out???? dont laugh, just a thought!!! that would be one
thing that scared me if i get another dog, cause it would be big like penny

[BLowry]

Originally Posted by Shanatink

The past few months chloe will start fights with penny. Thats right! My 2.8 lb yorkie starts fights with my 90lb boxer. She is completely jealous if I ever touch penny(which is ridiculous because penny gets the least amount of attention becuase she doesnt conviently fit into our laps like the other 2 girls) and Chloe will actually start real fights with her but only over me, so luckily I always am there to break it up. Today however, Tinkerbell was in my lap on the couch and penny got up on the couch to lay next to me. My philosophy- the more the merrier. Well apparently Tink does not feel that way and did not want Penny sitting next to me and she started a low growl which initiated a very scary fight. My husband was sitting next to me with Chloe in his lap and of course chloe decided to join in the fight and my husband had to help me break it up, and somehow I ended up with a huge bruise on my arm when I was trying to break up the fight. I dont knwo what to do . Poor Penny is getting less attention becuase Im trying to avoid these fights. My little girls are spolied rotten, and they always throw a fit when I try to give any attention to penny. I am the only person they fight over, they never start fights over food, toys or any other person, they only start fights over my attention/affection. I dont think Penny would ever really hurt the girls but of course it is scary that she is 10-20x bigger than them although she is the sweetest dog in the world. She never ever starts the fight but yet if the girls growl or try to attack her of course she isnt going to just sit there and take it. How and why did this start happening? What do I do to put an end to it? (and getting rid of a dog is NOT an option) I need help!

Good Morning Shana!
I am sorry to hear that you are going through this with your girls..I know how you feel as I am going through this same thing with Sadie. Sadie is 2 1/2 yrs old...she has always been a little dog aggressive but, was doing better as I was exposing her to the dogs in the neighborhood taking her for walks everyday..She was brought up with my Parent's dog...they used to watch her for me when I worked...Now we have Lillie 18 weeks old....Sadie took to her pretty good....I was really surprised BUT, she has all of a sudden become very dog aggressive again!!! she never has attacked Lillie at home but, if I bring them both to my Parents and Lillie should run to the door and bark Sadie will jump on her and start fighting...Lillie doesn't know what's going on!!! she's just a baby....My Mom and I have had to seperate them several times...and it only happens at my parents! weird huh? I called a very good trainer in my area she gave me alot of good advice which I have been following and it seems to be helping...you have to make sure you scold her when this happens and put her on the floor, this is going to be hard as we love to love our babies but, it has worked for me....I also don't free feed anymore...she either eats when I put it down or has to wait until the next feeding...she told me that (in my case) Sadie has to learn that I am the leader of the pack and NOT HER! She also suggested buying the book "Leader of the Pack"....you just have to remember that YOU are the boss....NOT TINK! I know this is going to be hard for you..it was hard for me but, I love my girls and don't want to see one of them get hurt

Good Luck Shana!

[Shanatink]

Originally Posted by midnightmist

I too do the same as SnowWa.I have 3 dogs in the house.If one of them starts trouble[normaly the border collie]I look her in the face and tell her to stop right now.It always works and she hates it.Could be something to do with showing you are the pack leader.Try it .Hope it works for you.

This is what I try to do. I can tell when they are about to start fighting, they always do the sideways glances first. Generally what will happen is that they will do the sideways glances and then I will grab the little dog (usually chloe) quickly to try and prevent whats about to happen next but my grabbing chloe will then start the fight regardless. So after I break up the fight I always firmly tell everyone NO, I dont spank, just tell them bad dogs which they definetly know what that means, and then I do usually have to get Penny off the couch (the fights always happen on the couch) so I can calm everyone down. Once someone makes the first move, its pretty much always too late. I dont allow them to fight, it just happens as soon as someone(chloe) makes a threatening growl or "stare".

[Shanatink]

Originally Posted by makemepretty

I'm so sorry to hear this. I know most people would disagree but I've never thought that little dogs and big dogs mix. Big dogs don't know their own strength and little dogs don't realize they won't win. It only takes one wrong paw to do damage(I've seen many small animals with only one eye due to a larger dog). The larger dog doesn't mean to hurt the smaller one but just using it's paw to push it away or snapping as a warning can do some serious damage. Unfortunately it sounds like you have to do something about the two little ones to end this problem(since you mention getting rid of Penny isn't an option). I really don't know how you stop them from being jealous of each other, contacting a dog trainer would be your best bet.

Thats just it, Penny does know her own strength and has never hurt anyone or my other dogs. You'd be amazed that Penny and chloe will play tug-o-war together and penny will barely be pulling becasue she knows Chloe is like 40 times smaller and weaker than her. If you knew Penny and Chloe you would completely agree that big dogs and little dogs can be great together. They actually play together, snuggle together and Penny watches out for chloe, and is especially protective of her when they are outside. Ive had Penny for almost 5 years now and she has always been as gentle as can be. If Penny didnt know her own strength Im pretty sure we would have already had a real problem by now. My problem is that my little dogs have jealousy issues when it comes to me and start fights with penny. And this just started within the past few months. And becasue of this my big dog gets less attention. My big dog has more or less always "stood her ground" with these fights. She has never actually bit the little dogs, jumped on them, scratched them or anything, all she does is growl and I have to pretty much pry the little ones off her. And my little dogs will try to be mean to her. So Penny is completely fine and not the problem at all. The issue is how to keep the little ones from being so jealous. Its weird because Chloe & Tink are not jealous of each other. Im a little worried I somehow caused this behaviour since its just recently developed and Im the only one they fight over so Im trying to figure out how to undo what Ive done.

[chloeandj]

I had this problem with Tinkerbell doing this to Chloe when she was much younger and actually posted here for help and don't remember the responses I got. But what I did was, I'd make Tinkerbell get down and then I'd pick up Chloe and love on her a minute and then I'd pick them both up together and love on them. If she continued to do it, I'd put her back down and totally ignore her and not let her back up on my lap for quite a while. Back then Tink would also do this if my son came in the room and got near me So I'd make her get off my lap and I would ignore her completely for a long time. I think this worked because Tink is an attention hog and it really bothered her when I ignored her. I don't think you can make them stop being jealous but you can make them feel like it simply isn't allowed or they get negative consquences (being ignored)

Oh and I just remembered Tink used to be real bad with our golden retriever, she got him to the point where he would walk in the room and she would growl and he would turn around and leave!

[JCarlson2004]

I'll PM you.

[vainchick5]

I'm sorry this is happening. Actually my friend has two pugs and they are very jealous of attention they get from my friend. They were always fighting over who got to be on her lap or who got the extra petting, etc. She hired a trainer for that purpose and here was what he told her to do:
He said make a place for them called "YOUR PLACE", with maybe a little bed and a leash attachment. Everytime they would fight she would tell them go to your place. She would leash them up in their place for 5-10 minutes, then let them go. As soon as they would even start to growl or glance, she would start saying NO very firmly. After a week, they got the point. They know when she says YOUR PLACE, that's their punishment corner. Now they hardly fight at all, and all she has to do is say NO when the glances and growling starts and they stop. You definetely need some sort of punishment for the behavior. I don't mean hitting or anything, just punishing the initiator by ignoring her or putting her somewhere where she isn't with you. Hope that helps. My friend paid $800 for that..lol..but you just got it for free. MERRY CHRISTMAS..loool

[Rockster's Mom]

Oh poor Penny!!! She just wants some lovin's also. Have you tried putting Tink and Chloe in timeout? I know it sounds silly, but it works with Rocky when his gets in trouble. I send him to his corner for a few minutes and everyone ignores him. He gets a clue real quick that what he did is wrong. I figured if it worked with my daughter it would work for him to.

[Sadie's Mom]

I'd try time out. You KNOW Chloe would hate that, so it seems a good punishment for her.