Advice on fear aggression

[Barbie123]

I have 2 rescue dogs, one yorkie and one jack russell (bitches) Yorkie is 5 and Jackie is 2. They have been getting into fairly serious scraps over last two weeks (we have had them together for 8 months) yorkie grows when jackie comes up to her or wants to play, she "hassles" yorkie all day to play, this eventually leads to full on fights. Any advice appreciated.

[Yorkiekids]

I might try taking the more aggressive one to a training class. That might calm her down enough to get along with her sister.

[Barbie123]

Thanks, I will probably have to send both to class! Has anyone used or heard of D.A.P (dog appeasing pheromone) collars? My vet has recommended this as a natural behavioural aid (releases pheromones into the dog's skin to calm)

[cinnamonmon]

I dont have any answers for you but am hoping someone can help. I have a similar problem which I posted a few weeks ago, but got few helpful answers. I even asked my vet who gave me a very lame response. I am getting desperate. I have a 2 yr old Yorkie and a 4 yr old Yorkie mix...they have been together for the last year, but within the last month have been attacking each other over nothing. Its gotten so bad I have to get them separated by a gate and sometimes then even attack each other at night right on my bed...what a rude way to wake up. Both of mine are females too, the Yorkie is fixed, the mix breed is not and I wonder if that is the issue. I hope someone can help.

[alaskayorkie]

Can you tell what starts the fights? Is it over toys? Is it over food? Is it over attention from you? Is one dog invading the other's space?

I had a toy hoarder, and a behaviorist gave me a few pieces of advice that may or may not be applicable to you. Here are her main points:

1. Exercise them until they are dog tired.
2. Since our problem was over toys, she had me scoop up all the toys in the house and only give them out when I was there to supervise.
3. During toy time, she had me leash the aggressor. I played with both dogs normally and made it a lot of fun, but the aggressor was on a leash.
4. When toy time was over, I put all the toys away.
5. I didn't unleash him for about three weeks, and only after he stopped pulling at the leash to get the other dog.
6. Eventually, the aggressor stopped hoarding all the toys. I was amazed.

You'll have to use your own judgment on whether it sounds like those things might help in your situation. It's probably not a great idea to accept anyone's advice who's not a professional. And that I'm not.

[Barbie123]

Thanks Alaskayorkie, all of the issues you mentioned can trigger a fight! The DAP collar has been on the main aggressor for a night now and we are hoping for miracles! I am also going to get a collar for the yorkie as it can't hurt for them both to calm down. We are going on vacation soon and they will be with a dog sitter, we do not want her to be exposed to this. They are both spayed so that isn't the issue. I will try your approach.

[alaskayorkie]

You may have a tougher time if all those things can trigger a fight. Just remember, you're trying to teach them that YOU are the alpha dog. The toys are your toys. It is your food. You and only you decide when they get anything. Eventually, you can give them more freedoms.

Good luck! If it doesn't work, look into getting a behaviorist. I was delighted at the work they did for me. They're not cheap but it was worth it.

[FirstYorkie]

Originally Posted by alaskayorkie

Can you tell what starts the fights? Is it over toys? Is it over food? Is it over attention from you? Is one dog invading the other's space?

I had a toy hoarder, and a behaviorist gave me a few pieces of advice that may or may not be applicable to you. Here are her main points:

1. Exercise them until they are dog tired.
2. Since our problem was over toys, she had me scoop up all the toys in the house and only give them out when I was there to supervise.
3. During toy time, she had me leash the aggressor. I played with both dogs normally and made it a lot of fun, but the aggressor was on a leash.
4. When toy time was over, I put all the toys away.
5. I didn't unleash him for about three weeks, and only after he stopped pulling at the leash to get the other dog.
6. Eventually, the aggressor stopped hoarding all the toys. I was amazed.

You'll have to use your own judgment on whether it sounds like those things might help in your situation. It's probably not a great idea to accept anyone's advice who's not a professional. And that I'm not.

EXCELLENT advice!

[tjdmom]

I have found that going for walks with both dogs help. My older dog has never attacked my yorkie (thank goodness) but she does growl and show her teeth and the yorkie is not the least bit intimidated by that. She is submissive though. She just loves her big sister and gives her so many kisses it's annoying. Anyways, I have found it is better when we all walk together. I try to do it everynite but it's been kinda hot here so I slacked off but will be starting again soon. Anyways, that does help but not sure if it would correct your problem.

[camly]

good question, i look forward to waht others can say to help you as i have wondered about this myself.

kikko gets aggressive towards my parents' dog when they play. Many times kikko gets agressive with baloo (parents' dog) to get his attention to play with him, as baloo is usually trying to get our attention and ignores kikko. also kikko gets aggressive with men (ie my dad) this i haven't a clue why. lol.

what has helped in one case, aggression towards my brother, i kept kikko on a leash when my brother was around, and the second kikko began to growl or try to run up to him, i pulled back on the harness -just a tug- grab him by the scruff - again not hard (i would never hurt kikko ever, so no one attack me on this), looked him in the eye and firmly said no. only a few times of that, kikko stopped charging and instead greeted him normally like he did me. YAY! he still does it with my dad so i will have to work with him on that. just have to be persistant and let him know that you are the dominant one.

gluck!

[Barbie123]

All advice is greatly appreciated! DAP collar seems to be working(?) I have also got some homeopathic drops to put on their food. No further incidents today but we have kept them apart and made an effort to ensure we are in charge! (Not easy when they are used to being so fussed over), we have played with them in separate rooms and also make sure they are always walked together. Yorkie (Honey) is spending a lot of time on her own apart from the family today but I hope this will change.

[Barbie123]

Originally Posted by cinnamonmon

I dont have any answers for you but am hoping someone can help. I have a similar problem which I posted a few weeks ago, but got few helpful answers. I even asked my vet who gave me a very lame response. I am getting desperate. I have a 2 yr old Yorkie and a 4 yr old Yorkie mix...they have been together for the last year, but within the last month have been attacking each other over nothing. Its gotten so bad I have to get them separated by a gate and sometimes then even attack each other at night right on my bed...what a rude way to wake up. Both of mine are females too, the Yorkie is fixed, the mix breed is not and I wonder if that is the issue. I hope someone can help.

Hi Cinnamonmon, we did have a period of calm for quite a few months after the jackie was spayed. You may find this corrects the problem. These fights have only flared up again after quite a few months after the op. We thought is was corrected. I hope the op gives you some answers!