Bambi is the eldest resident. I got him October, 2009 and I went crazy in love over yorkies and added Nina on March, 2010. Then I fell in love again and brought Mia in November, 2010. Enough yorkie hoarding. lol
At the beginning everything was fine but I admit I was overprotecting Nina from Bambi and Mia's rough play. Bambi and Mia are both teapots and they often were too rough when playing with Nina. Everything continued to be OK until a couple of weeks after I got Mia, she got parvo (she did have her first shot but she got ill just a couple of days before her next vaccine was given). She "died" for some minutes before I got to the vet and he checked and she had no vitals signs, so he injected adrenaline into her heart and as a miracle she started to breathe again and after a week at the vet she was almost back to health. Over the next days you will understand I was over now protective of Mia and I think that's when Nina felt misplaced and started to grow a hatred.
Nina would push Mia with her front legs if she saw my father patting her head. At first we found it funny and ignored it until she started to growl at Mia whenever someone gave her love and I would *hush* at Nina but she just walked away or pretended to submit.
I started to keep them separated fearing they could fight when I wasn't home and that made it worse because Nina would find a way to jump the fence to the other side and fight Mia just for being in another side of the house. When I finally got tired of separating them for feeding, potty and walking, I just let both loose together and waited to see what happened. Nina approached Mia aggressively and Mia growled back, they pushed each other back and that was the end of the fight. I was impressed because I feared a bloody end but on the contrary, Nina just wanted Mia back in her side of the fence.
It has been more recent that Nina just goes up to Mia and starts a fight and I have to separate them because I fear they hurt each other. Mia is double the size of Nina and I fear that if she decides to really defend herself, she could kill Nina. So far Mia only growls and pushes Nina back but doesn't bite her, it is Nina who bites her hard and I know because she got my hand when I pulled Mia away.
As time goes on Nina gets harsher with Mia and since past week I have kept them separated because they had a very bad fight where Nina injured Mia's eye but gladly I was there to avoid something serious. I had to push my finger inside Nina's mouth and open it with my hand because she didn't let go. I got one finger chewed instead but it could have been Mia's eyeball out, if I hadn't done that.
I'm just desperate to find a way to make them friendly with each other again. I've tried treats, love and a strong voice but nothing distracts Nina once she's after something. Mia is easy with food and I can train her but not Nina. She won't listen. |