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Old 01-25-2014, 03:11 PM   #7
kjc
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Join Date: May 2009
Location: Baltimore, Maryland
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Keep them in harnesses and leashed, except when kenneled or in separate rooms.

Walk them together, one leash for each dog, but you separate them. Keep walking faster and faster till they become distracted by other things, then you can slow the pace a bit, but if arguing starts up, speed up the pace again. If you need to, take one girl with the male, then the other with the male, then all three. DH can help. The point here is that dogs walking in a family unit will eventually begin to bond.

In the house, leashes on, sit and watch for signals to determine the aggressor. Look for a stare, ear position, lip curl, showing of teeth, etc. There will be a definite signal right before the dog moves, when you see this signal, YOU move first and interrupt the plan. When you get this down, and successfully intervene, this habit of fighting will begin to fade. They learn this behavior does not accomplish anything and will begin to forget it. It does take time.

You will have fights in the meantime. Once it escalates to a fight, discipline is useless. Pull the dogs apart, or back them off till they calm down. If they go right back at it, you didn't separate them for a long enough period of time. You may have to stand between them, blocking the view of the aggressing dog till she's focused on you.

Work with them on basic obedience, just simple sit, stay, down type stuff. The point here is to have them do good behaviors that you can reward them for, with praise and/or treats. Reward any behavior you want them to repeat, even tolerating each other, being quiet for 5 seconds, etc.

Discipline any behaviors you don't want to see. By discipline, I mean interrupt ('Ah, Ah') or whatever verbal cue you use that will get their attention, redirect their energy, and reward the 'calm and quiet'. Be consistent.

There is a rule in my house: Absolutely no fighting allowed. Mine know I will intervene each and every time. They also know I will protect them against any and all threats.

This is hard, intense work on your part. Your dogs will learn how to be together by being together, and will learn what is acceptable behavior through your training and praise. The more focused you are, the quicker this will turn around. I spent one weekend just watching my dogs, to get that signal down. After the first correction, I began to see improvement. After that, it got easier to catch them before anything got started, and the walks and training were added benefits for all of us.
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