I need your ideas Breeders

[mk97]

I know how scary and stressful that can be, I work for a breeder-who is also a vet. We have the girls in runs so they can be indoors or out, well-we get fighting once in awhile(2 times in 3 years)--luckily we usually hear it. This last time, I heard them barking and one crying--sounded sorta like a barky cry, so I didn't look immediately--I just knew it wasn't right so I checked on them. There were 4 in that run--only one was pinning down the other--the other 2 sat in the corner scared/shaking. I screamed at the one on top--she stopped looked at me as if to say "what??", then proceeded to jump back on the other, who at this point was covered in blood crawling away. I was so pissed, she grabbed that poor baby up and was shaking her by her back leg, I screamed again and snatched her up by the scruff to get her away. The one doing the fighting--this was her 3rd time causing problems(she was involved in the last fight I came onto too), so now she is permanately in an x-pen by herself. The sad part is, is the baby she was beating up, is one of the sweetest laid back ones--the thing I think that triggered it was that we had just did a prophy that day on the one getting beat up. I think she had a strange smell from surgery. Luckily, she wasn't seriously injured--the upsetting part for me, was that she was showing submission--laid on her back saying you win and the dog kept on attacking her. Good luck with your babies, I really sympathize with anyone having this problem. Separate them for awhile and slowly introduce them back to each other when you can observe them, hopefully they behave.

[Rosiegirl]

That's too bad Breny. I think maybe it is could be because one dog is trying to move up the ladder of the hierarchy of dogs? When I bath my Yorkie, I put the Pomeranian outside of the bathroom and close the door. The pomeranian stays right outside and 'looks' under the door until i have my Yorkie bathed and dry with a blowdryer.... They growl at each other through the door and if I let them come face to face right after that then they will fight! So I keep them seperate for about a half hour and then they won't fight. Do you have your food bowls in their little room with them? Maybe it has to do with food or a toy? If it is one of those things then maybe you can change where they eat to avoid the problem... I still think it could be because of the alpha etc. heirarchy though too.
P.s. Do they do this when you enter the room, or when you are away? My two might scrap every once in a while when their 'daddy' comes home from work, they get excited to get some attention from him and the next thing you know sometimes they have it out. We immediately scream at them to stop and most of the time that is enough to stop them. I would try to recognize when it is that they do this and try to change the circumstances around that time. Good Luck, I know even though they are small they sure can do some damage still.

[bchgirl]

In the wild the alpha female will do everything in her power to retain her stature...this includes insuring other females will not have puppies. If you have two females with alpha personalities...it's going to be worse. In homes they still form the pack menalty of the wild and will act accordingly.

I know several breeders who have to keep their females seperated. Btw, you may want to pm sweetsophia....she deals with it on a continual basis.

Good luck.

[leucothea]

I can attest that it is horrible. I have two females who have to be separated and each time they get the opportunity, usually by accident, they are locked together with teeth imbedded into each other. I have tried drenching them, noises and finally have to resort to picking one up by the scruff with the other being hung on to like a stuffed toy. I usually end up with a bad bite when I pry the jaws open on the one that is holding the other. I too climb from the living room to the kitchen and vice versa and I am rather short, so It is quite a feat. the spayed female is very good with the puppies and mama watches through the gate when she interracts with them, but I am afraid that they will never be able to be together. I love them both dearly.

[Crestwing]

Hmmm. Unfortunately our "babies" are dogs and do have the genes and pack mentality of dogs. They will fight for alpha and draw blood and possibly kill another dog. Along with biting a human. Also in the pack mentality the one that is down is fair game for everyone else. It is not pretty and can be very costly to ignore. Separating or rehoming sometimes is the only answer to keep your stress level down. Good luck, Sue

[Obie]

This was a great post. I too have started to see this aggression in my females and have already put them in separate rooms. Interesting, one female just came back from being spayed and I was shocked when another female went after her. The poor thing had a collar on and couldn't defend herself but I was right there when it happened. I put her in my kitchen to insure her safety. It looks like I am going to have to start setting up some x pens.

[Breny]

Originally Posted by Crestwing

Hmmm. Unfortunately our "babies" are dogs and do have the genes and pack mentality of dogs. They will fight for alpha and draw blood and possibly kill another dog. Along with biting a human. Also in the pack mentality the one that is down is fair game for everyone else. It is not pretty and can be very costly to ignore. Separating or rehoming sometimes is the only answer to keep your stress level down. Good luck, Sue

Oh yes, you are so right!

Well I have set up two ex pens in thier room and at night the trouble girls have their own space. During the day I am rotating girls have full run, while the other stays in the whole room. I am making it work Oh and yes, I had another small scuffle but they split up when I yelled...that was before I decided they would also be rotated.