Question for other breeders - YorkieTalk.com Forums

WinstonMom · 12-06-2009, 08:39 AM

I am very curious as to whether or not other breeders (or those with unaltered, multiple dogs) have problems with conflicts between their dogs and how they handle the situation.
I have two intact girls and 1 intact boy. I also have two spayed females (mom's of my intact girls) and one old neutered boy (11 years) who is strictly a pet, never been a breeding boy.
My boys hate each other (battle originally started by intact boy). They can be outside together but never in the house. Both are overly attached to me and if I am around, they would kill each other. They take turns having run of the house or ex-pen time.
Last time we had a heat cycle, two of my girls also decided they had a "hate-on" as well. I thought it would resolve itself after the heat and puppies were over (when hormones) settled down, but it has not. Again, these girls are separated as one of them goes for the neck area and will not let go, so she is serious (deadly so). I have noticed that their are also strong mother-daughter bonds and family alliances on who gets backed up by who if a fight does break out.
I am not new to dogs, fairly new to terriers, but have had a long-time interest in all things related to dog psychology, so I realize that I have to manage my problems, probably would be a long and hard cure. One of my spayed girls will be going to live with my son and his girl-friend soon, so that will solve that problem.
Just curious as to whether others have problems in this area and, if so, how they manage them. Thanks for reading.

Audrey

tammy8833 · 12-06-2009, 09:33 AM

i have two intact females and 1 intact male
and they have always had tiffs...then last year over some babies we had a really nasty fight..so i kept them completely separated for some time and when i put them back together it looked like they were apologizing to each other, im not kidding..

but my younger female always lets it be known she is in charge EVERY time i let them out she waits for the older one to come out and she makes some noises at he and shoulders her back a few times before she lets her down the porch and of course every time i make her stop it...

i just dont leave them alone together anymore ..i dont trust them to not have a disagreement

bjh · 12-06-2009, 01:51 PM

I have been raising yorkies for 13 years so over the years I have had males that just would not get along with other males and females that would not get along with other females. Most all yorkies will have little squabbles every now and then but they are usually harmless. When the squabbles escalate to where there is blood drawn then it is time to keep them separated at all times. I have heard of several instances where a yorkie actually killed another yorkie.

WV~Yorkies · 12-08-2009, 05:41 AM

My boys do great together and both unaltered. I have 2 girls that can't stand to look at each other. I keep them apart with a gate 24/7. I tried to let them just have their spats and deal with it but had to stop because I really believe they would fight until the death. I can put either girl with the others and they are fine and never fight at all...it is just with each other. I think my problem was one girl was almost 2 and I have had her since 6 weeks. The other girl I got when she was around 10 months old. Both have very dominant personalities. I don't think I can ever change them.

JeanieK · 12-08-2009, 05:54 AM

I have 2 females that do not get along, expecially when one is in heat. they will not fight all the time, but since I never know what will set them off, those 2 are separated ALL the time.

Everybody else gets along fine.

Neither of these girls is overly attached to me and both seem to know that I am the pack leader, but they hate each other, I have had to put them in the sink and spray cold water on them to get them to let go of each other.

Mardelin · 12-08-2009, 06:11 AM

My altered girls are the ones that do squabble at times. But, it's usually over who gets to sleep next to me. My intact boys will squabble but, only when a female is in Season.....At those times I keep the boys seperated.

Brooklynn · 12-08-2009, 07:18 AM

Only time Radar has a squabble and that is with Tucker over a squeaky toy not the bitches in season LOL...his mind is too much on the bitch and not Tucker who is neutered! I'm so lucky mine don't squabble but on a very rare occassion and that is Radar and Tucker over the squeaky toy LOL...

Donna

Sharly4 · 12-08-2009, 07:36 AM

My two girls had a squable a couple times the first time they were pregnant. I made a loud noise with some rolled up news papers and it quit. They haven't fought since. Now my intact male and my neutered male will squable over me. When one is in my lap and the other tries to come over for attention. I will just put the one that starts it in my pantry for time out and it's solved. It's been about 4 or 5 times they have squabled over me in 2 yrs. So I believe the time out does help them. My intact girls will gang up on my 10 yr. Old spayed female just outta the blue. It has only happened a couple of times and I don't know why but it's happened. I put my two girls in time out too. My old female used to be the alfa dog even with her son Killer (who's neutered) and our Pug Terry(who's also neutered). But ever since we got our Yorkies Duchess is the new alpha dog and wants them all to know. They all excepted it but just recently my old Chi. is standing up?! Go figure? But at least I'm there to break it up. It's happened twice so far and I do keep them separate. It's just when they go potty that they're together.

jeanietoo · 12-08-2009, 09:54 AM

This can really be a problem especially with unaltered males and unspayed females. I even have a friend whose one male killed another while her female was in heat

MyTrixie143 · 12-08-2009, 10:19 AM

I have this problem with my boys. My girls I've never had a problem with though, they all get along great.

I have 4 boys right now. One of which is being rehomed.

The other 3 boys get along pretty good. They only have trouble when we come home or have guests over. They get so excited it breaks out into a fight. So now we just make sure they are separated at these times and they do great any other time.

The smallest one seems to be the cause of it. He will start the fight but he is the one that ends up getting hurt as he is the smallest.
Weird how the smallest ones have the most attitude.

WinstonMom · 12-08-2009, 06:42 PM

Thanks for replying everyone. I am relieved to know that I am not the only breeder living with baby gates, ex-pens and crates in every room of my house. When my children were young I bred maltese and never had any of these problems, but of course, not terriers so much more laid back, also have never had two males in the house before. Well since it is the feisty personality that makes me love the yorkies so much, I guess I will just have to accept the bad with the good.

Audrey

12-06-2009, 08:39 AM	#1
WinstonMom YT Addict Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Saskatchewan Posts: 384	Question for other breeders I am very curious as to whether or not other breeders (or those with unaltered, multiple dogs) have problems with conflicts between their dogs and how they handle the situation. I have two intact girls and 1 intact boy. I also have two spayed females (mom's of my intact girls) and one old neutered boy (11 years) who is strictly a pet, never been a breeding boy. My boys hate each other (battle originally started by intact boy). They can be outside together but never in the house. Both are overly attached to me and if I am around, they would kill each other. They take turns having run of the house or ex-pen time. Last time we had a heat cycle, two of my girls also decided they had a "hate-on" as well. I thought it would resolve itself after the heat and puppies were over (when hormones) settled down, but it has not. Again, these girls are separated as one of them goes for the neck area and will not let go, so she is serious (deadly so). I have noticed that their are also strong mother-daughter bonds and family alliances on who gets backed up by who if a fight does break out. I am not new to dogs, fairly new to terriers, but have had a long-time interest in all things related to dog psychology, so I realize that I have to manage my problems, probably would be a long and hard cure. One of my spayed girls will be going to live with my son and his girl-friend soon, so that will solve that problem. Just curious as to whether others have problems in this area and, if so, how they manage them. Thanks for reading. Audrey

12-06-2009, 09:33 AM	#2
tammy8833 Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: VA Posts: 2,775	i have two intact females and 1 intact male and they have always had tiffs...then last year over some babies we had a really nasty fight..so i kept them completely separated for some time and when i put them back together it looked like they were apologizing to each other, im not kidding.. but my younger female always lets it be known she is in charge EVERY time i let them out she waits for the older one to come out and she makes some noises at he and shoulders her back a few times before she lets her down the porch and of course every time i make her stop it... i just dont leave them alone together anymore ..i dont trust them to not have a disagreement __________________ Tammy YT Gallery Lil Girl Princess & Theodore *Gidget R.I.P**

12-08-2009, 05:41 AM	#4
WV~Yorkies Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: WV Posts: 3,605 Blog Entries: 2	My boys do great together and both unaltered. I have 2 girls that can't stand to look at each other. I keep them apart with a gate 24/7. I tried to let them just have their spats and deal with it but had to stop because I really believe they would fight until the death. I can put either girl with the others and they are fine and never fight at all...it is just with each other. I think my problem was one girl was almost 2 and I have had her since 6 weeks. The other girl I got when she was around 10 months old. Both have very dominant personalities. I don't think I can ever change them. __________________ Melissa Wvyorkies

12-08-2009, 06:11 AM	#6
Mardelin Mardelin Yorkshire Terriers Donating Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: California Posts: 14,776	My altered girls are the ones that do squabble at times. But, it's usually over who gets to sleep next to me. My intact boys will squabble but, only when a female is in Season.....At those times I keep the boys seperated. __________________ Mardelin *Yorkshire* *Terriers*

12-08-2009, 07:18 AM	#7
Brooklynn Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 4,280	Only time Radar has a squabble and that is with Tucker over a squeaky toy not the bitches in season LOL...his mind is too much on the bitch and not Tucker who is neutered! I'm so lucky mine don't squabble but on a very rare occassion and that is Radar and Tucker over the squeaky toy LOL... Donna __________________ Brooklynn's Yorkshire Terriers www.brooklynnyorkies.com

12-06-2009, 01:51 PM	#3
bjh Donating YT 5000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Southeast Texas Posts: 7,959	I have been raising yorkies for 13 years so over the years I have had males that just would not get along with other males and females that would not get along with other females. Most all yorkies will have little squabbles every now and then but they are usually harmless. When the squabbles escalate to where there is blood drawn then it is time to keep them separated at all times. I have heard of several instances where a yorkie actually killed another yorkie.

12-08-2009, 05:54 AM	#5
JeanieK Donating YT 12K Club Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Council Bluffs Iowa Posts: 12,552	I have 2 females that do not get along, expecially when one is in heat. they will not fight all the time, but since I never know what will set them off, those 2 are separated ALL the time. Everybody else gets along fine. Neither of these girls is overly attached to me and both seem to know that I am the pack leader, but they hate each other, I have had to put them in the sink and spray cold water on them to get them to let go of each other.

12-08-2009, 07:36 AM	#8
Sharly4 YT 500 Club Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: San Antonio, TX USA Posts: 610	My two girls had a squable a couple times the first time they were pregnant. I made a loud noise with some rolled up news papers and it quit. They haven't fought since. Now my intact male and my neutered male will squable over me. When one is in my lap and the other tries to come over for attention. I will just put the one that starts it in my pantry for time out and it's solved. It's been about 4 or 5 times they have squabled over me in 2 yrs. So I believe the time out does help them. My intact girls will gang up on my 10 yr. Old spayed female just outta the blue. It has only happened a couple of times and I don't know why but it's happened. I put my two girls in time out too. My old female used to be the alfa dog even with her son Killer (who's neutered) and our Pug Terry(who's also neutered). But ever since we got our Yorkies Duchess is the new alpha dog and wants them all to know. They all excepted it but just recently my old Chi. is standing up?! Go figure? But at least I'm there to break it up. It's happened twice so far and I do keep them separate. It's just when they go potty that they're together. __________________ Duchess Marie Contessa Soraya Autumn Ariel Sebastian Berlioz

12-08-2009, 09:54 AM	#9
jeanietoo YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: pennsylvania Posts: 783	This can really be a problem especially with unaltered males and unspayed females. I even have a friend whose one male killed another while her female was in heat

12-08-2009, 10:19 AM	#10
MyTrixie143 Mom to 6 Beautiful Furkids Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 5,409	I have this problem with my boys. My girls I've never had a problem with though, they all get along great. I have 4 boys right now. One of which is being rehomed. The other 3 boys get along pretty good. They only have trouble when we come home or have guests over. They get so excited it breaks out into a fight. So now we just make sure they are separated at these times and they do great any other time. The smallest one seems to be the cause of it. He will start the fight but he is the one that ends up getting hurt as he is the smallest. Weird how the smallest ones have the most attitude. __________________ A dog is a furry person! http://www.dogster.com/?300866 Tracey and the gang DestinyHarmonyScamperGracieLillieKiwi Hershey Peppi

12-08-2009, 06:42 PM	#11
WinstonMom YT Addict Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Saskatchewan Posts: 384	Thanks for replying everyone. I am relieved to know that I am not the only breeder living with baby gates, ex-pens and crates in every room of my house. When my children were young I bred maltese and never had any of these problems, but of course, not terriers so much more laid back, also have never had two males in the house before. Well since it is the feisty personality that makes me love the yorkies so much, I guess I will just have to accept the bad with the good. Audrey