Updates on Sadie's aggression.
 

Well it's happening again. Almost a couple times a day now. :(

She's really attacking Bentley over and over again. I'm at a loss. We're going to the vets in the next couple days to do blood work and rule out a health related problem first. After that we're working towards behavior modification and training. I'm so worried that despite all my efforts I'll loose her. I can't bear the thought of giving her to anyone else even though sometimes I wonder if he's just not happy with another dog in the home. She's struggling with anxiety, she has no confidence. I want to try and do more special things with her like agility tunnels (she loves them) to help boost her confidence. But what if it's never enough and no matter what she'll always randomly attack Bentley. Is that fair to him? A lifetime of getting bitten and beaten by her? And what if it turns to my son when he comes. One time of her attacking him and I'd have to do something else with her. I couldn't just let her be in my home if she's aggressive towards my baby.

You guys know me, you know how much this is hurting. I'm so scared to loose my baby girl. I'm going to do everything I can for her. Starting with the vet and moving towards long walks to keep her energy levels down and agility tunnels for confidence and fun. I praise her all the time for calm behavior around Bentley. I treat her and love on her when she's near him and nice. When she attacks it's getting to where she doesn't even hear me telling her to stop. She has to be pulled off him or the fight will never seem to end. He's screaming and yelping and she's just biting at his face all over him. It's a furious mess.

I just needed to vent. I'm nearly in tears. I can't think about loosing her without feeling so bad inside. I hope my stress eases up before I cause her more stress.

HELP ME IF YOU CAN, I just need support, prayers, and some advice from other aggression dog owners.

Looks like you are taking the right steps to solving the problem.

I had the same problem with our newest gal toward the weakest one in our pack. It got to the point were I was scared to leave them unattended. It' gotten better, nothing in almost two months and counting. She just turned two last month. So I hope it was just an adolescent thing and that she has outgrown it.

It's strange how the one that she always targeted it the first one to sit and wait on her to go out the door when they go out side in the yard. It's a good sign.

I know how much you love your pups. I think you are doing the right thing by having Sadie checked medically first and then try behavioral treatment. I wish you all the best and I hope Sadie's aggression problem can be treated.:)

If she is attacking your other dog for no reason what about when you have your new human baby? :confused: Just a thought.

Good luck and best wishes.

Rachael Im so sorry youre going thru this. Toby Tyler and Dakota get into it too. Even though they are both fixed they just dont like each other. I separate them when we are not home and I have a rolled up newspaper in everyroom in the house. For us it seems when they get excited it triggers it, so I slap the newspaper on my leg or counter. So far, so good. Poor girls, duck and run when they hear the paper, but it beats the boys fighting like pit bulls.

I agree with your plan.
I'm not sure how big your house is, but could you just separate them until you can get this straightened out? If the love is divided well by you and the house isn't very tiny, it could be an alternative for now.

maybe i need to start seperating them. i haven't been seperating them when i'm gone and it appears that they both just cuddle in their bed and sleep. it's so weird that they are lovers and fighters. well Sadie is the fighter. but they seem to love to share my lap and their beds and always are close and snuggly. it's just randomly she goes at him.

i probably should seperate them in case she's attacking him when i'm not aware of it and not home

Oh no! Poor little Bently. At least you're taking good steps to try to work on the issue. I agree with the seperation, maybe absence will make the heart grow fonder. Maizey, my mom's dog, likes to randomly attack Mac, my brother's dog. It's like a love hate relationship. We seperate them, and alot of times I'll take one dog and my Mom will take the other, giving them both seperate attention.

Prayers for you and little miss Sadie. I know you'll get it worked out.

P.s. Agility tunnels sound like a blast.

It seems like you're taking all the right steps. After a health related problem is ruled out is there a recommended behaviorist in your area you could contact?

I'm sorry, Rachel, that you are dealing with this right now and I pray that you can find the solution to help Sadie. Separation sounds like a good idea. It must be so difficult to see them cuddling and then to have skirmishes.

What do you mean she is attacking him? Is it over food, toys, attention????? What does Bentley do when she does this? Does he back down? Is there blood?

My three will fight sometimes but it's always over in a flash. It usually happens when someone is walking past the house and they are all pushing to get the best view of the passerby.

She must being showing signs before she goes after him. Are you watching for her trigger? When you see the signs do you intervene before she goes after him? After she goes attack him what are you doing with her? Do you separate her into a different room or crate her?

the hardest part is this just isn't my sweet baby Sadie. something has to be wrong with her. she doesn't do this, it's not her. she had a year with Bentley and never did this stuff to him. and i feel so bad i brought him from an abusive master into a home with an abusive sister :(

She bites at his face, pulls out his hair, snarls and attacks him repeatedly until i pull her off him. he just sits or lays there completely submissive and yelps and cowers down. it's over nothing at all. it's usually when Bentley is waking up all sweetly, or he's cowering in the corner or he's frightened by something and she nails him. no blood but she has pulled out his hair. he yelps. it's never a flash fight. i have to pull her off of him each time and she still wants him. it's horrible. the worst part is it's not like she's growling or prowling towards him. she's always around him and then one min she just nails him and attacks.

the first time it ever happened i was bitten because i didn't know how to break up a dog fight the proper way. now i just pull her from behind her hips area to get her to stop. she doesn't listen to me hollar at them or clap my hands anymore. she ignores everything but biting his face off.

Did the vet suggest anything like prozac? I know another member who has hers on it, I believe, for this very reason.

So sorry you are having to deal with this. I hope you can find a solution to this and have your home peaceful and calm, especially when baby comes.