I need help
 

I got a problem. day before yesterday Buckeye and Archie started fighting. I can't explaine it. nothing happened to bring it on. and now i can't leave them alone. I don't know what to do. I don't know what is causing it. They will be asleep on the couch and, for no reason, start growling and go toward each other madly. I grab one of them up and neither wants to back down. they sleep in the bed with us at night and even lay beside one another and sleep...then morning comes and they realize they are together and start it all over again. what has caused this??? and how can we get back to normal? what am I going to do?

Tough problem!

When I get a new pet - occasionally my older one(s) are a little jealous and don't know quite what to think of the new pet for a day or two.

My excercise is just to sit on the sofa with one on each side of me -- (or even one in my lap)..... and having them this close to one another with me in the middle really gives me complete control of whatever they decide to do. If either one decides to get a little aggressive- it is nipped in the bud. And, eventually, they give up and decide to just relax and put up with one another's company.

And - at my house anyway - all of my pets become fast friends quickly. They learn quickly that no other type of behavior will ever be tolerated.
And that they might as well just become good friends and enjoy one another.

Good luck - Carol Jean

Carol Jean, thank you. I have tried sitting them on the couch with me one on each side. they will be fine for a while then Buckeye goes after Archie again. I'm taking him to the vet this morning to see if there isn't something physical to make him behave this way. Buckeye is 5 yrs old and Archie is a year old. They have always been together so it isn't like they have to get used to one another. I just don't understand why this happened all of a sudden. I will let you know what the vet says. thanks,

I agree with Carol...this needs to be nipped now! Sounds like the older of the two is having a dominance issue...Sadie started this with Lillie about a month ago..Sadie will be 3yrs old next month and Lillie is 5 months old...I spoke with a trainer and she told me NOT to allow this...When you see that a situation is about to start stop it before it does....Sadie is doing much better now..My breeder had this same problem although, she had 4 females, and one of the 4 all of a sudden started becoming aggressive with other 3...she ended up having to rehome her...it got real ugly...

I have a solution.. .send Archie to me.... no more fighting.. problem solved! Lol:D :D :D

:thumbup: Smart girl! That's the logical first step when dealing with a sudden change in behavior.

I took Buckeye to the vet today and the outcome if that he is fine. he has a knee that pops out of place but it goes back in again. the other knee does not go back in. it is out.
no reason for his agresssion towards Archie. Archie is his son(one yr.old)
she seems to think that Archie is trying to take over as the top dog. this is supposed to be typical at his age. Buckeye has always been top dog. neither is backing down. she recommended we see a pro. she has given me a card for one here that she claims is pretty good.
This is ripping me a part. If I can't get control of this one will have to go. I can't stand to think of that. It has gotten so bad that I can't leave them loose in the same room. This all happened so quickly.
on top of all of that .... me and my husband is having differences as to who is at fault here... Buckeye or Archie. It seems that Buckeye is starting the agression but when I watch closely, Archie does the staring thing which sets Buckeye off. I don't know who to send out of the room. I am afraid to let them both sleep in bed tonight for fear that they begin fighting in the middle of the night.


Cindy, don't say it unless you mean it...LOL

I hope the pro will be able to help you! Don't give up hope yet as this may well pass (especially with professional intervention).

It seems to be me that a luxating patella (a knee that slips in and out) would be extremely painful and would add to the likelihood of fighting. Goodness knows, I get "witchy" when I'm in pain! Did the vet recommend any treatment for that?

I don't think it's imperative that you identify who is the culprit. It takes 2 to fight after all. You are right that staring is an act of aggression in doggie language and, if you can intervene at that point, you might can stop the escalation.

Something that might be useful while waiting to see the pro would be to order one of Turid Rurgaas' books about Calming Signals. This would help you to identify when one of the pups is trying to say "hey, I'm not looking for a fight". You would then heavily reward that behavior.

Good luck!

Sounds to me like you are having your first encounter with the ol ALPHA male thing, my friend had a set of brothers and they were fine until they were about 4 years old and all heck broke loose, just one day the play turned into a huge fight, and it was never the same after that, so good for you, you are doing something ASAP, I am a nurse and no 100percent NOTHING about dogs, but whatever you do dont leave them alone together for a min,even if it stops for a week,month etc.She ended up putting one of them at her moms house and the one they both just cried and cried cause they missed each other, brought them back together and after a month or 2 same thing happened and Tommy, the more submissve of the 2 took a pretty good beating. At least they are around the same size,weight and from what happened at her house no one ever got very hurt or injured but dont give up, you are doing the right thing, pain can play a big factor in anything or anyonde animal or human, like I said I think you are doing a great thingtaking action so early and I am sure this trainer will be able to help. Keep your head up, things will work itself out,everything will turn out just fine.........

oh goodness... I hope they calm down soon... sorry you are going through this Denise.... Big HUG! Tell BOB it doesnt matter who started it, it's happening thats all that matters now.. let me know if I can be of any help...

Just curious ... are either or both of the dogs neutered? if not perhaps that would help?

Either way ... good luck, I hope it all works out.

:( The behaviour has to go or else they have to live separated although in the same house. Are they neutered? I used to have 2 males living together. One of them is neutered and is very submissive so they live well together.

The younger one might be gettng old enough to be challenging the older one for top position. They give off signals to each other that are not obvious to us. It's not always obvious to us, which one is starting the fight.

You might want to consult a professional trainer.

yes they have both been neutered. it has been something else in this house this past week. I have set up an X-pen in the middle of the living room to keep one in while the other is free. I switch them every 1/2 hr. unless buckeye gets agressive again. when that happens I put him in the spare bed room in a crate. he stays there for about 15 minutes.
I have spoiled these guys to death. It is all my fault and we are starting to turn things around. we are going to be the alpha now. I have put off the clicker training for too long and am also going to start each one in some obedience training using the clicker. each will get their turn in another room away from the other for total concentration.

yes, JeanieK, that is exactly what is happening. (mixed with jealousy)

I sure hope we can turn this around. I should have listened to those on here who said don't let them boss me. I remember saying buckeye is the boss in this house and I like it that way........ well ......I can no longer allow it.

LDenise you have to be the alpha and let them know it or your in big trouble....If they know your in charge they will back down...and let you be pack leader, and no I didn't learn this from the dog whisper(he has said the same) Max'
s trainer told me, cause I have 3 males living in 1 house....:)