Zoey is becoming vicious!!
 

Hello everyone, about 4 or 5 months ago I adopted a 3.5yr old yorkie. She was a bit neglected and attention starved. We welcomed her into our home and everything was fine. She had some bladder problems but she has been treated for them. We also have 2 chihuahuas, 1 male and 1 female. When Zoey first arrived she got along with the others just fine. Bambi my female Chi was a little aggressive at first but that stopped in a few weeks. So about a month+ ago Zoey went into heat. Since going into heat she has become vicious to my female Chi Bambi. We brought her to the vet and got her spayed 2 weeks ago hoping that this would fix her problem. (both of my Chihuahuas are fixed) But nothing has changed. I don't know what to do. We have to feed them in separate rooms, always try to keep them seperate. Zoey just tried to attack Bambi while Bambi was sitting on my lap and Zoey was on the floor. I have gotten bit bad and so has my boyfriend. I am very attached to Zoey and I don't want her to have to find another new home. I just don't know what to do.

I have been watching the Dog Whisperer and I am going to try taking her on long walks each day and see if that helps her aggression.

She also seems to have anxiety, she constantly runs in circles when on the floor and pants excessively when she sees Bambi usually before the attack.

If anyone has any suggestions, I would love to hear from them. I just love these dogs and I don't want them to hurt each other anymore.
Thanks
Jenn

Maybe if you get her spayed that would help a lot. From what I've read on different posts here on YT, that does seem to help. "Good Luck" :) Sorry I haven't been much help.

She has been spayed now for 2 weeks.

Was it Zoey that was spayed a couple of weeks ago? It does take a good 1 -2 months for the hormones to settle down on either a male or female after neutering or spaying.
It is hard to say if things will settle down for you. SOmetimes they just don't like each other but it does help if all dogs involved are spay/neutered including your Chi's.
I use a squirt gun or spray bottle set to stream to squirt the culprit in the face. That usually works and all I have to do is pick it up and they scatter.
Feeding them separately is a good idea anyway, with only three dogs not hard to do. It stops any food aggression before it starts.
Zoey is likely now at the stage where her spot in the heirarchy is what they are vying for. They could settle down once that is resolved but be careful, never leave her with the other two when you are out. PUt her in another room or pen her. A fight can easily break out with a serious injury or death of one of them.

Yes all 3 are fixed now. I am hoping it is just her hormones out of whack. Because she was fine before the heat.

I was going to say it takes a couple of months too for the hormones to work themselves out. Can you put her in time out when she attacks?

I think hormones are probably the cause. My Katie gets very aggressive when she is in heat and extremely loveable when she is pregnant. I would just watch them closely and not leave them alone together for awhile and see if she settles down. It sounds like she may be a little jealous also if she is trying to get at the other dog while on your lap. Good luck with this as I also have one that is a lap dog and doesnt want to share it. LOL

Sunday night Zoey got to Bambi again and got her good. We thought her foot was broken, I brought Bambi to the vet yesterday for xrays and it is fine just swolen. So I went out and bought Zoey a muzzle and a wall pherimone dispensener. Has anyone used this before, it is supposed to help with the anxiety. We are just going to keep them seperate for a month or so and see what happens. Zoey's personality change has been going on for almost 2 months and I am so affraid that this has become a behavioral problem now and not a hormone issue. Thanks

Have you talked to your vet about this? What does he/she say?

My oldest one gets aggressive with anyone trying to get on our beds when someone is already laying down, like protecting that person, but she has never been aggressive with my little one. I would call a behaviorist and see what they tell you.

The vet says to just wait a couple of months, and that her hormones will stablize in time. I guess it is just a waiting game.

there is nothing worse than a dog attacking another dog. you feel so helpless. i hope things work out for you and everyone gets along.