I don't want to lose one of my babies
 

Isabelle and Tabitha have been fighting so badly the last 2 weeks. They would fight 3 times a day and both would end up getting hurt real bad. One time I got bit on my hand when I tried to break them up. So now I have Isabelle staying at my cousin's house until I can decide what to do.

I reached out to a trainer and after she heard my story she said they best thing to do is to find one of my dogs a new home. I can't understand because they have been living together for a year and everything was fine.

She said that there are several factors causing the fights:

- both are females so they will fight til the end
- their ages (Isabelle is 2.5 and Tabitha is 1.5)
- I just separated from my husband a month ago and he was the pack leader

The trainer said that the reason everything was ok the past year was because Tabitha was still a baby. Now that she is an adult, she is starting to challenge Isabelle and Isabelle is fighting back.

Please tell me there is a way for me to keep them both. I don't want to lose either of them. I feel so torn. The trainer said if I love them and want them to have happy lives then I should separate them.

Any advice or suggestions, please? I am so desperate. :(

Have they both been spayed? Two intact females will fight.

If they have both been spayed, you probably have no other choice but to rehome one of them for their own safety. I have read too many stories here of Yorkies being killed by other Yorkies in the same home.

Yes, they both have been spayed.

That is too bad! I had a mother & daughter that would fight occasionally. But they didn't do it everyday or draw any blood. I was amazed that dogs don't recognize each other as family after the pups have been weaned. I would step up and be the alpha dog and put them in obedience training and then see if they can live together. Good Luck!

I feel so bad for you...There's gotta be a way to keep them both. Can you research some training books and how to establish that you are the pack leader?

TJ went through a phase of attacking Roxy very, very bad at times. She was so scared of being attacked and regressed more into her shell, but through some training and changes on my part things have gotten 100% better :thumbup:

I have heard walking them together is good bonding for them :(

Thank you so much for your answers and support. I just picked up Cesar's book on how to be the pack leader. I really hope it helps us. I'm going to seek out some other trainers to see if they say the same.

I don't want to give up one. I've been crying nonstop for the last few days. The worst part is if I do have to give one away, how do I decide which one??

I would get a 2nd opinion from another trainer before rehoming. It seems like the trainer should have given you some other ideas not just rehoming. Best of luck I hope it works out

I would have to disagree with the trainer.
There is usually a way to stop the fighting.
First, you will have to become the pack leader and as Ladymom said it could result in death to one or both of them if they continue to fight, so they will have to ALWAYS be watched around each other and you are still taking a chance.

However, theoretically, the problem can be corrected with the right trainer.

That is a great start. I do think that this can be resolved, but strict methods have to be put into place, so focus on making it work, not on rehoming (yet) ;)

I understand completely. We are going through the same thing here. With new pups coming we finally made the decision to rehome one of our boys.

If you husband was the pack leader and now he's gone it sounds like they are fighting over who takes his place. Hopefully if you can establish yourself as leader things will be better, but there is always that chance. Not a fun place to find yourself. I am so sorry! :(

All I have to do is pick up the fly swat and threaten a little pop and my boys will stop fighting. As long as I have the fly swat in my hand they play nicely! These babies are sooo funny. Sorry you have faced with that awful decision. Wishing you well. Denise

I was having the same problem with two of my boys. ScootieBootie (A member on YT), and she gave me some great advice. We were having the pack leader problem also. I did what she told me to do, and I have seen a complete turn around in them. If I think it is getting out of control, all I do is raise up and they walk away from each other. I dont ever leave them unsupervised together. Try talking to her, she gave me great advice. Good luck with your babies..

That is so scary to hear :( I have two girls. One is 2 and the other is 5 months. I see I should make sure that they know who is in charge!

There is an behavoralist here on the board with the username of ScootieBootie. Maybe drop them a line and see if they can help. Also go to the training board here on Y.T. and ask. I've seen some pretty awesome help given there.

I wish you all the luck in the world! I know how hard it would be to part with one of my girls. I don't want you to have to do it.

Love and Luck
Tammy