Boys are fighting Bad! Help!
 

Hello,

I am having a major problem with my two boys Cooper (3 yrs old) with us for one year now and Cam (19 months) been with us since 6 weeks old. They are brothers (same mom and dad) just different litters. Neither have been fixed yet.

Anyway, they have gotten along with absolutely no problems for the past year. In July we bought a new house and moved they got into a couple of fights in July and August. Then around the middle of September they started fighting bad. I can not even let them be around each other unless they have a muzzle on. They fight so bad that they are hurting each other, they are bleeding and twice now Cam was like paralyzed on one side like maybe Cooper hit nerve, because after massaging him for a few minutes he was O.K. I can not hardly get them apart. I will only grab them by the hind legs to try to get them apart and they both just hang on.

As long as they are muzzled they get along fine, they will even sleep beside each other. Take the muzzles off and they go at it like a death match. This is killing me, because I don't want to give one up, I love them both so much.:lovewings I have talked to the vet about getting them neutered soon but they say it might help stop the fighting but will probably not alleviate it.

The best I can tell I think the younger one is the one being the agressor, but the other don't back down from the fight(maybe the alpha?).

Anyone, I am desperate please help us!:cry:

I think that it's a good idea to get them neutered ASAP! Do you have a reputable trainer in your area? It would be worth the money to have someone come in and view the situation first hand, and help you to overcome the problem. It sounds like the first thing you need to do is establish yourself as the pack leader. I wish you the best of luck!

I have a 5 lb baby boy who has been neutered since 12 weeks old, they I have a 3lb boy who I just got neutered last month. They started fighting like that in June. I had to keep them apart unless I was in the room. I talked to another member of YT, she told me that I had to be the Alpha dog. It worked finally, but having Chip neutured helped alot too.

You want a postive based aggression dog trainer or even to get in an behaviourist as in board cerfified and not just one that thinks they know.

Sibling stuff is hard to work through and needs eyes on as to do you support one dog the aggressor or the one being attacked and you have to see it to know.

JL

I have two boys that fight, I did what the vet suggested & got them both neutered, I really don't know if that helped or not because I just don't let them get around each other at all! I got large crates for both of them and I only let one of them out at a time, I couldn't think about rehoming either one so this was the best option for me. Good luck with your boys, I know it's hard watching them fight.

this. If you are the leader they will have no reason to fight.

I thought I was "pack leader", but obviously not. Could you please tell me what I need to do to establish or reestablish myself as "pack leader".

Well if your dogs are as smart as I think they are your not going to be a pack leader as you are human and not a dog.
You can though teach them the rules of the house and support them doing them and be a wonderful human parent to your dogs.

Try working on basic training and getting them to do things on one request so sit and they hit the ground.
Try both of them on Nothing in life is free. so anything from going outside to pee and eating you ask them to sit or down or stand or wait before they get to do what they want.
The one that aggresses first may not be the one that starts the fight he just may end it.

JL

I would check this book

Amazon.com: Cesar's Way: The Natural, Everyday Guide to Understanding and Correcting Common Dog Problems: Cesar Millan, Melissa Jo Peltier: Books

dog psychology, very interesting :animal-pa

I check out Culture Clash by Jean Donaldson

Amazon.com: The Culture Clash: A Revolutionary...
Animal Behavior Associates - Dogs Don't Get Along with Other Family Dogs

Dr. Suasan Heets site

Animal Behavior Associates, Inc. - Pet Behavior Wellness Experts

Feeling Outnumbered? By Dr. Patrica McConnell

These guys practice true anuimal and dog psycology.

JL

This must be so hard on you. I often think of a sibling for Buddy and feel
guilty he's a single then when I read a sad story like yours it makes
me feel better because I would be the same way. I could never give one
up after it came into the house. The thought of living like you breaks
my heart. How sad they can't just be best bud's and you can't enjoy
them together.
I do hope it somehow get's better for them to be together and you
can enjoy them as a family. Thanks for sharing.

Oh forgot Pam Dennison in Complete Idiot's Guide to Postive Training
2nd editon.
Has a differnt angle on it then most... she does not let the dog start the fights go first at all. She teaches that dog manners and calm by making it wait till everyone else has had their turn and then it goes.
The trick is knowing which one is the dog starting the fight and it not always the one doign the biting... that takes dog body reading skills.

Welcome to Dogwise.com

JL