Sever Aggression Issues - Considering Rehoming Unless Someone Has Miracle Advice...

[Gypsy & Me]

This is not an easy post to write since re-homing is a such a sore subject with many on YT. This is very hard for me and I have spoke regularly with my friends regarding how bad the aggression is.

I hope someone can give me some amazing advice as I have reached the point where I do not see another alternative.

Honestly if you're going to jump on me about it then please write the post, then delete it all before hitting submit. This is hard enough already.

Gypsy and Kayla have both had the odd moment where a little fight has broken out over a toy, food, over excitement, etc. It's been nothing more than a lot of noise and me simply shouting at them has always stopped it straight away. Overall they used to get on fine, would sit/lay together, sleep together, could eat near each other. Then this past month it's got worse and I'm completely at my wits end with them.

For example, here's some instances that have happened just this past 3/4weeks...

- play fighting suddenly resulted in an all out fight with me having to pull them off each other

- both happily playing fetch in the front room, next minute full on fight, (right at Amelia's feet), I've grapped Kayla and Gypsy is hanging off Kayla's throat. I managed to seperate them, getting my finger bit in the process and Kayla ended up with gash in the side of her neck that was pretty big.

- playing tug with a toy then next thing I know they are fighting. I grapped Kayla and Gypsy was still flying at her. I pushed Gypsy away, she landed on the floor, got up and launched herself at Kayla again. Had to restrain Gypsy and force Kayla the other side of the baby gate to seperate them till they calmed down. Again, this was all with Amelia in the room.

There's been more than these, those are just the worse ones. I'm not talking about all noise, I'm talking full on going for the throat and wanting to tear each other apart. Every time Amelia is in the room who then starts screaming and wanting me to pick her up so she's trying to climb me because she's scared and I'm trying to pull the girls off each other... how long till she's the one that gets bit?

This isn't the only problems.... there's more... aggression towards Amelia...

- Kayla will be laying on the sofa, Amelia will come over to climb up and Kayla will snap at her. There is NO excuse for this at all... It's not her hands or her fingers she's going... it's her face. She's not making contact, so she's not biting her but I no longer trust that she won't at some point.

- if Amelia is playing with Kayla then Gypsy will suddenly start barking and I'm not entirely sure what she plans on doing next but I end up picking Amelia up and moving her away from Kayla.

I'd like to point out that Amelia NEVER teases, pulls, hits the girls EVER. She will throw toys for them, they will play fetch with her, she sneaks them food and she plays chase with them but only when they instigate it. Amelia has not been bitten but it has came close to that. If Amelia gets bit and I have to take her to the ER, something much worse that re-homing could happen, i.e PTS in the case of a child being bitten by a dog. I cannot bare the thought of that.

I don't think I can go a day without some kind of fight breaking out whether it's a small brawl with all noise and I can break it up with my voice or an outright kill-each fight.


So what have I done? Everything I can think of... I've tried seperation, crating, squirting water, aversion, etc... I just don't know anymore.

[QuickSilver]

I know you love all your babies and would not consider re-homing unless you had no other option.

I am not sure what to suggest, besides things you have probably already considered: are the dogs spayed? How old are they? Can you bring a qualified trainer in to assess the situation?

[Gypsy & Me]

Originally Posted by QuickSilver

I know you love all your babies and would not consider re-homing unless you had no other option.

I am not sure what to suggest, besides things you have probably already considered: are the dogs spayed? How old are they? Can you bring a qualified trainer in to assess the situation?

Gypsy isn't spayed because I'm too scared to because she has CT. Gypsy is 2 and Kayla is 1, they have been together for a year nearly now. I wish I could afford to bring a qualified trainer in but it's out my price range.


Sidenote: Please don't anyone think I can't afford to look after my girls because I can, I just can't stretch to pay for that. My vet does accounts and healthcare/emergencies are never an issue.

[chachi]

Are they spayed? I ask because this is common with unspayed females. Your either going to have to get a trainer thats dealt with agression issues or rehome one of them. Sometimes the later is all you can do. You cant have them hurting each other or Amelia. I am sorry your going through this. I always feel so bad when I hear someone has aggression issues with their dogs. Theres no easy answer for it

[yorkiepaws]

I know you would hate to re home them, but you also have to look out for the best interest of your baby. Maybe as the previous poster suggests you could get a professional trainer to assess the situation. I had a friend who had a boston terrier and she had the same problem with the dog and her new baby. The dog would lunge at the baby when it was crawling. They did end up having to re home him. But it sounds like your pups are mostly agressive with each other. I hope that somehow you can find someone that may be able to help you so you can keep them. Keep us posted.

[xxmxaxrxyxx]

i am sorry for what you are going thru...but thru my experience with females if one is unspayed it will cause fights....

[Morkie4]

I am sooooooo sorry Vicky........sounds like you are living with some awful situations happening between the girls and gracious me if something were to happen with Amelia as an innocent by-stander just happening to be in the same room when the fluffs go at each other........well, it is fearful. I had a female Sheltie and a female minature Australian shepherd mix both spayed. One out weighed the other by at least 20 pounds. They got along for the most part but they had their moments. It was when the door bell rang and they became overly excited or there were times when they would do the stare down and I knew they were about to go at it. I tried everything........and I do mean everything. I would separate them and after only 30 seconds of separation the reunion was pure bliss. Go Figure!!! But needless to say, it was very unnerving.

Personally, I know what it is to rehome a beloved fluff (not an easy decision) but in this case, I just don't know what else you have as an option. I know Toby went through three eight week courses in order for him to be in the same room with other dogs although there were never issues with the three malts he lives with but horrible aggression with other dogs outside his pack.

So even though it probably isn't the answer you want to hear, I would seriously consider rehoming...........you need to think of Amelia and yourself and then the well-being of the fluffs!! Sometimes it just does not work out and I might just add that it might be the fact that they are not spayed has presented some of the aggression issues but understand why you did not do the spaying.

Wishing you the best!!! ((((HUGS))))

[luckylady]

Vicky.......you will get no unkind words from me. I know first hand how difficult rehoming can be as I went through it with Lexie late last year. She suddenly decided she hated Halle to the point of drawing blood, & I too tried everything I could to change things...even contemplated keeping them separated 24/7 (taking turns with family time), but even that didn't seem right for us. Lexie is now with a family where I am confident and happy that she is very loved and living the life as top (and only) dog of the house. I'm sure she is much happier that way.
So do what you think is right or what you feel is necessary for everyone concerned. As difficult as rehoming is, it may be the right choice in the long run. The only idea I have for why this is happening and/or what to do would be that I've read that sudden aggression issues sometimes come up when a dog possibly has a hidden health issue. Have you thought about that? Maybe a trip to the vet for tests of some sort is needed to be sure there isn't a problem causing the aggression before deciding to rehome.
I know you must be so stressed and sad; good luck with your decision.

[Doodlebug]

I am so sorry you are having these problems. I don't think you are a bad mommy for rehoming one of them when little Amelia might get accidentally hurt, and also the Yorkies are hurting each other. I know it is very hard to do but I think if it were me I would rehome one of them right away. Best of luck to you!

[tatertot15]

Wow I really feel for you in this situation. Me and my DH had gotten another puppy (not a yorkie, it was mixed) and we had this same problem right away. It was a female. We ended up re-homing her because of her aggression. We didn't have any other choice. I honestly would re-home her to a one dog family with no children. you have to think of your child first. There is no shame in that. It sounds like you have tried everything you are able to try, with no sucess. I'm so sorry you have to go through this, it's a very tough situation.

[alaskayorkie]

Vicky, I sent you a long e-mail that I got from a licensed behaviorist one time when Eddie and Jack were having problems. Actually, they were all Eddie's problems and Jack was the victim.

The situation was a little different than yours because both were neutered and it was clearly a resource guarding issue for Eddie.

I'm not sure it will help, but it's all the advice I have.

Try not to stress. I know you'll make the right decision. If Amelia's safety is at the slightest bit of risk, no one in the world would second-guess you for rehoming if that's what you decide to do.

[TrevorForever]

As much fun as we have had taking about Yodi, I do have a serious side....I'm really very sorry for the trouble you are going through......but I know you will in the end make the right decision for all involved.....it is hard, and I know it hurts, but you MUST take everything into consideration. Bless you my dear as you do your soul searching...I know you will make the right decision.

[Patti]

I am sorry you are facing this difficult situation. I have 3 spayed females and ever since my pom passed on the 2 have been really fighting Cali, who is so laid back. They use to pick on her here and there but it never sounded so vicious, and it is usually Pixie who is instigating it. I think the dynamics changed when Maya passed and only hope I can control it so it doesn't get out of hand. I can totally see where you are coing from as I know how mean spirited they get and especially with little Ammelia you cannot take chances. I hope Mike's info can help and if not we know yoor heart will be breaking but you have to do the safest thing.

[mypreciouspups]

I am thinking that they need to be spayed.. will help.. but I am also thinking the most of the problem is they both want to protect that baby.. and they get jealous of one another.. mara shocked us last spring when she jumped up on my great neice.. laid there happily until one of the other dogs decided they wanted to check it out.. she went into attack mode..she wanted to be the only one to mother that baby.. hormones do a lot to dogs..
I know this is not the easiest threads to make.. and I am hoping one of our posts will hit it right on for you.. once you discover the problem,. it is always easier to try to treat it.. I will keep watching for updates...

hugs.. anne

[Soccer50]

I am so sorry you have to go through this. Never would you want to re home a dog/family member. But if it is a danger to your child something has to happen before she gets hurt in someway by them. Also I would really think about spaying your other dog. Females fight all the time when one is spayed and the other isnt.
Not really sure why they do that but it is really common.