Desperate for help/advice
 

Hi everyone. My two 9 month old littermates are having aggression issues. We've had a few casual dog fights over a treat or something like that, but that's about it. About the last week for no reason at all, things have gotten out of hand. REALLY out of hand. They will be sitting there not even eating/playing/etc, when out of no where they attack each other. We've just noticed that it's our girl who instigates it and the boy who finishes it. She's 5lbs and he's 10lbs. Well, this last time, I grabbed Murphy, our boy to pry them apart from their fight when he wouldn't let go of her. I had to litterly pry his jaw open. He took a little chunk from Macy's ear. I'm completely traumatized. I don't understand why she would start anything, because Murphy's always shown his dominance, and she's always been submissive, so she's never instigated before. My boyfriend made a good point though, they only do it around me, maybe attention/jealousy issues? This last time was right when I walked in the door, before I could even bend down to greet them, she attacked him...which ultimately led to him hurting her since he's the dominant one. He's just protecting himself, so I understand him....I just hate that he hurts her like that, but she's going at him like crazy! I'm really upset right now. We're keeping them apart for now, but this will not work forever. What should I do? What can I do? They're both fixed, which I thought helps aggression problems???:cry: I'm I left with having to keep only one...because this is just impossible for me to imagine. My dogs ARE my kids, I couldn't live without either. I need any and all advice here.

I am so sorry you are going through this ... it may be aggressive behavior caused by bad breeding choices??? I will put this as a question ... and hopefully the bump will get the attention of someone that can think of a good advice ...

Good Luck !

I have had the same problem with two of my boys. I have 4, 3 males and one female. Like you, i had to pull the biggest one off the little one and he just didnt want to let go of him. Luckily though, no one was hurt. Mine wasn't neutered and the little girl wasn't spayed so i took all 4 to the vet and had all 3 boys neutered and the little girls spayed. She just got her stitches out yesterday. I had to keep the two that fight apart and since the neutering, i have been putting them together under supervision. So far, so good for now. Im hoping that will take care of it but if it don't, like you, i dont know what i will do. These two that i have that fight are dad and son. I hope you get some good advice because i could use some too just in case mine start again. Good luck! Sorry i couldn't be more help.

Hopefully nuetering solves your problem. I'm sorry you've come across the same issue. We're only going to be letting them near each other under close supervision as well...unfortunately mine are both fixed to that not the problem. Maybe because there considered adolescents right now? ha. that would explain a little!

Neutering and/or reestablishing who the leader of the pack is... THAT'S YOU! I let my wits get away from me and spoiled my little girl from the second I got her. Well finally I snapped out of it and had to let her know who's boss. She's never done anything bad, just really high strong. Time outs are needed sometimes.

Interesting thought. I keep saying, I need Cesar here to help! I wish! We don't actually spoil much, that I can think of, but there's obviously some area that I'm not thinking of. If anything, our boy has problems learning who the boss is. The girl is very attentive and very submissive to me and my boyfriend...something very recently has changed her normal behavior. We've moved to a new house, been here for 2 weeks. We've working hard to transition them into this though. I would never guess I new house could cause such issues, but maybe? If I could only speak dog, sigh. lol Guess I'll have to work on being more of a pack leader, but I've been working to be one since day one with these guys, I read dog books/articles all of the time.

I would recommend a trainer to help you as this is a pretty serious issue. Sometimes it helps having an outside opinion. I pretty much always blame the people and not the dog as there is often something we are doing we shouldn't be or something we should be doing that we aren't and an outside opinion will help with that. I know it's hard when you just have no idea what to do about it and it must be really scary but you shouldn't have to live that way and they shouldn't either. Good luck!