Having issues with dominate aggression/fighting Max has always been dominate over the other dogs and i try to correct it just... not very good at it and really im not sure how. I try some of the ceasar milan stuff but it doesnt seem to work. But anyway ever since Brooklyn came... (He is 2. Max just turned 1) they have done nothing but fight... Its mostly Max. Seems to be over toys and food and sometimes but not as much now... my affection. Ive seen Brooklyn go over to the food bowl and max will run over as fast as he can and slide in front of him and growl!! (but not all the time) If Brooklyn has something max wants they end up going from tug of war to a huge fight. I am worried that one might hurt the other... this is not all the time though... Happens maybe twice sometimes three a day... and if im lucky sometimes it will not happen all day. It seems like Brooklyn is bitter at max and sometimes he will pick the fight. I need some tips on dealing with a dominate dog and tips on breaking up the fight when they do. btw Max is neutered. |
First of all, think about what you do when this happens. If you react to them in any way, you will be reinforcing this behavior. Some people say you have to come down on them and be the alpha. Being the alpha is not coming down on them in any way. It is letting them know their behavior is not acceptable. If I have any squabbles at all, I immediately take BOTH pups and separate them. I put them in separate rooms for a few minutes. IF it is only one who is being aggressive, that is the one who goes....but if they both fight, they both go to time out. I have many pups who live in my home very well together and this is how I have fixed any issues of aggression. I have yet to have it not work. I have a couple of females who once in a while test the waters and I have to repeat it, but it is very infrequent these days. The trick is to let them know that if they do not behave appropriately, they cannot stay in the same room...just like a toddler! Only a few minutes is all it takes! Do not yell, do not try to hold one back...simply grab them and time out!! Good luck! |
Let me also add this: If you think that one might get hurt, separate them when you leave them at home alone! |
Thank you so much ladyjane! I will definetly try this. Right now I have them seperated. I am also thinking of taking away their toys too... for a few days. It is very scary to see them fight. Plus max is 6lbz brooklyn is 3 1/2. Do you know a good way to seperate them once they attack each other... Im scared of hurting them more if I pull too hard. I am determined to get this under control! |
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I would not take the toys away.....they need to learn! That way, if there is a scuffle over a toy and you immediately stop them and put them in a room where there is nothing to play with...hopefully they will catch on. It has never failed me yet. Sometimes it takes a few times..and you must be consistent. |
Have both of these boys been neutered? It might help ... You are not going to like what I write but here goes....this came off of another dog forum and I have never tried it but it does make sense when two dogs are fightening and you can't break them up. Stick your thumb up their butt! That will get their attention...and I am being serious..:( I will tell you I had two big boys (both neutered) that just did not get along and we could go months without a problem and something would happen (I never could figure out the button but in seconds they would be trying to kill each other and then everyone else jumped in...it was awful...so I understand why it frightens you. Sadly one of them passed with cancer so I never did figure it out nor did I every have to use my thumb. I will say the faster you jump into the fight the quicker it will end without a lot of damage to the dogs. |
Something just hit me. You said "the food bowl". You only have one? Do you free feed? |
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