I just do not know what to do - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Donnainohio63 · 12-08-2011, 10:03 PM

I am so upset that all I can do is cry. I may have to re-home either Little Bit or Thor. For three days now these two have been tying into really bad fights and it is getting harder and harder to seperate them when it happens. I think they may be fighting for Alpha male but I am just not sure. It is so weird because they will be getting along just fine and then just start going at it. I do not want to lose either one of them I love them so much but I just do not know what to do.Please someone help me here.

JMuedog · 12-08-2011, 10:06 PM

Are there any behaviorists in the area that you could bring in to observe them?

deonk1 · 12-09-2011, 03:52 AM

Yes I would also say check out a few trainers and behaviourists....

Trainers are just like breeders, you need to make sure you trust them and are comfortable with their methods... everyone is different, good ones will allow you to come watch them in action with someone else's dogs.

Hopefully it's something they can solve.

I only have one lonely boy at my house, so I've never had two dogs trying to be head of the household.

sarahjmiller51 · 12-09-2011, 05:23 AM

can you watch the 'dog whisperer' on tv? it's a great series....alot of wonderful help and tips....i think it's on NATGEOW

LisaD · 12-09-2011, 05:55 AM

Are they neutered? Has anything changed in the house hold? How old are they?

gryhndnut · 12-09-2011, 06:17 AM

I know that I am new here, but I have had dogs for many years. So here is my 2 cents worth. I know I would do everything possible before rehoming one of my pets. If they are not neutered, see how they are after neutering. My only other comment is make sure that there are no underlying health issues with one of them. Years ago one of my greyhounds, that was as sweet as could be, out of the blue began snapping at the other greyhounds when they came near her. It ended up that she did a health issue that was undetectable to me. Hope that it works out for you and your pups.

gracielove · 12-09-2011, 06:41 AM

I would sit back and watch the body language that is going on between your two dogs.What happens just before an episode breaks out? Does this have to do with food or territory? Sometimes the looks and the moves a dogs makes that signal aggression are very slight and can go undetected unless you watch carefully. Once you find out who the aggressor is you can start dealing with the issue. First of all stop the behavior before it turns into a battle. If these guys are not neutered then that is your first problem. I'm assuming they are neutered so a health check may be in order as well. Have you changed their diet? Is one possibly eating the others food without you being aware of it? If this is food related you may need to feed them in different rooms. Don't let them play aggressively with each other as it can lead to dominance issues. If you cannot get to the root of your problem then you may need to bring in someone with experience with dog aggression.

kjc · 12-09-2011, 06:52 AM

This is what I would try: Separate them in different rooms for 3-4 days. Then, to put them back together, have each on a leash and go for a walk... 30 - 45 minutes. Maybe 3-4 walks per day. This will help to reestablish YOU as the Head of Household.

When they are together, watch them for any signals that they will give before a fight starts. If you can identify who is starting the fights, make corrections to that dog first. If the other retaliates, then correct that dog also.

You may need to leave the leashes on in the house for a few days to make it easier and safer to separate them. Two days of intensive work may break their habit, sooner if you can spot their signals quickly.

Once you break up a fight, keep them both in the same room, but not where they can get at each other, until they calm down. If you put them back together too soon after a fight, they will continue to fight, and you will know you didn't separate and control them long enough. Just try again a bit longer till they forget about fighting.

Two of mine got into fighting, then it was over any little thing, just to fight. Now, the most they can get away with is verbal arguing, mostly when I let them outside. It's always a competition about who gets out the door first. This is between a male and a female, who, I have read, are not prone to battle, lol. If their arguing gets to be to loud, I intervene immediately. I still have to watch them, but now the fights are few and far between.

Maybe this method will work for you. Hope so.

Donnainohio63 · 12-09-2011, 09:17 AM

Both the boys are neutered and have been since they were 3 months old. The only change in the house is Molly but they all seem to get along good with her except her and Sadie have words from time to time. I am going to try the leash thing and see if that helps. It will kill me to have to re-home either of them because I love them so much. I have had then since they were born and they are my babies. I hope we can work through this.

maci_mace · 12-09-2011, 09:21 AM

I think all are great ideas.
I own an American Pitbull and a Yorkie. They LOVE to play, however my pitbull is 50lbs and sometimes gets to playing too rough, NEVER any aggression issues and he'd never fight with her. But when they get to playing to rough I treat it as fighting for her safety. Here's what I do...

I make Leonidas [pitbull] sit, lay, stay. He's amazing with these commands. Then Maci has to come sit on my lap. I keep them like this for 10 min or until I can tell Leonidas has calmed down. Then they are free to roam again. Mind you this isn't for fighting it's for getting too hyper/rough.

For fighting...
Having multiple dogs can sometimes mean you will need to "crate and rotate" this is a permanent thing for some dog owners, temporary for others. Either way it's is good for being able to work with the dogs one on one to establish who's the leader [YOU.] One dog goes in the kennel for a couple hours while the other gets to hang out with you. Then switch and repeat all day. Only do this when they fight. It needs to last the whole day/the rest of the day. And you can continue it through the next day. Some people live this way, crate and rotate, personally I couldn't crate and rotate my dogs my whole life. So for me it's a 1-5 days thing as a learning tool/control tool.

Also, a trainer/behaviourist would be an awesome "investment" for the sake of keeping your babies.
I make my dogs do EVERYTHING together, they walk together, go outside for potty together, get treats at the same time, fed in sepereate bowls at the same time, go to bed and wake up at the same time. Everything in our home is equal.
YOU MUST know your dogs body language. You can google body language charts, which are helpful but a lot of dogs have their own individual body language that you need to know.

GRACIE AND KJC: GREAT ADVICE IN POST REPLIES!

yavenay · 12-09-2011, 10:02 AM

Victoria Stillwell had an episode where a chi and a yorkie hated each other and were constantly fighting. The owner had to keep them separated at all times. One of the things the Victoria did was everytime they started growling or fighting she would immediately remove the initiator to another room. After enough times, they both started associated being removed with fighting. Look up that episode on her website to get some tips. It took some time but eventually they stopped fighting.

lovemy3babies · 12-09-2011, 11:01 AM

Mine get along fine unless there is food in the same room with them. Then they start growling at each other and if I don't intervene, they will fight.

But it's only when there's food around. Otherwise they are fine.

Buster Brown · 12-09-2011, 03:14 PM

Here is a thread that might help as Rachel has a similar problem http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/gen...ggression.html
I hope you can find a way to work things out as I know you must be devastated. Best wishes.

Donnainohio63 · 12-09-2011, 10:21 PM

Thank you all for all the great advice, I am trying the leash and making them go to seperate rooms when they fight. They tied into a bad one again tonight and my daughter was trying to break them up and she got bit in the face. No blood was drawn but it was scary. I am taking them both to the vet to make sure there is nothing going on there and my sister has a friend who works with animals and I am calling her on Monday. I have to get this to stop it is tearing me up.

maci_mace · 12-10-2011, 12:16 AM

I'm sorry but if a dog is willing to turn and bite a person, no matter what the situation is, to me there is something very wrong with the dog behaviour wise, and that kind of action is completely untolerable.

I would put any dog to sleep that bit my child, OR send it off to a breed specific rescue with a trainer/behaviourist on staff. I would not keep that dog in my home. IMHO.

I def. suggest seeing a professional trainer/behaviourist even if you can only afford a week worth of appointments. It will be worth it if the dog never bites your kid again even if he does scrap with your other dog.

12-08-2011, 10:03 PM	#1
Donnainohio63 Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Lorain Ohio Posts: 1,882	I just do not know what to do I am so upset that all I can do is cry. I may have to re-home either Little Bit or Thor. For three days now these two have been tying into really bad fights and it is getting harder and harder to seperate them when it happens. I think they may be fighting for Alpha male but I am just not sure. It is so weird because they will be getting along just fine and then just start going at it. I do not want to lose either one of them I love them so much but I just do not know what to do.Please someone help me here. __________________ http://thelittleyorkierescue.weebly.com/

12-08-2011, 10:06 PM	#2
JMuedog Love My Little Cuties Donating Member Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Charleston, IL Posts: 9,899	Are there any behaviorists in the area that you could bring in to observe them? __________________ Jenni Finnigan & Gwenndilyn Forever in my heart

12-09-2011, 03:52 AM	#3
deonk1 YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Winnipeg, MB, Canada Posts: 1,795	Yes I would also say check out a few trainers and behaviourists.... Trainers are just like breeders, you need to make sure you trust them and are comfortable with their methods... everyone is different, good ones will allow you to come watch them in action with someone else's dogs. Hopefully it's something they can solve. I only have one lonely boy at my house, so I've never had two dogs trying to be head of the household. __________________ Kendra Harley, you were the light in my life, rest peacefully my love!

12-09-2011, 05:55 AM	#5
LisaD YT Addict Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Georgia Posts: 250	Are they neutered? Has anything changed in the house hold? How old are they? __________________ Lisa,Tink,and Peanut ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

12-09-2011, 06:52 AM	#8
kjc I♥PeekTinkySaph&Finny Donating Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Posts: 18,866	This is what I would try: Separate them in different rooms for 3-4 days. Then, to put them back together, have each on a leash and go for a walk... 30 - 45 minutes. Maybe 3-4 walks per day. This will help to reestablish YOU as the Head of Household. When they are together, watch them for any signals that they will give before a fight starts. If you can identify who is starting the fights, make corrections to that dog first. If the other retaliates, then correct that dog also. You may need to leave the leashes on in the house for a few days to make it easier and safer to separate them. Two days of intensive work may break their habit, sooner if you can spot their signals quickly. Once you break up a fight, keep them both in the same room, but not where they can get at each other, until they calm down. If you put them back together too soon after a fight, they will continue to fight, and you will know you didn't separate and control them long enough. Just try again a bit longer till they forget about fighting. Two of mine got into fighting, then it was over any little thing, just to fight. Now, the most they can get away with is verbal arguing, mostly when I let them outside. It's always a competition about who gets out the door first. This is between a male and a female, who, I have read, are not prone to battle, lol. If their arguing gets to be to loud, I intervene immediately. I still have to watch them, but now the fights are few and far between. Maybe this method will work for you. Hope so. __________________ Kat Chloe Lizzy PeekABooTinkerbell SapphireInfinity

12-09-2011, 05:23 AM	#4
sarahjmiller51 Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: hampton, tn, usa Posts: 69 Blog Entries: 1	can you watch the 'dog whisperer' on tv? it's a great series....alot of wonderful help and tips....i think it's on NATGEOW

12-09-2011, 06:17 AM	#6
gryhndnut Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Brighton, Illinois Posts: 168	I know that I am new here, but I have had dogs for many years. So here is my 2 cents worth. I know I would do everything possible before rehoming one of my pets. If they are not neutered, see how they are after neutering. My only other comment is make sure that there are no underlying health issues with one of them. Years ago one of my greyhounds, that was as sweet as could be, out of the blue began snapping at the other greyhounds when they came near her. It ended up that she did a health issue that was undetectable to me. Hope that it works out for you and your pups.

12-09-2011, 06:41 AM	#7
gracielove YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: NY Posts: 6,582	I would sit back and watch the body language that is going on between your two dogs.What happens just before an episode breaks out? Does this have to do with food or territory? Sometimes the looks and the moves a dogs makes that signal aggression are very slight and can go undetected unless you watch carefully. Once you find out who the aggressor is you can start dealing with the issue. First of all stop the behavior before it turns into a battle. If these guys are not neutered then that is your first problem. I'm assuming they are neutered so a health check may be in order as well. Have you changed their diet? Is one possibly eating the others food without you being aware of it? If this is food related you may need to feed them in different rooms. Don't let them play aggressively with each other as it can lead to dominance issues. If you cannot get to the root of your problem then you may need to bring in someone with experience with dog aggression.

12-09-2011, 09:17 AM	#9
Donnainohio63 Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Lorain Ohio Posts: 1,882	Both the boys are neutered and have been since they were 3 months old. The only change in the house is Molly but they all seem to get along good with her except her and Sadie have words from time to time. I am going to try the leash thing and see if that helps. It will kill me to have to re-home either of them because I love them so much. I have had then since they were born and they are my babies. I hope we can work through this. __________________ http://thelittleyorkierescue.weebly.com/

12-09-2011, 09:21 AM	#10
maci_mace YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Edmonton, AB Posts: 797	I think all are great ideas. I own an American Pitbull and a Yorkie. They LOVE to play, however my pitbull is 50lbs and sometimes gets to playing too rough, NEVER any aggression issues and he'd never fight with her. But when they get to playing to rough I treat it as fighting for her safety. Here's what I do... I make Leonidas [pitbull] sit, lay, stay. He's amazing with these commands. Then Maci has to come sit on my lap. I keep them like this for 10 min or until I can tell Leonidas has calmed down. Then they are free to roam again. Mind you this isn't for fighting it's for getting too hyper/rough. For fighting... Having multiple dogs can sometimes mean you will need to "crate and rotate" this is a permanent thing for some dog owners, temporary for others. Either way it's is good for being able to work with the dogs one on one to establish who's the leader [YOU.] One dog goes in the kennel for a couple hours while the other gets to hang out with you. Then switch and repeat all day. Only do this when they fight. It needs to last the whole day/the rest of the day. And you can continue it through the next day. Some people live this way, crate and rotate, personally I couldn't crate and rotate my dogs my whole life. So for me it's a 1-5 days thing as a learning tool/control tool. Also, a trainer/behaviourist would be an awesome "investment" for the sake of keeping your babies. I make my dogs do EVERYTHING together, they walk together, go outside for potty together, get treats at the same time, fed in sepereate bowls at the same time, go to bed and wake up at the same time. Everything in our home is equal. YOU MUST know your dogs body language. You can google body language charts, which are helpful but a lot of dogs have their own individual body language that you need to know. GRACIE AND KJC: GREAT ADVICE IN POST REPLIES! __________________ Maci May, Leonidas, Tyler&Ashley our small happy family!

12-09-2011, 10:02 AM	#11
yavenay Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Delaware Posts: 2,663	Victoria Stillwell had an episode where a chi and a yorkie hated each other and were constantly fighting. The owner had to keep them separated at all times. One of the things the Victoria did was everytime they started growling or fighting she would immediately remove the initiator to another room. After enough times, they both started associated being removed with fighting. Look up that episode on her website to get some tips. It took some time but eventually they stopped fighting.

12-09-2011, 11:01 AM	#12
lovemy3babies YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 799	Mine get along fine unless there is food in the same room with them. Then they start growling at each other and if I don't intervene, they will fight. But it's only when there's food around. Otherwise they are fine. __________________ Hi from Oklahoma City from me and the girls: Holly, Lacey & Tinker Belle

12-09-2011, 03:14 PM	#13
Buster Brown Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Toluca Lake, CA Posts: 5,491	Here is a thread that might help as Rachel has a similar problem http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/gen...ggression.html I hope you can find a way to work things out as I know you must be devastated. Best wishes. __________________ CarolynBuster Brown "The happiest people don't have the best of everything, they just make the best of everything."

12-09-2011, 10:21 PM	#14
Donnainohio63 Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Lorain Ohio Posts: 1,882	Thank you all for all the great advice, I am trying the leash and making them go to seperate rooms when they fight. They tied into a bad one again tonight and my daughter was trying to break them up and she got bit in the face. No blood was drawn but it was scary. I am taking them both to the vet to make sure there is nothing going on there and my sister has a friend who works with animals and I am calling her on Monday. I have to get this to stop it is tearing me up. __________________ http://thelittleyorkierescue.weebly.com/

12-10-2011, 12:16 AM	#15
maci_mace YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Edmonton, AB Posts: 797	I'm sorry but if a dog is willing to turn and bite a person, no matter what the situation is, to me there is something very wrong with the dog behaviour wise, and that kind of action is completely untolerable. I would put any dog to sleep that bit my child, OR send it off to a breed specific rescue with a trainer/behaviourist on staff. I would not keep that dog in my home. IMHO. I def. suggest seeing a professional trainer/behaviourist even if you can only afford a week worth of appointments. It will be worth it if the dog never bites your kid again even if he does scrap with your other dog. __________________ Maci May, Leonidas, Tyler&Ashley our small happy family!