Household problems - my girls are fighting

[Potter]

I really empathize with your situation but is happy that your mom will be taking June in. I just want to say in case others read this thread that the dominance theory for training dogs ie who goes in the door first etc has been debunked. Dogs moves faster than human does. Whoever is faster gets to go in first. Same with walks where they say the dog has to stay one side and behind the owner. It doesn't matter in their eyes if they walk in front of you. Dogs do walk faster than human naturally so they usually end up in the front, it doesn't mean they are dominant. And them criss crossing to the left and right, they are just checking scents/things out because dogs are curious creatures by nature. I am not just saying this out of nowhere.Have been to some positive based training classes and seminars with scientific evidence that the dominance theories are simply not true.My dog was once trained by a so called dominance theory trainer and he didn't get better, he got worse till we went to this positive based training and I am sure glad we did because he is doing so much better now.

Like my trainer said, when you expect something from your dogs, just remember that dogs are bred to remain as a 2 year old human child's level (mind) so don't expect them to behave like a 20 year old just because it is easier and more convenient for the owner. It will never happen and will head for dissapointment.

[concretegurl]

Originally Posted by Marilize

Thanks for the advice. I've decided to rehome June and I posted some ads online today. After hours of correspondence with various interested parties, my mom phones, asks why I'm upset and says they'll take her. They already have four Yorkies, but like her fiance said "What's one more?" This way I don't have to say goodbye and I'll be able to see her whenever I go to visit. She's going home with them after their wedding next weekend. I couldn't be happier with how things have turned out.

I truly hope this situation works out for everyone.

[nanahas3]

I hope it all works out as well but I would ask since your mom has other dogs has June been around them? If so do they get along ok? Or will this be an issue your mom will have to deal with, with her dogs?

[concretegurl]

Originally Posted by nanahas3

I hope it all works out as well but I would ask since your mom has other dogs has June been around them? If so do they get along ok? Or will this be an issue your mom will have to deal with, with her dogs?

I'm concerned about the sane issue, but if this is truly a one on one pack order issue and not a general dog aggression issue the change in pack and place can resolve the entire thing.

It really is about how she is introduced to the new pack and treated there.

Fingers crossed for positive updates as it goes

[msyorktown]

Just catching this now...I hope your mom doesn't have the same issues you were having...praying it all works out for all involved.

[Teresa Ford]

Originally Posted by gemy

Okay the worstest case scenario is that one has to be rehomed. I don't believe you are at that yet, as no blood has been drawn.

Next: Permanent segregation. Through the use of gates, or keep one upstairs and one downstairs. And if your house doesn't allow for either it is crate and rotate.

My concern is if you are going to breed that Biewer with another bitch in the house....yowsers! Especially because of the enmity at this point in time.

For now you must establish absolute dominance over both girls. I know this may sound harsh, but they have been allowed to get away with bad behaviour to one another for several months. It is always best to nip this in the bud, once it begins.

Alright right now, this moment in time. Crate one. Then take the other outside for a walk; or if it is too hot out, inside for some obedience training. With treats for good behaviour. Work 5 -10 minutes with her

Then crate that one you just finished training. Out comes the other female for same training same amount of time.

Repeat daily at least two times per day.

Then after four days. both girls on harnesses and leads. Out you go for a walk with them together. Immediately discipline for bad behaviour, ideally interfer prior to this. Watch the body language clues, staring, rigid tail, or sometimes snakely tail, ears back, lips curled, brow furrowed, all these are precoursors to "bad behaviour". First redirect the behaviour. Most effective immediately give an obedience command to that girl. Reward for obedience. If you miss the clue, and an attack ensues, firmly and quickly correct the aggressor. And then immediately walk back home and place the miscreant in house; then continue a walk with the other girl.

Feed them together but stay present and very alert. IF one finishes food first and tries to meander over to the other bowl, interfer with that.

While many here do NOT use crates for discipline I do. If there is an aggressor, or IF you don't know who is the aggressor, both girls go in their separate crates for at least 5minutes. Bad behaviour continues 10 minutes.

Some other ways to establish dominance - and I do this intermittently still. I make my dogs wait at bottom or top of stairs while I descend or ascend first. I reward with good boy or girl after I issue release command.

You always go out the door first, and come in first, they must wait for your command to go through the door.

You eat first, and then you feed the pups.

There is no "free" lap time. No dogs are allowed up on your lap or the couch unless you invite them up.

No sleeping in bed with you for now.

If you invite one girl up on your lap, and the other snarls or growls, crate time for her.

Try not to get frustrated or angry; but have a firm no nonsense tone, and just do what needs to be done.

Teach each gal the STOP command. This is an emergency command, and is never ever to be disobeyed. When learning this command in the beginning days give gently firm corrections if they don't stop immediately. Then progress once you see that they have understood STOP means no movement; if they disobey make the correction harsher; through voice intonation, and leash correction.

Once they get STOP, and they get it well, STOP should stop any untoward behaviour.

Best of luck with your gals.

Excellent Advice. I absolutely agree with time outs for fighting. I also suggest you put Nothing In Life Is Free.

[Teresa Ford]

NILIF - Nothing in Life is Free Program For Dogs

[Marilize]

Thanks for the feedback. Theresa, nothing in my home is free and my dogs have to work for every privilege they get. I truly believe that it's a pack order thing - the other dogs have sort of constructed a pack without her because both males are in love with the other female. She gets upset and angry with them a lot.

June has visited my mom's house many times before and she gets along well with the other Yorkies. We'll never know until we try, but I hope it works out. June is a really sweet dog and she just doesn't like my other girl. The great thing is that she will have a lot more space there and they are home all the time - they run a guest house. Her Yorkies are very well exercised and cared for. I'm hoping the new space, exercise and fresh air of the country will do her good too.

[kjc]

So you haven't had a problem since August? Until last night? If that is correct, then what you're doing is working. This is a problem that will never be 'fixed', but controlled. With you trying to breed, new circumstances (hormones, smells, etc) will always be coming into play, and adjustments will have to be made in how these dogs are handled to control the problem. The fact that the one dog may be pregnant (probably is) would be enough with the hormonal changes alone to trigger the attacker's behavior. Steps need to be put in place to prevent them from harming each other.

That said... IMHO, if you're going to be breeding, focus on that goal and do everything that is neccessary to provide a calm, safe and successful breeding/whelping environment for those dogs. Some dogs can live peacefully in a breeding environment, some cannot. So for safety's sake, rehoming is the wisest choice in this situation.

The fact that one bit you does not mean failure, it's a slip up. My male bites at me all the time when he's asleep and I get too close. He always wakes thinking someone is after him. So when I need to approach him, I start by talking to him, and when I first reach for him, I go to touch his butt, so he has a chance to get his wits about him and realize it's me and not another dog. If he still goes after my hand, I have enough space and time to get out of his way, and give him a bit more time to fully awaken.

I don't think there's any dog, show, pet, agility, whatever that does right 100% of the time on everything. I think it's unrealistic to expect that from any dog. Strive towards it, yes...