Hello!
 

Thank you for allowing me to join you. My husband and I adopted two yorkie sisters three years ago - Betty and Wilma. At first Wilma was very shy and submissive to her sister but as time has gone on she has become more assertive. Occasionally ( and there does not always seem to be a trigger) Betty will attack her. These attacks are getting worse! We have been to an animal behaviorist which did not help. Our vet has now suggested Xanax for potentially stressful situations.
We are in the process of having a house built and my husband and the dogs are remaining in Virginia ( we thought it would be less stressful for them to stay in the home that they were familiar with) while I am in our little condo in Florida for my job. We did not think that we should seperate them because they love one another very much - when they are not fighting!
I would appreciate your wisdom - poor little Wilma is like a punchbag for her sister! Betty trembles before and after these attacks, hence the xanax. Any suggestions are gratefully accepted!

Welcome to YT :)!

If this were me, I wouldn't hesitate 2 seconds to try that Xanax if it may help. Meds can work miracles for some dogs.

Sorry to hear about the fighting between sisters.

I don't have anything to recommend but really wanted to say I love the Flintstones reference! Betty and Wilma! How cute!! :)

Welcome to YT!

Thank you!
We were woken up at 3am by Betty attacking her sister!

I have one that is so jealous of the others that she wants to jump them when i'm not looking (she don't know i can hear) nothing i have tried has worked so i separated her from the others..she is in the same room and can see the others but can't get to them she has a doggie door that lets her go out to a enclosed porch...she is so loving to me but does not like the other dogs.

I had one a few years ago that killed one while i was outside, she didn't like the other dogs and she didn't like kids, I let a friend take her and she is so spoiled and beautiful and they love her so much...when i find that type home for BB i will let her go otherwise she will stay with me

Do you all think it is a good idea to seperate them? We adpoted them as a "bonded pair". I want to do the right thing for them both I just dont know what that is!

My Abby likes to "correct" Ziva- it took me a long time to figure out what sets her off. If she sees me call Ziva and Ziva does not react fast enough Abby will jump her! It is terrible sounding but she does not hurt her- that would be a different situation.
On the advise of the vet- I feed them separately and they are crated at night (we live in FL and I am always ready to evacuate) We keep an ex pen up and Abby spent quite some time in there on "timeouts" it took a long time for her to understand but she calms down quickly now. I do walk them every day on a coupled leash and have much less problems if they are regularly exercised (rainy days can be a problem)At one point I did consider rehoming Abby - I hate conflict!

Betty has started to injure Wilma now. We do crate them at night but my husband thought I had done it last night and I thought he had! They do get plenty of exercise and we do the "time out". Two minutes after these fights they are snuggling up together - best of friends. If we try to feed them seperately neither of them will eat! I tried this for three days but eventually had to give in as I thought they might starve to death!

Welcome to YorkieTalk forum. In your case it's better to train them, than seperate them. Go for a training program to teach them and help them to change that kind of behavior.

We have already done that. They are very well trained but Betty still has these anxiety attacks. - often for no reason that we can tell - and attacks her sister. She never attacks or even shows aggression to anyone or anything else!

I would not allow her to hurt Wilma she must be terrified of her poor baby and welcome to YT :)

Wilma loves her! I have had dogs all my life and I have never come across this situation before. When I asked my vet ( half jokingly) if Betty could be bipolar she shrugged and replied "perhaps". We are moving to Florida tomorrow. I have to go first and live in our condo because I am starting a new job. I am taking Wilma. Betty is staying with my husband and taking Xanax. Its not ideal but its better than Wilma being beaten up by Betty!

It sounds like it's getting worse - (again, I don't have experience with this, so I may be just talking nonsense) but if I were you, I'd prevent any 'attacking' from happening immediately. Otherwise, you may be heading deeper into troubled waters...things can always get worse and you probably don't wanna go there!

Maybe try to feed separately again? Somehow entice them to eat separately - feed them/put Parmesan cheese/add a topper etc...

I'd keep them separate at all times when you're not around and then limit their exposure to each other for now. When they are in each other's presence, I'd do daily training sessions with them, and then separate as soon as you're done. And then do training sessions with them separately, if you have time. And then, any indication of even starting to show aggression, separate them and end the 'fun training sessions'. And...when I say daily training sessions, it could be just repeating stuff they already know and getting treats for it - it's supposed to be fun for them, kind of like a daily refresher, or you can try to teach them new things.

That's what I would do anyway. And I'd do that for some time as a new routine so that they know you're the boss, you're the one in control, and you tolerate no aggressive behaviours. And then slowly increase their time together again, as long as they're behaving. The poor girl being attacked needs to be reassured she's safe. The one doing the attacking needs to learn that it's totally not acceptable.

When mine does something shes not allowed to do I say firmly "no, thats bad" and ignore her. She doesn't like being ignored and eventually stops the behavior.

I saw once in Cesar Milan show a caselike yours... there were 2 jack Russell terrier sisters fighting a lot....... the owner was rich.... and after hiring professional trainers... she called Cesar.... at the end can't remember what happened... but this cute 2 sisters were very aggressive and fought to where they got all bloody .