[HELP] Dogs fighting (Nevermind. Found what I need.)

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booger

Inactive
Editing: Nevermind. Found the info I needed soon after posting this. :)

We have four dogs of varying mixed breeds and ages. They're all fairly well behaved but... Three of them seem to be fighting more and more and more. It usually starts over food or garbage they occasionally get hold of. Nasty, drag-down, knock-out fights. They are quite good with the kids, wonderful actually. But, when it comes to this fighting, they don't care who they knock over or scratch or bite to get whatever dog it was that dared to even look at the wanted morsel of food/garbage. They certainly are not starved. I know there's probably a dominance thing of some sort going on here but I've tried everything I can think of.

How can I get this to stop? I'm out of ideas and need help before someone gets hurt. Thanks!
 
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tropicalfish

tropicalfish

Veteran Member
Booger, I'm having the same problem with my dogs. They are min pins, and just a little thing will set them off. Is it something in the air? :D Let me know what you are doing to handle the situation. My dogs are little, but I swear, they could kill each other or anybody in their path when they start in. It gets kinda scarey.
 
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Willow

Veteran Member
Just some thoughts.....

It's important to remember that, just as some people never get along with each other, some dogs develop dislikes for other dogs which last a lifetime. These dislikes are usually territory battles with two or more individuals who feel they should be 'top dog.' Unfortunately, some of these battles can be to the death and proper management is the only solution. There is no counseling their hatred for each other.

Never feed them together. Never give one toy or treat (resource) to fight over. Be careful about acknowledging one dog and excluding the other. Be very aware of body language which warns of an impending battle and defuse before physical contact is made.

These dogs can be managed but it isn't fun and it can be dangerous as two dogs fighting are not aware of their surroundings and the people who are close enough to accidentally get bit in the battle.

Also, where there is a pack of dogs the fight may stimulate the observers to the point where all will join in and attempt to rip apart one of the two original compatants. Pack mentality can be extremely dangerous and should never be taken for granted. I have seen the results of these gang type attacks and the results are horrific. They should be avoided at all cost....even if it means never allowing individuals to come in contact with each other or rehoming one of the dogs that oesn't get along.

Willow
 
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MissTina

Inactive
Also, where there is a pack of dogs the fight may stimulate the observers to the point where all will join in and attempt to rip apart one of the two original compatants. Pack mentality can be extremely dangerous and should never be taken for granted. I have seen the results of these gang type attacks and the results are horrific. They should be avoided at all cost....even if it means never allowing individuals to come in contact with each other or rehoming one of the dogs that oesn't get along.

Willow
This was not exactly what you were talking about booger but what Willow said reminded me of this incident:

I had a woman I worked with years ago whose son was waiting for the school bus in rural OK and was attacked by a pack of dogs. He survived but he was terrorized, traumatized, and bitten to pieces from head to toe. The owners had no remorse for what happened and there wasn't any kind of restraint as it was outside city limits and the county Sheriff didn't do anything. The bottom line was that these people had amassed this large family of dogs, 6 as I recall that roamed the woods. Not long after there was an article in the local paper about letting dogs roam as a pack and the dangers of it.
BTW Willow we did end up with two girls from the same litter and I see exactly what you were/are talking about. They are just babies and they fight over food but mainly affection. It's hard for me to give enough to both of them. I gave into the other female because my step-daughter wanted to "rescue" it from the horrible conditions it was living in. But she only visits every-other weekend and I'm the only one who works with them. The newest little girl wee-wee's all over me when I pick her up which doesn't make me want to pick her up much!
Thanks Willow for sharing your experience, I for one have learned a tremendous amount :)
 
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booger

Inactive
Tropicalfish, a couple of our dogs are just going to have to find new homes. I just can't take the chance of my kids becoming collateral damage to the fights. I know of a couple of folks looking for good dogs so they'll probably adopt them. They are good dogs but they just need to not be with other male dogs. (All three are working breeds and male--very bad combination from what I was reading.) I'll link you to a couple of articles I read last night as all of them I read said basically the same thing.

http://www.paw-rescue.org/PAW/PETTIPS/DogTip_AggressionDogsInSameHouse.php

http://www.pethealthcare.net/html/body_canine_aggression___sibling_ri.html

We could retrain them but it sounds like it would be quite a battle and, like I said, I am not taking the chance with my kids. Lesson learned. :rolleyes:
 
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Gingergirl

Veteran Member
It is interesting to observe the pack society of dogs, even when there is only one dog. Our dog followed DD1 home. A female, she immediately recognized me as the Alpha Female of her adopted "pack." When DH returned from deployment a week later, she immediately recognized him as Alpha Male. Nevertheless, she did challenge DD2 for the Female3 positon. It took over a year to teach DD2 (10 years old) that being "nice" wouldn't stop the dog's bullying and that she had to assert her dominance through voice and posture.

She is gentle and very submissive with the family, but will not allow anyone else into the "pack" without a challenge. After this experience, I would never dream of trying to introduce another dog into the household. In all likelihood, our dog would kill the newby the first day.
 
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