Dogs started fighting.
Discussion
Two dogs.
Wire fox terrier (7 years old) had from pup.
Border Collie cross (c11 years old) had for 6 years rescue dog.
Always been pals but now they scrap for three reasons
- WFT attacks BCC if she percieves any misbehaviour (For example not being able to jump up on something, hurting herself etc.) This does not tend to result in a fight.
- WFT attacks BCC if you show the BCC any attention (e.g. tonight on walkies, flashing collar stopped working. Im adjusting and WFT attacks, resulting in a fight.
- BCC attacks WFT if WFT attempts to snaffle any of her food.
This has only really been happening in past 6 months or so. Whats going on? Both girls, both well walked, socialized with other dogs etc.
I have noticed the WFT becoming more 'OTT' in the same timeframe e.g. excessive face licking, wanting attantion, humping things etc.
Thanks for any help.
Wire fox terrier (7 years old) had from pup.
Border Collie cross (c11 years old) had for 6 years rescue dog.
Always been pals but now they scrap for three reasons
- WFT attacks BCC if she percieves any misbehaviour (For example not being able to jump up on something, hurting herself etc.) This does not tend to result in a fight.
- WFT attacks BCC if you show the BCC any attention (e.g. tonight on walkies, flashing collar stopped working. Im adjusting and WFT attacks, resulting in a fight.
- BCC attacks WFT if WFT attempts to snaffle any of her food.
This has only really been happening in past 6 months or so. Whats going on? Both girls, both well walked, socialized with other dogs etc.
I have noticed the WFT becoming more 'OTT' in the same timeframe e.g. excessive face licking, wanting attantion, humping things etc.
Thanks for any help.
WFT is pulling rank but the collie's protecting her dinner which is a basic survival instinct. I'm no expert but maybe you could show the WTF who's really in charge. Also, can you avoid those confrontation points perhaps? Establishing pecking orders doesn't usually result in real fights. Is this bluff and bluster, no injuries etc?
Edited by Boosted LS1 on Monday 11th November 23:11
We had a similar situation with our two male spaniels. 5 years difference in their ages and they'd always got on fine since we had the youngest as a pup. When the youngest was about 6 and the eldest 11 they would sometimes fight for no real apparent reason other than occasionally being enclosed in a small space, meeting at a doorway or similar. The youngest was usually the instigator.
It got quite bad to the point where they would sometimes draw blood and I was distraught at the thought that the only way forward was to re-home the youngest. We sought the advice of the Vet and one theory was that the youngest now saw that the older dog was becoming weaker and there was a shift in the dominance hierarchy.
Both dogs were 'entire' at this stage and in a last-ditch attempt at resolving the issue we had the younger castrated as the Vet thought that taking testosterone out of the equation might help.
This seemed to help the situation (or it was a coincidence) as they seemed to get on better, although they still very occasionally will have a bit of a spat, the intensity and aggressiveness has certainly decreased.
Not sure if this helps at all in your situation but the ages are similar so perhaps the dominance/weakening of the elder dog may be relevant.
It got quite bad to the point where they would sometimes draw blood and I was distraught at the thought that the only way forward was to re-home the youngest. We sought the advice of the Vet and one theory was that the youngest now saw that the older dog was becoming weaker and there was a shift in the dominance hierarchy.
Both dogs were 'entire' at this stage and in a last-ditch attempt at resolving the issue we had the younger castrated as the Vet thought that taking testosterone out of the equation might help.
This seemed to help the situation (or it was a coincidence) as they seemed to get on better, although they still very occasionally will have a bit of a spat, the intensity and aggressiveness has certainly decreased.
Not sure if this helps at all in your situation but the ages are similar so perhaps the dominance/weakening of the elder dog may be relevant.
Thanks guys.
There does not appear to be any injuries so part of me thinks it is 'bluff and bluster'. And yes, thanks I do think the increasing age of the BC is a factor. Younger/ smaller dog has got stronger over time, Older/ bigger dog has got weaker over time.
Both dogs have been neutered (b
hes).
I am half inclined to let a fight run its course, to get it 'out of the way with'. - thoughts?
There does not appear to be any injuries so part of me thinks it is 'bluff and bluster'. And yes, thanks I do think the increasing age of the BC is a factor. Younger/ smaller dog has got stronger over time, Older/ bigger dog has got weaker over time.
Both dogs have been neutered (b
hes).I am half inclined to let a fight run its course, to get it 'out of the way with'. - thoughts?
KAgantua said:
Thanks guys.
There does not appear to be any injuries so part of me thinks it is 'bluff and bluster'. And yes, thanks I do think the increasing age of the BC is a factor. Younger/ smaller dog has got stronger over time, Older/ bigger dog has got weaker over time.
Both dogs have been neutered (bhes).
I am half inclined to let a fight run its course, to get it 'out of the way with'. - thoughts?
If I had my time again I'd have nipped the fighting in the bud a lot sooner. There does not appear to be any injuries so part of me thinks it is 'bluff and bluster'. And yes, thanks I do think the increasing age of the BC is a factor. Younger/ smaller dog has got stronger over time, Older/ bigger dog has got weaker over time.
Both dogs have been neutered (b
hes).I am half inclined to let a fight run its course, to get it 'out of the way with'. - thoughts?
I've a lab and Frenchie. The Frenchie tries to dominate the lab but she doesn't take any crap off him so if I don't spot it e.g. out in the garden, they will eventually burst into the kitchen sodden in each others spit. Plus it's just unpleasant to watch and hear.
So I removed all toys, balls (literally as the Frenchie got the snip) and chewing toys etc away. And the instant the start growling I usually end up sticking the Frenchie in his cage for a cool off as he's normally the instigator. We've renamed him 'Hilts' and send him to the 'Cooler...10 minutezzzz'.
This has improved to the point that if I just walk up to them the stops and lies flat on his stomach and plays dead so that he's a PITA to pick up.
If I'm not there then it will still escalate but I'm working on it.
I wouldn't let a fight run its course, personally. Too risky.
In my experience, fights between bhes tend to be more serious than between males. When our males have fought, it has very much been 'handbags', over very quickly and quickly forgotten.
When I had two bhes who fought, the younger one injured the older one quite badly, and wouldn't let it drop. When she repeated the behaviour, I had to rehome her for the good of my other dogs and her own good.
A vet visit might be a good first step, to check whether there are any medical issues. It does sound as though there is resource guarding involved though - food, attention. As another poster says, if you intend to manage this situation, you will need to avoid flashpoints (feed them separately, not leave them with treats unsupervised, etc).
In my experience, fights between b
hes tend to be more serious than between males. When our males have fought, it has very much been 'handbags', over very quickly and quickly forgotten.When I had two b
hes who fought, the younger one injured the older one quite badly, and wouldn't let it drop. When she repeated the behaviour, I had to rehome her for the good of my other dogs and her own good. A vet visit might be a good first step, to check whether there are any medical issues. It does sound as though there is resource guarding involved though - food, attention. As another poster says, if you intend to manage this situation, you will need to avoid flashpoints (feed them separately, not leave them with treats unsupervised, etc).
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