My dobie and basset?

Question

I have a doberman and a basset hound and they've both been neutered and since then they've been getting on a lot better. The dobie is the new one we got him a week ago. Everynow and then sometimes when food is at stake or as the basset approaches the dobie whilst it's lying down the dobie starts growling. I'm worried in case they get into a big dog fight. Why do they get on most of the time and then its like murder about to happen? What can i do? Pls HELP!!!

Answer 1

Sounds like your dobie is resource guarding as well as letting the basset know when he is getting within the dobe's personal space. Whether this is a problem or not depends on how serious he is about it, and how your basset reacts to it. If all the dobie is doing is giving a warning growl, and the basset is respecting the communication, then there probably won't be a problem. But if the dobie starts to expand his "personal space" or the basset doesn't heed the warnings you have a problem.

You need to talk to a behaviorist, preferably one who is very experienced and not into the "alpha" or "dominance" models. Punishment in this case is likely to make the problem worse, as the dobe will associate punishment with the presence of the basset and be even more determined to keep him away.

Some resources for you:
Information on resource guarding:
http://carolark.com/tips.html#object%20g...
http://www.canineconcepts.co.uk/ccp51/cc...
http://www.ahimsadogtraining.com/handout...
http://www.dogwise.com/itemdetails.cfm?i...

On a dog's personal space relating to other dogs:
He just wants to say "Hi!" http://www.flyingdogpress.com/sayhi.html
http://www.flyingdogpress.com/candy.html
(lots of other excellent articles on this site!)

On "Alpha" and "Dominance"
http://www.4pawsu.com/leaderadv.htm
http://www.k9chops.com/articles/dognotwolf.html

Why punishment does not work on aggression
http://www.4pawsu.com/harsh_agg.htm

Multiple dogs
http://www.pgaa.com/canine/general/cues.html
http://www.thedogtrainingcompany.com/owning_multiple_dogs.php

Nothing in Life is Free program
http://www.goof.com/~pmurphy/NILIF.html

Hope this is helpful

Answer 2

You've only had the Doberman a week, but his behavior is better since you had him neutered?

Don't leave food down.
Supervise them on leashes when they are eating.
Keep them on leashes, correct any aggressive behavior and train the Basset to leave the Dobie alone.
Take the Dobie for long runs - at least thirty minutes a day. Dobes need about 100 times as much exercise as a Basset Hound!

These are the books that I recommend to my students; you can get them on Amazon.com
Dog Problems - Benjamin
What All Good Dogs Should Know – Volhard http://www.volhard.com/
Good Owners, Great Dogs - Brian Kilcommins
Training Your Dog: The Step by Step Method - Volhard
Cesar's Way - Cesar Millan
Also, watch the Dog Whisperer on the National Geographic Channel. Cesar Millan is the best trainer I've ever seen on TV.
http://www.dogpsychologycenter.com/

Answer 3

You need to decide which dog is dominant and reinforce its status. It gets fed first, it walks through the door first, it gets its lead put on first, it gets more fuss. Thats the reality of living with 2 dogs of the same sex.
The dobe has the upper hand so I suggest you sort this out before it gets physical. And no cheating; you can't secretly make a big fusso f the other dog when the dobe isn't around just because you feel sorry for him. It'll make him feel like he has a chance at being top dog and the whole thing will start all over.
I don't think you've been fair to the basset introducing another male dog; you'd have done better to get a female. She would automatically have become top dog.

Answer 4

I have dobies, good choice. You will proberly find at this stage the dobie is insecure as he has only just moved into his new environment and is watchfull of the other dog, Even though they play nice they still might not bond together. The dobie doesn't want the hound eating his food therefore growling will frighten him. I had 2 dobies that didn't get on well, try stopping them fighting is in possible in the end we had to choose one to go. Hop this doesn't happen to you but i would monitor them closley. Good luck

Answer 5

I guess there is no compromise when it come to food, so I suggest that you feed them separately, and in separate areas to avoid a dog fight between the doberman and the bassett hound. The dobie will ripped the basset hound apart. You can't do anything about it after it has happened, but you can do something about it NOW to prevent such a situation from happening.

Answer 6

Everybody who has said that the dobie will rip the basset apart apparently never had one. Bassets may be less aggressive but their jaws are very strong and will defend themselves. Ive seen it enough to know not to take a basset lightly. The best way to solve this is to feed them separately and pick up the food as soon as they are done. If one doesn't finish pick the food up. They just trying to establish territory and it may resolve itself in time.

Also, the basset was there first and has the right of territory.

Answer 7

They are trying to figure out who is top dog and the Dobie wants that position.try feeding them in seperate rooms that should help and if it has dominent issues than you might want to get it into a dog class before there becomes a big problem with aggresion and dont let the Dobie get bye with treating you Basset like that when he does it get a choke chain and put the dobie on its back and make it submit to the other dog.If you can't do that then you need to put him in obedience school.

Answer 8

I have to say i agree with a lot of the answers.I dont think it is a good idea to have two male dogs sharing the same house.I had two dobes one female who i still have the other a male who sadly died of old age.The male was a rescue dog,he was six yrs old when we got him and was such an amazing dog,the female we got from a pup.When feeding both dogs i always separated them as even though they were opposite sex they would still growl very nastily if one got too close while eating.If they were laying down and one decided to get up they would growl at each other if one got too close when walking past the other.They never ever attacked each other as one would always back away if the other got a bit too nasty,but i still had to be very carefull as it would be a blood bath if they did fight.Apart from that they loved to play and were good with each other.Be very carefull,hopefully the growls are just warnings,but two male dogs are not a good idea.

Answer 9

Two males, with one being a doberman, is not a good idea (and it is dobes, not dobies). The males are known to be extremely territorial and fights between males are not good nor are they uncommon. Only very, very experienced dobe homes can handle more than one male in a home. Also, two female dobes together are not a good idea either. The female fights can be even worse than the dog fights! Many people who have more than one female dobe has to keep them separated for life. It's not a good way to live. Having one of your dogs neutered will not make a difference in the dobes. I would seriously consider contacting your nearest dobe rescue for replacement of the dobe, or be prepared to live your life "on guard" and keeping these two separated always.

Answer 10

They definitely need to be kept separate whilst feeding, also don't feed the Dobie before the Basset make him wait as he is obviously trying to dominate, please don't leave them alone together when you go out or go to bed at night at least not until you are certain the Dobie won't attack the Basset.
Good Luck