my dogs (both female)-dont get along at all- will they ever get along?how?

Question

my 8 year old is a red heeler real sweet- timid and some what of a people dog. the german shepard is one and a half years old , smart, rowdy and 75lbs. shes a great people dog and real large, yet she wants to hurt other dogs, bad. they already got into it twice and my 8 year old lost bost times. i want to know if there is something i can do or should have done to get the pup to ease up on the older dog? not to hurt her and maybe submit? please help!!

Answer 1

Take control! If you had kids, you wouldn't let one constantly harass and beat up the other, would you? Put the Shepherd on a leash at all times (even in the house) and give her hell if she even looks cross-eyed at the Heeler. Do at least 15 minute a day of obedience training with the Shepherd and make sure she's getting a strenuous thirty minute run every day - a lot of aggression and obnoxious behavior comes from pent up energy. Also, take them both for long walks together every day, but don't let them get ahead of you! You have to be the pack leader!

Make the Shepherd do long down-stays near the Heeler, especially after she glares or snaps at her. They may never be safe to leave alone together, but at least you'll have some control while you're there.

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
Dog Tricks : Eighty-Eight Challenging Activities for Your Dog from World-Class Trainers by Haggerty and Benjamin
Don't Shoot the Dog - Pryor
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 2

The older dog is territorial and doesn't like the younger one coming in on its turf - we had two labs - a 13 year old and a puppy and at first the older one hated her - the baby took all of here toys and fought for attention,etc and it pissed her off.

After a while - and I mean a while, the older one really started to mother her and love her - they were always playing - nicely though they never fought badly but they got close and the baby kept her young - for a few more years.

We had a dog before the puppy - the mother of the older one and she died and this was why we got the puppy cause she was miserable without her mom and she seemed really lonely so at first, they freak like this is my house get out - I think you have to make sure you pay attention to the older one as they can start to get ignored when the new one is there. - just like kids and make sure the young one has its' own toys, etc and does not take the older ones toys or rawhide, etc - that will cause a big problem. Just pay attention to both of them and try to do fun things with them together to get them to get along - walk them together, play ball or frisbee, etc - just try to do things that make them have fun and then maybe they will start to like each other - hopefully.

It always also depends on the type of dog - I don't know if shephards get along with other dogs really or if they are more of an only dog in the family cuz the labs are also people dogs and nice so they got along eventually as they do with most dogs they come across - they are very timid and submissive around new dogs - they lie on their backs and just let the other dog check them out - it's funny.

Maybe when getting new dogs, check into if they are good around other dogs or if possible bring them together first to see how they react to eachother. It may just be that boht of them are fighting territorily - and they may have to just get used to the fact that they are both gonna be there so they better accept it - it does take time.

Answer 3

You will never be able to leave those dogs together alone. They can only be together if you are there and have the ability to separate them, when the younger gets out of hand. Personally, I'd have a prong collar on the GS to make control more possible. It sounds like you should've done more checking of the younger dog's behavior when it was a small pup and gotten a trainer's help. I'd still seek a trainer. If the dog is aggressive with all other dogs, you will have to be vigilant at home and out and about with that dog.

Answer 4

If you have two females they more than likely won't get along. The same goes for two males, they get dominant. The best route is to go one of each but make sure they are spade or neutered. You don't need puppies running a muck of your house. Maybe the pup will calm down when she gets a little older, with big dogs they down settle down til about 5 years old...Good Luck

Answer 5

Is the 'pup' spayed? She needs some serious rebuke, not as in hitting or anything, just training. They should eventually get along, but don't give the GS the opportunity to fight with your older dog, every time she 'wins' it reinforces her 'superior' position. Could really get your older dog down too, they do get depressed, if she is being out sized and out attentioned she's going to feel like she's not as important to you. And that could lead to a whole new set of problems, like wetting or destructive behavior, to say nothing of illness. Keep them seperated when you are not directly supervising.

Answer 6

Since you have an 8 yr old heeler and a 1 in ahalf yr old shep what the shep is trying to do is take over,now since you said she wants to hurt other dogs was she around other dogs growing up if not that might be the problem you are now having i have two female Jacks they are mom and kid they have their ups and downs just like we do i hope i helped you with your question.

Answer 7

There is a chance that the dogs may someday get along but the problem may be that they are fighting for the Alpha Female spot of the pack. If not that your German Shepherd just might be one of those dogs who don't get along with others. My brothers boxer is like that. She loves people but any animal crosses her path and she goes into kill mode.

Answer 8

obedience training would be the first thing i would do 2 female dogs fight more than 2 male dogs, in a pack its always the alpha female that leads the pack.good luck i have a feeling you are going to need it.

Answer 9

it's not permanent and it's not unfixable, but you won't be able to do it on your own and many trainers won't be able to help you. I would seek professional help immediately and hope that you can find someone who can help you. This is happening because you are not the pack leader and the shepherd thinks she is the boss. YOu need to get them under control. This isn't either dog's fault, it's yours. Take control!

Answer 10

Since they are both females they both want your attention. Maybe you should take the aggressive dog to a trainer because I don't think you could get her to stop on your own.