dogs in same house fighting?

Question

My 2 pit mixes that are usually best friends had a 15 sec scrap. The dominant pup is slightly injured. When he yelps out in pain she goes back in to attack mode. We have them separated until he is feeling better. He goes to the vets in 2 days. (Earliest they could see him) He's limping. No serious injuries except right front leg is non-weight bearing. It is swollen. The vet told me that being pack animals and she is leader of the pack, they will do away with a weak pack member. Two years ago he had an injury and did the same thing. She acted odd with him for a short period of time. What should I do???

Answer 1

Any vet will take walkins, if yours won't go somewhere else, some injuries need immediate attention and I am coming across that alot where vets are making people with very sick or injured animals make appointments days later! Trust me I've worked in enough animal hospitals they will not turn you away if you don't have an appointment!

Answer 2

You have received some excellent advice.

The only thing I would add is obedience training. Your dogs will always have a hierarchy between them. One will always be more dominant (the one that grabs all the toys - including toys the other might have in his mouth - and all the food, etc.). However, if YOU are the real "top dog" (or "alpha" in the household), then a token "stop" is all you need to say.

I have two pups. They and I underwent obedience training and I have established myself as the top dog. The pups fight all the time with one being a bit more dominant. However, if I say "enough" or raise a can with pennies in it (makes noise), they immediately retreat. If I then push it, I can get them to stay down and stop fighting completely for an extended period. If I just want momentary silence, usually my "stop" is enough for that - but they will slowly return to playing. My point is, you may need to establish yourself as the alpha to prevent this more serious fighting. Do this by getting obedience training (for your dogs AND you - and don't just go to a token class or two).

But otherwise, I think the overall advice given by others is very good.

Answer 3

Ever heard the expression, "Top Dog"? Well, when more than one dog lives in a house and the "under-dog" is subservient to the Top Dog, they will get along famously. However, whenever Top Dog perceives a challenge by "under-dog" they will fight incessantly. Additionally, when you have males and females in the same household, some males consider the female a threat to Top Dog Status. Top Dog might attack the puppies. Mama dog knows when she's vulnerable and will fight to protect her status and her puppies. When female goes into heat, she will repel males until she's ready. Then she'll welcome them. However, if the male is related, she might attack because they have a sixth sense about in-breeding.

Keep them separate and watch their actions. Look at their ears, are they up or down flat to head? What about the tail? Is it up and wagging or down and straight? These are clear "warring signals". Also don't look straight into their eyes -- that's considered a challenge -- but look at their eyes. Do they look bright and happy or are they dark and unfamiliar? If you become aware of those changes in behavior, you can separate the dogs before they attack. Also, you can make a special point to give each of them special attention so they don't feel threatened. Sometimes separating the dogs is a reinforcement of "top-dog" or "under-dog" status and will actually contribute to the problem.

Ask your vet or a breeder about these troublesome behaviors and what kinds of actions might create a positive result. Also, you can check with dog trainers as they are generally aware of these behavior patterns and have better experience is helping them with socialization skills.

Answer 4

When two dogs fight, you should easily separate them. Or, if you intend on training them, here is a way. (From a professional training book)
You need:
2 people
the 2 dogs
determination
a good smacking hand

One person holds one dogs, one person holds the other. Hold them close enough face to face where they may get the urge to fight, but a few inches away. As soon as one dog makes a growl, baring teeth, or aggressive behavior, smack the dog on the muzzle. Bring them apart after 5 mins. and praise the dogs if they made no aggressive behavior. Repeat this through the week, as many times as necessary. Soon, (usually after the first correction) the dog will lean his head away from the other. But still keep them, a bit closer now. Eventually you should have it where their noses could touch, but they both (or maybe only one) will lean their heads away. If when this happens, there is no struggle, aggressive behavior, or growling, then you can let them be. If after 2-3 months this does not work, take them to a professional trainer.

Answer 5

If they keep fighting like that on and off, then you'll have a bloody fight one day that wont be pretty and trust me you don't want to break the fight up alone, serious injury can happen to you. the attention can go from the dog to you even though your trying to stop them.

If they keep it up and the fights are more aggressive, you might have to do a complete separation or have to get ride of one.

Answer 6

thats very sad. i have a pit female, and brought a mixed breed female rescue dog in, did not work- we tried for almost a year and finally had to place the rescue dog in another home. The tensions can be broken, but its very hard and takes a lot of training from you. they are looking to be the pack leader instead of recognizing you as it. so you need to establish that you are the leader.

Answer 7

You're problem is easy to fix, it just takes time. You're going to have suggestions for getting rid of the dogs, euthansia, keeping them seperate etc.

The solution is that you need to step up in your role. You need to start enforcing more discipline and training. As head of the pack you are the one who decides who goes and who stays. You're letting the female dog rule YOUR pack. Members do not attack other members only the lead dog.

Everything in your house should be a command - when to eat, when to go outside, when to come back inside, when to be pet, when you tell them to sit and down and when they should get up from sit and down, when to get up or off the bed when to enter a room and when to exit the room.

The dogs should be in down in the house period! Play time and rough housing are outside activities. Appropriate house behavior is calm and relaxed. Laying down, chewing on their allowed toys, snuggling w/ you or each other. So to start and continue this behavior have them become proficient in down. Down is the dogs submitting to you. When you get up to leave the room and they get up to follow you turn and put them back in down and tell them to stay, etc.

When you walk your dogs YOU need to be in front. Don't let them walk you. Walking with your dog is the key reinforcement to your status. They should be in the heel position at all times.

Make sure the dogs get nice long walks (2-3) every day. In addition to 30min-1hour of all out running exercise. You can't imagine how much that will help their behavior.

Pit bulls aren't naturally aggressive dogs. They are strong and powerful but very loving and loyal. You have a situation that is out of control and they are reacting naturally as really ANY breed of dog would.

Take control of your house hold. Consider bringing in an at home trainer. Someone to come to your home and assess the enviornent, how you handle the dog and situation, and the dogs. They will go over some basic training skills and specific needs in your home - aka the aggressive situation.

Good Luck

Answer 8

You have a couple of dogs of a mix of breeds that are renowned for their fighting ability. Sometimes dogs, particularly bitches, take a dislike to each other and it is very difficult to get them back together, I've had it with 2 of my terrier bitches. You need to gauge them very carefully to make sure they don't set upon each other again. I'm also very surprised as to the length of time it is before you can see a vet. I would insist to see one immediately not in 2 days time, it could be too late by then.

Answer 9

Well it is a really hard situation.. pittys are dog aggressive (unlike ignorant people say, they werent bred to attack people but rather other dogs) My friend had a rottie and a springer spaniel and the rottie almost killed the spaniel when she got injured its like they automatically take advantage of an injured dog no matter how good of friends they seem to be. I really have no other advice except to Take control of everything, be the alpha of your dog pack and make sure your dogs know you as the leader
Here is some helpful info...

What is Canine Rivalry?

Canine rivalry refers to repeated conflicts between dogs living in the same household. Animals that live in social groups establish a social structure within that group. This social structure is hierarchical and dogs determine their place in the hierarchy through control of and access to various resources, such as food, toys and attention from people. A stable hierarchy in which each individual knows and accepts his rank provides dogs with a sense of comfort and belonging. Conflicts arise between household dogs when there is instability in the social structure; that is, when the ranking of each dog is not clear or is in contention. Dogs may warn each other initially by snarling, growling or snapping, but not causing injury. However, the conflict may sometimes intensify into prolonged bouts of dangerous fighting, which may result in one or both dogs being becoming injured.

Getting Professional Help
Ongoing canine rivalry is potentially dangerous. Dogs or human family members could be severely injured as a result of fighting. Because resolving rivalry problems requires managing the dogs’ somewhat complex social behaviors, it’s often necessary for owners to obtain assistance from a professional animal behaviorist. Certified animal behaviorists are trained to observe, interpret and modify animal behavior.

Why Conflict Occurs
Conflicts between household dogs develop for a wide variety of reasons. Conflicts may occur if:

A new animal has been introduced to the household.
A resident animal has died or no longer lives in the house.
A resident animal is re-introduced after an absence.
A young dog reaches social maturity, which is usually between 10 months and 2 years of age, and challenges the established higher-ranking dog.
A high-ranking dog ages or becomes ill and cannot maintain his higher status.
Understanding Status Seeking Behavior and Social Structure
The dogs’ positions in the hierarchy are determined by the outcome of their interactions. The results of this complex and dynamic process will depend on the dogs themselves, without regard to your preferences. Any attempt on your part to interfere may result in increased conflict.

How dominance is established:
Dogs usually determine their social ranking through a series of behaviors, which include body postures and vocalizations that don’t result in injury. Examples of these behaviors are one dog “standing over” another by placing his paws or neck on the shoulders of the other, mounting, lip licking or rolling over onto the back. Some dogs may take toys away from other dogs, insist on being petted first or exercise control over other resources. However, because of past experiences, inadequate socialization or genetic tendencies, some dogs may escalate these displays into aggression with very little warning.

The Social Structure:
Do not attempt to influence or define the dogs’ rankings by treating them equally or by preventing a higher-ranking dog from asserting his position over another dog. The social hierarchy of the dogs is dynamic and complex, so even attempts to “support the dominant dog” may be counter productive. The dogs should be allowed to determine control of resources, such as toys and favorite sleeping places, amongst themselves. As much as possible, refrain from interfering in the dogs’ interactions with each other. But most importantly, establish yourself at the top of the hierarchy. Practicing “Nothing in Life is Free” is an easy and non-confrontational way to establish leadership by taking ultimate control of all resources the dogs find valuable. If your position as leader is clear, it will help the dogs sort out their lower places in the social structure more peacefully.

Breaking up a fight:
If you need to break up a fight, do so by squirting the dogs with water or making a loud noise to try and interrupt them. Never attempt to break up a dog fight by grabbing the dogs by their collars or getting any part of yourself in between them. Touching dogs while they are fighting can result in what is called “redirected aggression,” where a dog may bite you because he thinks you are part of the conflict. If you’ve had a dog fight, contact your veterinarian for a referral to a professional animal behaviorist.

What You Can Do To Help

If the dogs involved are intact males or females, spay or neuter both dogs.
Make sure that all of the humans in your household are at the top of the hierarchy by practicing “Nothing in Life is Free.”
Establish fair rules and enforce them consistently. This helps all the dogs feel more secure and also reinforces your role as leader. With the help of a professional animal behaviorist, elicit and reinforce non-aggressive behaviors using counter-conditioning and desensitization techniques. These procedures must be designed and tailored to specifically meet the needs of each individual case and require professional in-home help. Punishment will not resolve the issue and can actually make it worse. You should be aware that if you respond to this type of problem inappropriately, you run the risk of intensifying the problem and potentially causing injury to yourself and/or your dogs. http://www.pets.ca/articles/article-dogrivalry.htm

Also here is the article on NILF training which is reccomended in your situation to give you back control over the social hierarchy.. http://www.pets.ca/articles/article-dog_nilf.htm