Hello everyone,
2 months ago we homed 8 months old american bull/staff bitch Honey. We found her hanging from the tree badly beaten, with broken ribs unable to put her front paws down. She was in a distressing state. We already had one dog, 10 months old dogue de bordeaux also bitch -Misha...At first we were really worried about having two bitches together.

Honey, turned out to be an absolute dream dog..Very submissive, loving and constantly giving attention to everyone - even Misha. When MIsha is asleep she will come up to her and start licking her, nibbling her gently and puts her paw on her...Misha is however not a very affectionat dog. We have had her since puppy and to be honest she is a bit spoilt. So Honey has been living with Misha for 4 months now everything going fine until a few days ago when she turned aggresive towards MIsha over a stick. She viciously attacked her leg resulting in Misha having to have stiches.

Now, the vet said the dogs have to be separated otherwise it will happen again. We really want to keep Honey as she is absolutely amazing with other dogs, children and people. Neither of them have been neutered and Misha is currently in season. The vet said we could try to neuter them both and see how we get on but she thinks it will happen again... We really don't know what to do as Honey has never been aggresive before, she is very very submissive and affectionate. We really want to keep her.

So we were wondering whether anybody ever had the same problem? Should we keep her or will she snap again over a stick? Many thanks.

Is your vet a dog behaviourist or trainer?!
I doubt a behaviourist would come up with that snap decision without seeing the two dogs and assesing them properly.

I guess due to her past the pup may have issues but I would look more into getting a trainer or behaviourist and see what they say.

I hope you can keep both dogs it would be a shame to have to rehome her after all the work you have put in and looked after her.


Just noticed you say Misha is in season. I know my dog is an absolute b!tch towards her best friends when she is in season.. Maybe honey growled at Misha and she snapped at her and the fight broke out?
My dog would never dream of even standing up to another dog normally, but when on season, she is quite aggressive!

I would get both dogs spayed if I were you, this will rule out any 'in season hormones' that might be causing issues.

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Hello..
No, I don't think she is a therapist but she said she has seen it so many times and if it happens once, it will happen again as it changes their place in the pack...I guess we will have to speak to a dog therapist/trainer...

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Well I have to say I disagree on that one. Dogs live in the moment they do not dwell on things that happen.. And if you are in your place as the pack leader, then they should follow.

My dog Dixie had a big fight with her best friend Demi, while she was in heat. It was over a stick. Demi is usually obsessive about 'her' sticks and Dixie wanted to fetch it. Demi snapped ad Dixie and a huge figh broke out. I threw my extendy lead at their noses and they got such a fright they let go. I then yelled at them 'get down' and pinned both of them down on the ground.
They were then put on a short lead and made to walk nicely next to eachother. I kept them seperates (well Demi didnt live with us so that was easier) until her season was well over, and then re-introduced them to eachother.

Demi did come to stay with us to have her puppies and they never had any more arguments.

I definately thing a trainer or behaviourist is the way to go. If you vet says that to everyone whos dog have a fight, there must be alot of people just giving up??

x

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Looking forward to hearing everyone's views on this one! We have two dogs that will fight if they are together - we went to a behaviourist and she wasn't actually much use - just told us to get a crate to keep them apart and then sold us one!! We have only managed to keep both of them by keeping them separated either in different rooms or via the crate and swapping them every hour. They are both fine with other dogs and they are fine when out walking - it's just when they're in the house It would be great to think that we may be able to resolve our problem, but to be honest having seen a behaviourist and getting no particular solution to the problem I am now looking forward to reading the replies on this thread!!

That doesnt sound much fun. What's the point in having 2 dogs if they cant be together?

Do you walk them together? This is a good way for dogs to make bonds. You need to be really strong or have another person.
Walk with the dogs with you inbetween at first, and keep them a few metres apart (or further if they keep trying to attack) and reward for walking nicely and ignoring eachother. Gradually decrease the distance between them.
Use a muzzle if you don't feel comfortable at first.
Do not let the dogs sense that you are nervous that will make them moer likely to fight.

ps- no.. not a behaviourist but i want to be so I do spend alot of time reading etc on the subject

some people say a good way to get dogs to bond is put them in the back of the car and go a twisty ride. Apparently being together while being thrown about a little is meant to be good. I've never actually seen it done or know anyone who has tho so I'm not sure on that one.

x

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Just to clarify...we never had a problem with them. They have been left alone at home for a few hours and when we got back they would be lying on the same bed togehter snuggling up to each other.
this was the first time this happened. Also it was Honey who attacked Misha but Misha is the one in season...We are so helpless, we don't know what to do...

Who would string a dog up to a tree???? If I could get my hands on them I couldn't be held responsible for my actions

Sorry, rant over.

It sounds like seeking advice from a behaviourist is the best way to move forward on this one. You might have the early stages of inter-bitch aggression which is a difficult one to overcome, but not impossible (I did it so anyone can!!) Bitches can be quite possesive over toys, food, beds and humans. And it feels like the fights errupt from nothing, rather than bubbling up to a crescendo! Or it might have just been a one-off, fingers crossed.

If you decide to look for a behaviourist, see if your vet (although perhaps not the vet you spoke to last time, ask for a different vet!!) can make a referral to a reputable one. Check the behaviourists credentials - there are people out there claiming to be behaviourists who don't have any qualifications and are not members of professional organisations. Find out what their after care policy is like, for eg do you have email and telephone contact and will they do a follow-up visit.
Have a look on the CFBA website Canine and Feline Behaviour Association for an idea of what to expect from a behaviourist and there may be one listed near you.

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Some days you're the dog: some days you're the lampost

When I feel blue, I start breathing again

I have found that unspayed bitches will fight around the time of their season, My last dog , normally placid became a nightmare when she was in season, and it was pretty scary, I would maybe have a word with a someone with good knowledge of keeping several unspayed bitches but do wonder if spaying one of them will help the situation.

My other thought would be that I wonder if the later dog had gained confidence during the 2 month that she has been with you and was challanging your dogue!!! if this is the case then maybe a behavioirst. You don't need me to tell you but you have to remain in control as it either sense that you are on edge this could well 'upset the apple cart' so to speak, also keep the sticks out the way for the time being!

Hoping and praying that you can sort this problem out
regards
DT

i would say maybe it is a one off because your one of your bitches is in season and as they get older if they are around the same age they do have the odd scraps for pecking order.
I would say your first steps are working out who is top bitch
have them both spayed
also feed the top bitch first even with tip bits, along with petting them always the top bitch first.
I would watch them around toys, sticks or any type of food as this sets some dogs off.
If they were really fighting or it was a vicious fight they would have ripped into each other mainly going for the neck, not the legs and you would have had a lot of trouble parting them, i think it was maybe a one of due to one of them being in season and scrapping over a sick.
I have 7 dogs
6 females and 1 male
5 unspayed females
1 spayed female
and 1 uncastrated male
i have dealt with my fair share of fighting dogs luckly not with these but with past dogs