Hi, I'm Lindsay from Hull, East Yorkshire and I've just joined the forum to hopefully get some advice on a potential problem between my two dogs, Smartie and Tilly. Smartie is a 9 year old x terrier and Tilly is a 5 year old x Border Collie. Up until recently there has never been a problem between them, Tilly is the dominant one of the two, but in the last couple of weeks there has been two occasions where normal play fighting has escalated into full on fighting taking two people to pull them apart. The first time Smartie ended up with a cut ear as Tilly had grabbed hold and refused to let go, the second time luckily there were no injured parties as we had them seperated seconds after the fight had broken out. Each time it was Tilly who initiated the fight. Tilly was put outside after the fight for a period of time out. When the dogs are introduced again following a fight they act normally together as if nothing has happened....even start playing again.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to why this may be happening? If they are dominance fighting why start after 5 years of living together? Neither dog receives preferential treatment and both are otherwise good, well behaved dogs.

im not a expert but i would say that tilly is maybe sencing that smartie is getting on in years and the balance is maybe shifting, as for what you can do about it im not to sure maybe another member may be able to help , i have only experianced it once that was with 2 males i had and the younger one was trying to get the better of the older but it was resolved by the younger dog going to live with some one else as he was not getting on with the older one at all after a while, hope you get some help soon

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Sounds about right Nici.

We reinforce Milo's "top dog" status by giving him his dinner and treats first, he's the only one that gets tidbits, he has access to areas others don't such as upstairs and the decking. As he is already dominant and cool headed this has worked for us in reducing the number of dogs that challenge him. I think it also makes him less likely to rise to the challenge as he knows he doesn't need to fight for his status.

Thanks for the replies, I could understand Tilly trying to take advantage of Smarties age (not that she shows her age at all - still thinks she's a puppy) but Tilly was already top dog to begin with. They never fight over food or bones, it happened the first time when they were play fighting - which they do all the time with usually no problem and the second time me and my friend were messing about and went running from my garden into my house, the dogs got all excited and the next minute were having a full on brawl

maybe its the other way around then, maybe the non dominant dog is testing the dominant one, but subtley so you havent noticed, but its making tilly cross. maybe tilly is under the weather and the other dog senses it???

the only time i have similar problems in my house is when one of them gets poorly - in fact, i got very upset when my westie became ill and my normally very docile jrt started bullying him i know its nature, but its horrid

is tilly due at the vets for anything - maybe jabs? you could get your vet to check her over just incase.......

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~~~Peace,Love And Understanding~~~

Is it possible one of them coul dbe ill? Dogs will sometimes attack and kill sick dogs, so maybe get them both to the vet for a full check up.

What I would say is that you need to be very careful. Fights between bitches can escalate and end in the death of one. I have known people who have had to keep bitches apart their entire lives for this reason, and those who don't listen and ended up with a dead dog.