I don`t know what to do. I have a labradoodle who has never shown any agression towards anything. We have recently moved and as we are renting my mother in law offered to have the dog for 6 months. She has a labrador who would snap at Lily our dog but she never ever retaliated. Lily has just had her first season and it finished about a fortnight ago. This week the dogs have had 4 major fights that had to be intervenened as they wouldnt stop, my mother in laws dog got the worst of it as Lily is quite a big dog. Thjis morning I just got a phonecall saying my mother in law has been bit during the latest fight but not sure by who. My sister in law is an interfering cow who doesnt like Lily (or me and my husband being happy in general) and I know Lily will get the blame for all of this. I rang the vet and the soonest they can spay her is four weeks time. I only have a small flat and a 4 month baby and my husband is away working for the week so I don`t think it would be far to coup her up in here but i don`t know if I have a choice. Is this just because she has had her first season or fighting back because of the other dog? I don`t actually know what to do.

The other dogs female if that helps

It can be common for two bitches to fight people generally do better with male and female combo although not always the case. Hopefully things will settle when shes had her op as hormones flying at the mo. Is the other dog spayed ? The problem now is the aggresson is now in these dogs and you will have to reintroduce carefully you may have to try more training with the leave commands. Some dogs donnot get on.

If she has just had her first season, then I suspect that is the cause. The older dog will no longer view her as a puppy, so previously tolerated behaviour will no longer be tolerated. Also, if the lab is much older, now Lily has had her season, she may try and challenge her for top position in the doggy 'pack'. She might try to anyway.

If the 'fighting' hasn't drawn any blood, then it is probably not serious. If they really meant it, at least one of them would have been injured. As long as they are not getting injured (eg. blood not drawn) then it should be kept a close eye on, but the dogs should be allowed to sort it out amongst themselves, without human intervention.

I never get why humans get suprised when they are bitten during a dog fight. I wonder if they'd be so suprised if they were kicked trying to seperate two fighting horses?

Umm, totally agree with you here Jackson.

I would be extremely wary of intervening in a dog fight, since they do not distinguish between their adversary and your hand! Far better to use a distraction, such as a water spray or loud noise, and then separate them.

I have always found a better pack balance to be a bitch and a dog, since the harmony seems to work better than a same sex relationship. However, there are always exceptions!

In any pack structure there needs to be a leader. Once this is established relationships should improve

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I think Your dog is learning from the other dog. You said that your mother in laws dog shows aggression towards your dog and I believe lily caught on. I had a dog named toby who was never aggressive. I had to give him up to my dad because he was destructive and i live in an apartment. Now Toby has learned to be aggressive because of my other dog that lives with my father. the other dog named skeeter has food aggression and now Toby caught on. Toby snaps at other dogs and people. I plan on taking Toby back and correcting this once i get a house or duplex. He never was mean like that when i owned him. So I think that lily caught on from the other dog im nto so sure what youc an do to correct it though. Good luck.

My concern is Spaying so soon after her season , it should be 3 months after season half way between the next due time . sPaying wont stop the fighting if its a clash of personality yor moms dog is not liking having the new dog on her turf she i having to re establish herself as top dog and so is being nasty to keep your dog in its place , your dog is confused as to wher she fits in the new house hold and is just trying to discover her place , your mom may not want to put up with this for much longer so have an alternative ready if things go pear shaped .

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Thanks for all your replies. I have had a long conversation with my husband and we`ve decided to have her back living with us. Even though we live in a flat, its a converted stable in a wood setting and other people have dogs here so I`m sure it will be ok. I agree with what everyone said and that molly, the other dog, has always put her hackles up, growled snapped etc, hwever she is the family dog and can do no wrong, so unfortunately if Lily stays there, she will be the one shouted at, put outside etc and I can only see the problem getting worse. Unfortunately my sister in law is a very spiteful person and will overdramatise the situation. It has been mentioned by her that she wouldnt trust Lily around my baby! She has never ever napped, growled, put her hackles up at anything or anyone. Obviuosly I would never leave my baby unattended with any dog, but it is just like her to stir things. I agree it is too soon to spay but that was only to allevate problems, however as shes coming to live back with us, I shall postpone it.

im sorry im not sure if you mentioned this before but why does your sister in law not like lily? And Im happy you decided to take her back.

I am sure you have done the best for your dog. It should be far less stressful to you also if you know what she is up too.

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