Hi Nina - and everyone up to now for your posts, seeing it from many view points and considering lots of other things, peoples opinions, concerns and experiences out is of great help - thank you all ......... keep posting - it keeps me going!!!!
The lead up to the fight ..........
In the afternoon all 4 of our dogs had been taken on their usual second walk -nothing different there but we were joined by a friend and his dog (male, not castrated, who our lot had never met before) which whilst our dogs were on their leads caused barking. We let the dogs off one at a time so as not to overpower the friends dog and when off, both of our young dogs had a slight altercation with the friends dog separately, so we separated fields and joined back up again 2 fields later, all dogs were off their leads and everything was fine. On the walk we met up with a number of other dogs and there were no problems at all.
Later on in the evening came sunday roast chicken dinner and whilst we were trying to enjoy our dinner both of our dogs started to fight, we separated them, they became calm again and we were clearing off the table when all hell broke loose and they attacked each other, I intervened (I know now, but you live and learn...) was bitten, the dogs were then completely separated.
This happened on Sunday evening I was out of hospital Tuesday afternoon so we walked the dogs together, on separate leads out in big open fields, there was a lot of growling but by the end of the walk they had stopped being interested in each other, no barking or growling but we did keep them on the lead at all times. The next walk we tried off the lead in the fields and after a little grumbling and what looked liked was going to be ok turned out to be a vicious attack on each other, eventually locking on to each others jowls. Since this they have not been walked together, are kept in separate rooms, do not get near each other at all.
My husband is away this wednesday for 2 days so I have booked both brothers into the kennels (asking them to keep them as far from each other as possible with a run down on recent events). I know they now have a 'learned behaviour' which they associate with each other but perhaps we can re-introduce the dogs slowly over time to undo this learned behaviour and make the dogs realise that they do not need to be the first one to get stuck in (so to speak) and that they can learn to trust each other. One of the dogs on both occasions was very upset (although he gave as good as he got - if not more, he did wee all over our bed (not like him) and he was off his food. The other dog, although more injured, showed no signs of stress or concern.
Your comment on having one castrated is very interesting as we have been considering having both done (perhaps one dominant male is the answer), this would make a more structured pack - neither dogs every rise to or question their dad of many years their senior. We are trying to look at all feasible options so as hopefully not having to re-home one, but in the end we want to make the right descision for ALL concerned and if there will never be an answer then YES i will rehome for my safety, the dogs safety and everyone's sanity....
Claire x
