10 month old male dominance
HI everyone, we got Archie (11 months) and Reggie (7months) together at the end of January. we have had the odd scrap where Archie shows who is the boss, but nothing like we have had the last few days. It has gotten to the point that we now have to feed them in totally seperate rooms, but Reggie has been got at so much at food time, that this food driven boy is so scared, he will sy away from his food bowl, even when Archie is not present. For most of the time they play together, they are crated together with no problems, but today, Reggie was asleep and Archie went for Reggies back leg, and was trying to drag him out to the garden, during this Reggie is screaming like a big girl and Archie is growling with his fur up on the back of his neck. We had to physically pull him away from Reggie and seperate them. When we allowed them back together again, they were licking each other and playing happily. How do we solve this problem, as Reggie now will not eat, unless you feed him by hand, and thats not always possible. I will try changing the feeding bowl tomorrow, to see if him having a different bowl makes a difference. At the moment, Reggie has puppy food, and Archie is just on the adult food, so its not as if they are eating the same thing and there is any confusion.
Neither one of them has been castrated yet, although we are planning it, but have to save for them both to be done together. Any ideas welcomed please?
Neither one of them has been castrated yet, although we are planning it, but have to save for them both to be done together. Any ideas welcomed please?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Ross on
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Neutering is going to fix a lot of issues.
The food thing is pretty much expected with a corgi. Atlas tried to go for Scouts bowl, but I have made it clear to him that this is not okay (I stood in the way so he couldn't get to her bowl, and pushed him back when he tried to for for it), and he doesn't try to do that anymore.
I wouldn't crate them together, that's just asking for trouble. Atlas and Scout (male and female, both are fixed) get along fantastically and play together at any chance they get. But they've gotten into it a few times and have needed me to seperate them.
When they do get old enough to not have to stay in a crate during the day, do not leave them alone together. One bad incident has the potential to severely impact their relationship.
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Permalink Reply by Boo Buchheit on
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It is too bad they were not neutered by 6 months IMO. Leo is already neutered and Randy has his appointment at about 5 1/2 months. I believe this will help control any male dominance issues. Right now Leo is dominant as he is older and stronger, who knows which one will be when Randy is older. I agree they should not be left alone together if there is a chance of serious aggression.
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Permalink Reply by Sam on
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Well I have to say my first suggestion is to get them neutered asap. Second do not put them in the same crate together and I am thinking for now better supervision will help you immensely. Do not allow them access to each others food. Feed them in separate confined locations and pick up bowls when they are done or in 10 minutes which ever comes first. May I also recommend you find a training facility in your area. At their current ages things are apt to get more difficult quickly. The sooner you are able to get their behavior under control the better chance that you will be able to live in harmony. Good luck!
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Permalink Reply by Denise Hawkins on
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We are now feeding them totally in totally different places, they have had 2 "normal" days with no fighting at all, when we tried to crate them in seperate crates, they both whined and cried, so we put them back together and watched them. Reggie is still wary of the food bowl even though Archie is not even in the room, and they have continued to swap chew toys as and when they feel like it.
They are supervised almost all of the time when they are roaming free, I think castration will be the way to go, but I have just lost my job, so the £180 each is a little out of reach at the moment although we are saving really hard.
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Permalink Reply by Bev Levy on
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Feeding them in their respective crates will help. If they don't like it I very much doubt if one of them will go much more than a day without food! You need to step in whenever things begin to get rough. The Dog Whisperer has some good episodes re this problem. They need to see you as the leader. Neutering will help. Your local Humane Society will either have a less expensive procedure or be able to give you some recomendations. When we moved our grand dog in (one of my corgis did not like her) I kept a leash on him for a few days and if he started to give her the STARE , he spent some time walking around the house with me. Now all I have to do is say a firm no and he backs off.
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Hope the job situation improves soon. It is really bad here in Michigan too!
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Permalink Reply by Sunni A. on
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Our family owned up to 4 non-neutered male dogs at any given time - we raised working dogs far away from any towns. As adults, the boys would be fine during meals, naps, and work; they all knew who The Boss was for a long time. The knowledge made them secure. BUT, as teen-agers... completely not fine. Which is exactly the age your Archie's at, and Reggie's right behind.
The issue was never 'neutered or not?', but 'mature or immature?'. Even though I'm a HUGE advocate for "fixing" our pets, I also know that males in a pack just experience certain maturity levels that affect their behavior for a few months, and it doesn't necessarily mean they're going to rip each other's throats out or develop long-term resentment. As long as you're the benevolent parent who referees the fights fairly, herding them into their 1 year-and-3 month ages, adjusting, they'll get over it and chuckle together later like the brothers they are, forgetting any bleeding ears, stolen meals, and panic-pee episodes.
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