Sisters fighting!
We have had Moxie and Mollie since they were 8 weeks old. They are approximately 1.5 yrs old. They started fighting, first every once in a while then almost everyday. In between aggressions, they play, groom, and sleep together. It got so bad though it was happening every day. We just spayed them hoping this will stop this frightening behavior. If not we are going to have to rehome one of them. We have 2 other dogs and they do not fight with them. We are keeping them separate right now as they recover, we have several large dog kennels plus a small fenced area around our back deck, so it's easy. However, we don't want them to have to live this way! Swapping out in and out of house. :) Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated! We love them both and would really hate to have to decide. There had been no injuries up to the morning they went in to get spayed and it was so bad that Mollie sustained minor injuries.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Tauna and Kota on
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Oh wow. Had anything been new in the house? Some sort of time schedule change in daily routines (ie. have the humans in the house been away more often than usual/feeding times been changed/many other examples)? Have there been any recent additions to the household (new pup/baby/other pet/etc)? Have you noticed anything specific that might be setting them off? Food/ toys/affection? Does it happen in a certain area of the house? Does one attack the other more often than the other? Is it a certain time of day? There are literally hundreds and hundreds of things that might be setting them off. A bit more information might help. You might consider keeping a sort of journal as to keep track of when it happens, date/time/location/what each was doing before the incident/other animals in the vicinity/were humans in the room/injuries/etc. I know right now this isn't very helpful. I hope that them being spayed helps. You won't really know until you try to put them back together. Please update us on how things go. I think keeping them apart until their incisions heal would be a good idea. So sorry you are having such difficulties. hugs.
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Permalink Reply by sherra nuttall on
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Nothing really sets them off, just each other. Not food or toys. Sometimes if one is sitting on the couch with one of us and the other one can't stand it, but waits until the other one gets back on the floor. Funny thing they had been swapping the top dog space. One month Mollie would weigh more and be the aggressor, the next month Moxie would. Strange! We know when it's coming as they do what we call "the neck dance" one puts their head/neck over the others, then the other one does the same... this goes back and forth and the fight will eventually ensue. Very crazy for dogs who normally loved each other. No additions either! Nothing in their routine has changed since we have had them.
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Permalink Reply by Jane Christensen on
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I have 2 females that don't get along...it's hard and I always have to "watch" that they don't go out together but they are ok in the house. Certain things get them going. Spaying may help but may not as it might be about who's the top dog which is worse with all those hormones. Good luck!
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Permalink Reply by Laura Rochette on
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My understanding is that 2 Corgi females are the most difficult combination because they will always be fighting over who is top dog. I would consult a trainer.
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Permalink Reply by Bev Levy on
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This would be a typical age where they probably are trying to determine who is in charge. This is very difficult to correct now that it is such an established pattern. I will be surprised if spaying makes much of a difference. Try checking out Nothing In Life Is Free and institute it very strictly, obedience classes and leashing the two of them in the house even if they just drag them around so you can safely break up a fight. Be very observant to see if there is some warning signals where you can intervene before the attack. Once they are into it all commands will be ignored so leashes are a great help. If you can find a professional and afford one that would be a good idea. I have had some issues with dogs in the past and was able to determine the triggers so we could avoid conflicts but it is not easy. Hope this works out for you.
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Permalink Reply by Jane on
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If they are already at the point of injuring one another I would consult a professional trainer/behaviorist. From what I've heard two female litter mates are usually the most difficult to keep peacefully in the same household.
In the mean time I'd keep a leash on one of them at least so you can grab them when you start to see any sort of dominant behavior starting up - putting a head over the other dog's shoulders should be immediately corrected IMO, especially if it's leading up to fights. Implementing NILF as suggested by Bev is another great suggestion.
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Thanks for all the good advice. For now, we are keeping them separate until they are healed from their spaying. The leashing idea seems to be the best thing to try for a temporary. I hate to rehome one, but if we have to, it's better than them being miserable. As much as I hate to!
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Permalink Reply by Beth on
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I am very sorry to hear this. I think it's just their age. Most breeders won't send you home with littermates for several reason, and the likelihood of fights developing as they reach maturity is one of them. You will really have to run a very tight ship: dogs should never be left unsupervised together, kept separate at mealtimes, shouldn't play together with high-value toys, and you'll have to practice NILF.
Two females who decide they are in competition are a tough issue to deal with; in a "natural" setting one would leave and only one would stay to have pups, etc.
I would also make sure they get lots of exercise.
Good luck!
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Permalink Reply by Rebecca on
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Hi Sherra,, I am going thru that myself right now. It is all about dominence. There is a wonderful link you should read about dominence and leader of the pack, which would be you. First start right away with not letting either one of them on the couch. Cause when one is up there they think they are the leader. My trainer also told me that. And it is working. But check out the link, it is very informative. And he also has a article on how to break up a dog fight with out getting hurt. Wish i would of known that yesterday morning. Cause i ended up have to break one up. It was upsettting so i spent last night researching all i could until i came across this guy. The link is Leerburg by Ed Frawley-- on dog dominence. Good Luck. Another thing is you have to watch them closely, when you see that they are eyeing one another, get in there in break it up, like just walk between them and send them in another direction, this is showing that you are the leader and they should look at you as that.
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