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Comment by Nick White on December 29, 2011 at 4:27pm

We have been using the Nothing In Life Is Free method and they have only got in 1 small scuffle since.  Like you can see in the picture below, they are the best of friends most of the time.

Comment by Anna Morelli on March 18, 2011 at 6:52pm

Pack order can change as dogs mature and gain size (as you describe for your Corgis). It sounds like they are OK when you are around (meaning with them), but not when outside where you are not around.  What  if a fight comes up in the house when you are at work?  You already had to take one of them to the Vet for a gash in the leg.  How much damage do you need before you take preventive action, or how many Vet bills? Only you know your comfort level, but my experience tells me that a pattern of fighting rarely get better on its own and usually escalates.

Comment by Nick White on March 18, 2011 at 6:34pm

Thank you all for your suggestions.  I feed all three of the dogs, 3rd dog is chihuahhuah/dachshund mix also a girl and the oldest by 1 year, at the same time.  I put the dog food in the more dominant dogs food dish first then the other Corgi, then the chihauhau.  I make them wait until I say okay, then they all eat at once.  Our dogs are spoiled to death and don't know what a crate is.  They on top of the couches when we're at work and in bed with us at night; they are spoiled rotton.  My problem with NILIF method that I don't pet and give affection to my dogs for their pleasure or to reward them, I do it because I love them so much and want to make them happy.  So holding out on things that make them happy until they do a trick, while it makes sense, wouldn't work at my house because I can't resist them.  I don't know what they fight about.  They fight in the back yard while we are inside.  They come in soaked in slober from biting each other and they are out of breath.  Only then do we know a fight has happened.  When I hear them out back, I go and break them up but.  They have always gotten along really well because the younger corgi has been submissive.  Now that she is older and a little bigger and much more athletic, I think she wants to be the dominent one.  Again, most of the time they are wonderful together and we take them everywhere together and they do everything together.  I think I just need to reinforce myself as the most dominent one followed by the oldest Corgi who has been the dominent Corgi.  To be honest though, I think the little Chihauhau is the dominent one of all three of them.  Nobody ever fights her beacuse she'll go crazy on you.

Comment by Jane Christensen on March 16, 2011 at 10:36pm

I have one of those females but her fights are usually when she's pregnant or in heat. Yes,

you do need to be in charge and I don't leave mine together if I'm gone even though this has never happened in my home . What I have found helpfull is Livvy (my bully) loves to play ball and so I tire her out with the fetch it before we go for walks or outside together. Livvy is very intense and would be great to have about 10 cows for her to herd but since we don't they each go out separate to wear off energy before we go for a walk together. I have literally had to pick her up off 2 of my other females but things are improving. I watch Livvy's eyes as she gets this "stare" as she is watching the other females. I have brought her in and kenneled her or even had her leashed to me.

 

Can you take them out seperately? Have they been spayed for awhile?  I would seriously consider a muzzle (I'm not a fan of muzzles but you want your dogs safe also) if you can't take them out alone and then at least you won't have biting going on. Where does this happen and when? Maybe there is something that you haven't noticed that could be setting this off?

 

Comment by Melissa and Franklin! on March 16, 2011 at 10:32pm

I have heard its pretty tough to have two female corgis and that often when you have two female corgis in one home they will fight. One thing that is very important when dealing with the dogs is ALWAYS allow the more dominant dog to be dominant. You  have to respect the natural hierarchy that will develop in your "pack". You of course must always be on top, but they need to figure out where they stand with each other. If one is clearly dominant over the other, don't try to fight this or "feel sorry" for the least dominant one. When we do things like feed the subordinate dog first, or lift it up and cuddle it after a fight, we confuse this natural order and so the more dominant dog will feel like it needs to assert itself again and fights will start. If it has gotten to the point where you have had to take one to the vet, a private trainer is in order. Again, laying a dog on its side to force it to "submit" is generally not a good idea unless you know exactly what you are doing and when to do the correction. One second too late will cause way more harm than good. I say get a trainer to come to your house, let him/her observe your dogs and plan a training method. Its not worth letting this issue escalate and potentially having to re-home one of your dogs. One thing I have to mention, at the vet I work at, I have seen several occasions where dog fights among house mates has resulted in euthanasia due to serious injuries. One of the most recent cases involved 2 corgis. I would not take this issue lightly and would consult a professional NOW before it gets to serious.

Comment by Anna Morelli on March 16, 2011 at 6:53pm

There are a number of things that are important when you have two dogs having dominance issues between them:

1) you need to be clearly in charge (that's where obedience training can help because, if all else fails, you can at least stop it with voice, or a hand clap).  Being in charge is about respect, not force, although force may be needed in an emergency to break up a fight. If you need to break up a fight, something has gon wrong BEFORE you got to that point.

2) Never leave two dogs that may fight alone.  If you're not there, they are crated or otherwise separated.

3) Every time they fight, they will be more likely to fight again, dominant dogs actually enjoy a good fight.  You want to be very observant and correct ATTITUDE, that means any low growl, posturing, hackles even slightly raised, etc. If you get the fight, chances ar you missed the subtle clues.

4)Do away with any items the dogs are possessive of, such as a particular toy, and all food items.  Rawhides, bones and chew-hooves are all food item.  Kongs can be a problem if you've ever put food in them (even if you currently stop).

5) Absolutely no roughhousing with the dogs by ANYONE, and no dominance games such as tug of war.  Gentle handling makes for gentle dogs, rough handling makes for rough dogs.  Like Beth, I don't like the roll over and hold technique, there is a place for it, but I have seen it more often used inappropriately and seen dogs ruined by these methods.  You also risk getting bitten.

6) If you keep having fights, you may need to consider placing one of them in another home.  This is a last resort, but needs mentioning.

7) If one of the dogs has been on a steroid medication, this can effect behavior towards aggression  and take six or more weeks to work out of the system.  Other medical issues can make a dog aggressive, so a vet check may be in order to rule out an underlying problem.

Good luck.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comment by Sam Tsang on March 16, 2011 at 6:07pm

Hi Nick, what do they fight about? Could you tell us all the triggers and what did you do for the both of them?

Comment by Bev Levy on March 16, 2011 at 5:29pm

Corgis can be bossy little dogs and need to have clear leadership in order to avoid spats. Obedience classes are a must and google the Nothing In LIfe Is Free method for ideas on how to assert yourself as the clear leader. If necessary when you are in a situation that you know will be difficult leashing at least one will help to deflect violence. I have one resident corgi that occasionally needs reminders that he is not the boss . I am not a big fan of the rolling over method as I think it is too easy to do it at the wrong time and with a determined dog I think it can create more problems than it corrects.