Younger sister aggression.
Nutmeg is the BEST dog ever. She is 22 months. Cinnamon is her sister/neice and 10 months. Both superbly bred by Celeste. Nutty displayed some "bad" behavior at about 7 months. Cinny...WHOLE nother story. Nut would chase me and nip a little...Cin...all out bite when she chases me. I have bruises where she has nipped at my calves. When I feed them, I have to seperate them, or Cinny starts a fight. Nutty used to fight with her sister Superstar, but nothing like this. It's all out war! I have to grab one, and throw her into another area. I have started to feed Cinny inside the house, and put Nutty's food outside. If I feed them both in the same area, Nut will finish first, and then cower...I mean with her head down, and look away from younger Cinny. I feel terrible! They are both the BEST of buddies, cept for food. Against ALL OF MY KNOWLEDGE...I let them rest for a bit in my bed, but never the whole night. Last night, Cinny started growling at Nutty. Cin was up by my head, and Nut was all the way down by my feet. Next thing...DOG FIGHT on my bed, which is really high off the ground. I had to grab Cin, and toss her off! She landed on my laundry (I know), and then I took Nutty down and next thing I know, Cinny is licking Nutty's ear! Then they run off into the family room like it's playtime. Cinnamon is SO loving, licks and loves. Nutmeg is so well behaved, Advice? Just goes to show ya....I thought I KNEW what I was doing!
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Jane Christensen on
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Are one or both spayed? I sometimes think hormones don't help. I would put Cinny on a leash in the house and maybe teather her to you so you can correct her immediaitely. I agree you have to feed them seperatly...poor Nutmeg...do your have a crate??? Maybe one on the bed at a time??? Good luck as I know how frustrating this can be!
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Permalink Reply by Jacki, Nutmeg & Cinnamon on
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Both spayed. Cinnamon 2 weeks ago, so maybe she is getting used to her new "self". I have a crate in the kitchen where they stay when I'm not home. I take one to work with me, and the other is gated off. I have a pretty large kitchen. Cinny still goes in the crate on her own, and I find her there when I get home. Nutty, I never find in the crate anymore. At lunch, I will usually switch them out, and take the other one. This morning was good for food. I fed one at one end of the kitchen, and the other at the door to the kitchen. They finished at the same time, and then Cinny went over very nicely to lick Nutty's face. I was ready....but instead was surprised to see affection. It's like Cinnamon has a switch inside her head.
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I would still be very cautious as I have learned that loving can switch quickly. My Livvy when she is pregnant takes after my rescue and simple things set it off. The NILF is agreat idea and to do fun things together but separate when you can't be there. Isn't it great when you can take one to work...mine sometimes come with me. The you being boss is very important but I agree never let them alone together until this gets resolved.
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Permalink Reply by Bev Levy on
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I agree wholeheartedly with the NILIF. This is very common with the age group she is in and if she gets an inch she will try to take a mile. My Sparty has a scar on his nose to prove that even the most submissive little sister will make a play for top dog. We (husband and I) changed our behavior and it solved the problem although Sparty is still a little traumatized about bedtime. A tether during the trouble times will help and making sure you are the supreme leader does too. NILIF is a simple method plus feed them on opposite sides of the room if not in their kennels. This is pretty normal developmental behavior and is magnified if there is a Leadership question.
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Permalink Reply by Susan , Radar and Cooper on
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This has been happening with Radar and Cooper (Cinnamon's brother). I thought it was a boy thing. Food and bones were always done separately and it's getting a little better with age (10 months) on Coopers part. I notice jealousy has alot to do with it. They used to go at it alot when Cooper was younger with alot of Coopers yelping for help. Like what do I do now? Radar is loose at night and I keep Cooper in his crate. Cooper thinks he's Mr Tuffy!
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AH HA! So Cooper is being a bug as well....hmm.... I have to try the NILIF. I think she needs something to do with her mind. Maybe she is just bored, and looking to start ANYTHING....She does sleep ALL day. It's crazy. Nutty doesnt sleep as much as Cinny. I give them both tons of love and spend equal amounts of time loving on each of them. The fights just scare me, but Im on the look out now, and will nip it in the bud!
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Permalink Reply by Judi, Dawn, Soffie & Griffyn on
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Yup, it sounds to me like Cinnamon is testing the waters. And seeing how far she can push her dominance over you and Nutmeg.
Soffie was a year old when we got Griffyn. And his first meal with us was roadside on I-75 sitting out a traffic jam. He and Soffie shared the dish and they have never had an issue with food aggression. I feed them both at the same time but.... their bowls are not side by side. In fact Griffyn's crate blocks the view of their bowls to each other. I have only one water bowl. I started with two, but Griffyn just always drank from Soffie's water bowl and they both ignored the water in his bowl.
Every once in a while they will get into a "tazmanian tiff" over a toy. But they immediately stop when we very loudly correct them. Then, it's all kisses, hugs, rubs and rolls.
I don't know if this helped them understand their "pecking" order but, since Soffie was older and with us first, I always made and still do make sure, her bowl goes down first, then his. She gets her treat first, then he gets his. She goes out the door first and he follows. And..... they both know that I'M the BOSS!!
I think Cinny is probably feeling some changes too, since being spayed. Hopefully, it will be a passing thing and she will learn her place. And all will be a fleeting moment in your corgi diaries!
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one more thought.... you said you're separating them when they eat. But you said you put Nutmeg out and keep Cinnamon in. If it was me I'd do the opposite. Especially if putting Nutmeg outside is displacing her from her usual eating spot. Like I said in my post.... I think it's important to keep the pecking order in the right perpsective. "IMHO"
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Since posting, everything "seems" to have calmed down. Cinny snarled last night at meal time, but there was no direct aggression. I think it's all in her head. Nutmeg is clear on the other side of the kitchen, not even looking at Cinny. Nutmeg eats her food in a second, and then cowers until Cinny is done. Nutmeg always gets her food first, and then I am (now) making Cinnamon calm down before hers is placed down. They never fight over toys, or antlers. Also since Cinnamon still won't/can't jump on the couch, Nutmeg is top dog. Nutty comes up for individual lovin. She knows she is the best. Cinny...well...we're working on her. She is just so damn cute and playful. She loves to kiss and play!
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