Help? - Page 1

What can I say except this is normal in the canine world? Some dogs never get along with each other and must remain separated. I know this well, as I have five (5) who live together in the house most of the time. They tolerate each other as long as nothing disturbs them. If one becomes agitated due to what is happening outside the house, then it can escalate until there is a fight.

The hierarchy is complex: (a) The old female is the queen and does not pick fights but will strongly enforce her right to the house. (b) The male (one of her sons) gets along with everyone. (c) Two (2) females are the best of friends and play together very well. (d) Another female (one of her daughters) will pick a fight with either of the other two (2) females.

The doorway is a touchy place for dog fights to start in my place, especially if they become worked up before the door opens. Our dogs can be ideal companions, excel in Schutzhund exercises, and be the GSD ambassadors to the world. Be all of these things, and try to kill each other each time one takes a notion to do so.

So what can I recommend? There has to be some separation between certain dogs lest the dogs fight and hurt each other and/or someone else. What can be done to stop this? In my opinion, nothing short of separation and control through the use of a leash. Some dogs dislike/disrespect each other very much, and time and correction does not change this. I am interested if someone can offer a tried and true method to change this behaviour that works 100% of the time.

Bob-O

Statistics show that spayed females rumble way more than any combination..who knows why but it happens...... there may never be a day when they can all get along.. I have more females than males and just separate them myself.. have a couple that can  hang together with no problem..... Incidentally for all you who seem to have some confusion about "alpha" - wish i never heard the term!.. the quietest one who never instigates anything and can hang out with another female who is spayed, her daughter who is not and an intact male is the alpha in the group of dogs, never to the humans.. she is the one who calmly goes and urinates over EVERYONE else's even the males, but she never pushes, she never starts anything..... that is alpha folks.. the bully who goes pushing others around is alpha wannabe because no one has told them otherwise.....

Sorry to run off on a tangent like that, happens at my age.....

My business partner thought because he is a really good dog trainer and has control, could manage his dog aggressive male.. however, the last brewhaha.. ended both him and his young dog in the hospital and he finally realized you can't control that, you have to manage it and it means rotating dogs or removing the problem.. some dogs need to be in a home by themselves with people who are aware of their issues.

People will argue over this subject too..... not all kids in every family get along and they supposedly have the ability to reason, so why would we expect more of our dogs??

Animules, I tend to agree with what you said. The males tend to make a lot of posturing behaviour and then fight once and settle it for all time. The females do not seem to establish such an order, and some will fight with each other at every opportunity. In my home there is an established order among the females, but I still have one that hates the other two that are younger than she.

Bob-O