I'm having a lot of problems with Nitro and Buddy. They get into one fight maybe every day or two, and when it's not the fighting that's the problem, it's the constant stress. Each time Nitro just looks at Buddy, I get nervous. And Buddy is becoming afraid of Nitro.
I have realized that if this doesn't get better, I'm going to have to rehome Nitro. But I accepted him into this house and I will not give up on him. He's a pain in the ass but he's my pain in the ass. I have tried/am trying rescue remedy. I'm not sure if anyone heard about it, but basically it's a natural calming drop. I give him 3-4 drops a day and he was doing great. He went a week without a fight, then one day we missed his dose and he got into a fight the next day. I'm not sure if it's the rescue remedy or not..but either way.
This is the message I sent to a dog trainer in my area who works with dog aggression in dogs. Any help would be so, so appreciated!
I have realized that if this doesn't get better, I'm going to have to rehome Nitro. But I accepted him into this house and I will not give up on him. He's a pain in the ass but he's my pain in the ass. I have tried/am trying rescue remedy. I'm not sure if anyone heard about it, but basically it's a natural calming drop. I give him 3-4 drops a day and he was doing great. He went a week without a fight, then one day we missed his dose and he got into a fight the next day. I'm not sure if it's the rescue remedy or not..but either way.
This is the message I sent to a dog trainer in my area who works with dog aggression in dogs. Any help would be so, so appreciated!
I have two dogs, a 6 year old golden retriever / border collie named Buddy, and a 2 year old APBT / staffordshire named Nitro. I've had Bud since he was 2 months, and Nitro since he was 4 months old.
When Nitro was a pup, he was having problems with other dogs. When he was four months old, he fought a GSD at a dog park for no reason at all. I thought maybe it wasn't him but over the next few times we went to the dog park, he continued showing signs of aggression to other dogs so I never returned with him. He was always fine with my boy, Buddy.
Over the last few months, he's starting to show food aggression against my cats and Buddy. He's completely fine with people though (the vet complimented how he's nervous around pits but Nitro was so sweet). Then it started that whenever food was on the floor, he'd start a fight or snap at the cats, and then to jealousy where if we were petting Buddy, he'd attack him. We tried working with him but seeing no progress anymore.
It's gotten to the point now where he gets into at least one fight a day where he won't let go of Buddy's face (usually his ear) and I have to throw myself between them and get them apart. I know it's not the right way to do it but there's not really another way when I'm the only one there in those few seconds. Usually it was a few second dispute between them and easy to separate, but the last one has drawn blood.
I'm walking them more now to see if it'll get out Nitro's energy but I don't know what else to do to stop fights from happening or to discipline him right after. I need help.
Also, both are neutered. Buddy was neutered at 3 months, Nitro however at two years old..
When Nitro was a pup, he was having problems with other dogs. When he was four months old, he fought a GSD at a dog park for no reason at all. I thought maybe it wasn't him but over the next few times we went to the dog park, he continued showing signs of aggression to other dogs so I never returned with him. He was always fine with my boy, Buddy.
Over the last few months, he's starting to show food aggression against my cats and Buddy. He's completely fine with people though (the vet complimented how he's nervous around pits but Nitro was so sweet). Then it started that whenever food was on the floor, he'd start a fight or snap at the cats, and then to jealousy where if we were petting Buddy, he'd attack him. We tried working with him but seeing no progress anymore.
It's gotten to the point now where he gets into at least one fight a day where he won't let go of Buddy's face (usually his ear) and I have to throw myself between them and get them apart. I know it's not the right way to do it but there's not really another way when I'm the only one there in those few seconds. Usually it was a few second dispute between them and easy to separate, but the last one has drawn blood.
I'm walking them more now to see if it'll get out Nitro's energy but I don't know what else to do to stop fights from happening or to discipline him right after. I need help.
Also, both are neutered. Buddy was neutered at 3 months, Nitro however at two years old..