When will the fighting ever stop?

[LilyoftheValley]

I have five dogs. Sadie is a seventeen year old female. Bailey is a five year old female and Lily is a year. Gus is three and buster is five. Heres my problem. Sadie has always been the most dominant dog in the household. If one of the boys fought, Sadie would break it up. Every dog would respect her. They kept there distance when she walked by, if she came to the food bowl everyone would scatter and alow her to eat first. No one even fought with her... Untill now. After I got Lily it seems that the females are all fight and no love! If Sadie and Bailey are in the same room togeather, Bailey will lterally LEAP onto sadies back and go for her throat. Lily will then jump in, grab Bailey by the neck and pull her off of Sadie. It's almost like she's protecting Sadie. The boys never fight, Lily only fights when Sadie and Bailey are at it and all Lily does is get Bailey off of Sadie. It's crazy! Whenever all five dogs are in the house togeather I have to be on guard and its like i'm anicipating the next attack. I'm scared to leave for work in the morning because I know that if Bailey somehow gets out of her crate she will kill Sadie, unless Lily gets there in the right time and pulls her off.

Its all fight and no love in my house any more.
If you have any ideas on whats causing this or how I can stop this. All help is appreciated!

Nicole and the pack. Sadie, Bailey, Buster, Gus and Lily

 

[lizzybeth727]

I would highly suggest you find a trainer/behaviorist who specializes in aggression (particularly with multi-dog households) who can observe your dogs and figure out what is triggering the aggression, and whether/how to fix it.

I will tell you, though, it is VERY common for females not to get along. I supervise dog play groups every day (usually 6 or less dogs in a group at a time), and I always have to be extra-dilligent when there are three or more females together. Your trainer/behaviorist very well may suggest re-homing one of the females. Please keep us posted!

 

[adojrts]

This is easy, same sex aggression and your alpha bitch is getting old and she can't hold that position and the younger bitch knows it. I am assuming that all these bitches are spayed, if one isn't (except for the old girl, not fair nor much point in spaying her now), then get her spayed ASAP. You need to ensure that the aggressor can't get out of her crate when no one is home, double crate her if possible and make sure the crates are in excellent condition. Put Sadie in another room (crated or not) where the aggressor has to go through walls and doors to get her.
You need to watch for the very subtile signs coming from the aggressor and redirect her before she launches at Sadie, get a good book or dvd on dog body language, that will save Sadie's life.

Lynn

 

[bubbatd]

I'm sorry that you have this ....... must be hard .

 

[LilyoftheValley]

Lizzybeth727- I am willing to do ANYTHING but rehome Bailey or Sadie. There my kids and I love them to death. Bailey wouldn't do good in any other home. She has kidney problems and seizures some times. (Not often but sometimes. About ones a year or so.) My vet actually specializes in dog behaviour! I never though about that before... I'll see if she could come over and check them out.

Adojrts- All my girls are spayed, all my boys are nuetered. I don't beleive in keeping non spayes or neuterd dogs unless your a responsible breeder and will be using these dogs for breeding. I am neither, so when my pups come of age they are spayed/neutered. When I am home I try and keep Bailey under my thumb. It's just so wierd because one minute they will be happy with one another, licking eachothers faces and then the next BOOM there at each others throats.

Thanks so much guys, I will try and see if my vet would mind coming over and taking a look. Hopefully she will. Also does anyone have any idea why Lily would be protecting Sadie from Bailey? Whenever they fight Lily stepps in and makes Bailey stop.

Thanks so much!

Nicole and the disfunctional pack. Sadie, Bailey, Buster, Gus and Lily

 

[adojrts]

Lizzybeth727- I am willing to do ANYTHING but rehome Bailey or Sadie. There my kids and I love them to death. Bailey wouldn't do good in any other home. She has kidney problems and seizures some times. (Not often but sometimes. About ones a year or so.) My vet actually specializes in dog behaviour! I never though about that before... I'll see if she could come over and check them out.

Adojrts- All my girls are spayed, all my boys are nuetered. I don't beleive in keeping non spayes or neuterd dogs unless your a responsible breeder and will be using these dogs for breeding. I am neither, so when my pups come of age they are spayed/neutered. When I am home I try and keep Bailey under my thumb. It's just so wierd because one minute they will be happy with one another, licking eachothers faces and then the next BOOM there at each others throats.

Thanks so much guys, I will try and see if my vet would mind coming over and taking a look. Hopefully she will. Also does anyone have any idea why Lily would be protecting Sadie from Bailey? Whenever they fight Lily stepps in and makes Bailey stop.

Thanks so much!

Nicole and the disfunctional pack. Sadie, Bailey, Buster, Gus and Lily

It's good that they are all spayed/neutered, but I don't think it is werid, its same sex aggression and probably brought on by the older dog being forced to give up her rank. jmo
Good luck

 

[corgipower]

Also does anyone have any idea why Lily would be protecting Sadie from Bailey? Whenever they fight Lily stepps in and makes Bailey stop.

I agree with what's already been said ~ as for Lily, she may be doing just that - protecting Sadie. Dogs sometimes take sides, they have different bonds with different members of the pack, and there are times when they will protect each other.

I wish you luck with them, keep us posted, and welcome to the world of multi-dog households I have had some fights along the way myself.

 

[LilyoftheValley]

Thankyou Corgipower.

I will do as you all say. I will make an appointment tomorrow to see my vet.
Thanks for everyones help!!


- Nicole and the pack

Sadie, Bailey, Buster, Gus and Lily