Eyeballing and hostility between dogs

It’s hard to see where the tension, eyeballing and snarling between the two dogs has come from. It seemed to be out of the blue – but was it? Both dogs had been happily living and playing together since they took on Poppy, now three years old, as a puppy. Tilly is ten years old.

By Theo Stewart, ago

‘Operation Calm’

Once an attack happens, its done. It can’t be undone, The clock can’t be put back. If nothing changes it can only go one way – downhill. With every incident it becomes more likely to happen again – rehearsed behaviour that becomes a habit.

By Theo Stewart, ago

Introducing a new dog didn’t go well

Ruby’s owners wanted to rescue a dog that was very much in need of a home, so they chose Jojo, a 9-month-old Pointer mix from a rescue centre in Southern Spain.
Their new dog arrived last week. She was expected during the day but was delivered by lorry at 11 o’clock at night!
This immediately wiped out any plans they may have had for introducing the dogs in neutral territory in the park.

By Theo Stewart, ago

Tension and Aggression Between Three Females

One dog will deliberately stand in a doorway – usually Peaches. Chelsea won’t have this so she too has to stand in the doorway. It’s now a stand-off about ownership of the doorway. This can only end one of two ways. Either Peaches will back down and move away, or there is a fight.
Whether it’s a fight or not depends upon how aroused the dogs are.

By Theo Stewart, ago

Fighting Patterdale Girls

As disobeyed commands are a catalyst, the first thing to do is to find ways to get the dogs to comply non-verbally for now. Most commands, when analysed, are unnecessary anyway. People find it very hard not to give commands or to stop saying ‘no’. It can be a real challenge.

By Theo Stewart, ago