Underpinning everything is keeping stress/arousal levels as low as they can. Too much of anything, whether it’s attention, fuss, exercise or play, causes stress of sorts. Arousal primes the two dogs so that the smallest, most insignificant thing then tips them over and can trigger an explosion. Just a look, even.
Why would a normally friendly dog begin fighting whenever another dog is cuddled or fussed? Nellie isn’t very happy. This is despite being treasured, along with their other two tiny dogs, Luna and Sandy. Nellie is a two-year-old Pomeranian, the last to join their little dog family of three. Luna Read more
Why do two dogs that have lived together peacefully suddenly start fighting? The two females have had several minor fallouts over the past year, but during the last few weeks things have escalated with the two dogs fighting in ernest. Three big fights in three days. Blood has been drawn Read more
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.
Did punishing Suzie after the fight actually make the aggression worse? “If we punish her she should learn not to do it again”. A few weeks ago nine-month-old Dandie Dinmont for the first time went for the older, gentle Cocker Spaniel, Mimi (12). She grabbed her ear and wouldn’t let go. Mimi was screaming. Pandemonium followed. Read more
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.
The two dogs got on very well to start with, but as they reached maturity, what was a bit of bullying from excitable Rosie became rougher as she jumped on the more placid Rottie, Missy.
Missy retaliated
At the time of the first incident the family were there including young children. Dolly suddenly roared and leapt on Flossie, grabbing her by the throat. So much noise and panic ensued that neighbours down the road were asking what happened.
What do you do when your newly adopted rescue dog is seriously injured on her very first day home? Shar-pei Yoko had been in her new home for one day when she received a bad injury to her face from their Malamute Alaska, requiring many stitches. What a bad start. Read more
Considering they have eleven dogs – a mix of various Springer, Cockers, Poodles and Cockerpoos all age under the age of six, these dogs are a tribute to their owners. The lady is a groomer and the dogs are gorgeous. A full-time job.
It isn’t surprising, however, that with those numbers there are a few issues.