Dogs are jealous and fighting eachother!

[lilly111161]

Recently my two boxers, male and female, have become very jealous of eachother. A neighbor came over and they became so angry that he pet one but not the other right away, so they got in a terrible fight. This went on for a few minutes in the back yard. There was no breaking up this fight. Finally I was able to separate them. I was very upset and crying. Then it happened again yesterday. They were both trying to look out the window to see the two dogs walking by, but neither one of them wanted the other to see the dogs, so they started to fight pretty bad again. I have had the male for 10 months, since he was 8 weeks old and the female is a rescue that we have had for 5 months. Their behaivior is really changing.

 

[Shefra]

I guess this would only work when they're fighting outside but a bucket of water seperates them pretty quick and a sharp sound - maybe 2 pots banged together - when they're in the house. I don't have any other suggestions. I hope things work out between them. Do you the history of the rescued pup? Good luck.

 

[telefone]

My boxer boys did this too. It was a big shock to me because when we adopted our second boxer, they got along fine initially. But, after two months, the fighting started. Everything caused a fight, including a door bell ringing on TV.

Bailey is 2 and Bosco is 2 1/2. They are very close in age which could be part of the problem.

First of, I managed the sitatution. Blinds pulled, no toys, nothing that would create a situation where they would fight and practice the bad behavior. If they did fight, I got their attention and both got put on a down/stay in the area of the fight. Then, I started redirecting the behavior. We practiced individually. I opened the blinds and when a dog walked by, I stuck a peanut butter kong under their cute nose and ran "this way" into the kitchen. My Bailey picked up on this right away. Bosco has a high prey drive and is still a work in progress.

It's been almost 10 months since I started working on this. They still get into spats, but now I can get one dog's attention to stop the fight. Life is SO much better!

Best of Luck!

 

[LAYLAMOMMY24]

They are fighting to be the alpha of the home. Very common when introducing new family members. You have to teach them both that you are the top dog not them. Then they will work it out. I had two females one 5 and one 2 the 5 yr old was my moms that I took in when she moved I had her my whole life and she new she was the top dog. Lexus the 2 yr old let her get away with it for a while until one day I came home and they started pushing each other out of the way to get to me.. I told them both to sit and then pet them both same time. there are lots of ways to deal with the situation. Try doing a search on here about dominance and alpha they will return some very good info..If you see the nudge or growl stop it instantly if they know you wont put up with it most times they wont proceed. Once the fight has started is the kicker I have jumped in between two dogs before and it is not a pretty sight (I do not advise it at all) Try to use a broom if inside or the water if outside..I hope this helped a little bit.

 

[BrazilBoxer]

We are going through the same thing at home (see my post "Jealousy") and the two of them are constantly bickering. However, I don't consider it fighting. There is plenty of growling and snapping, but I have stuck my hand in the middle and been chomped, and it didn't hurt at all. I think that those kinds of games are part of the process of working out who is top dog.

Are your dogs actually hurting each other? Because on the assumption they are not doing real damage, and if it is just jockeying for dominance through playfighting, you might want to let them work it out for themselves. After all, you are dominant and you can set the rules as to who comes next in the pecking order, or you can let them do it.

My .02, Mariah.

 

[Laura Poplin]

Just a thought.....if they were really fighting, wouldn't there be blood spilled? Sometimes it sounds and looks like mine are fighting, but when I investigate further, I discover (usually Lily) is b***ching out Daisy and they are just wrestling around a little. I suppose you could say they are arguing.

 

[lilly111161]

It is definately fighting. They have had months of playing, chewing eachothers faces, chasing, etc. This is showing teeth, growling, some scrapes and blood. It is definately different.

 

[binky]

I have the same type of issues with 2 out of my 4. The "middle 2" as I refer to them. I figure they have pack order issues as neither one has a defined role in the pack. There's the leader of the pack (under me, of course) and there's the lowest member of the pack, and then there's these 2. Neither one wants to dominated by the other/lower in pack order than the other.

And I agree, the fights are much different. Yes, there's been the occasional scrape/bite/bloodshed.

All of my 4 are rescues - 2 males, 2 females. The 2 that are fighting are male & female. The female having been with me for 10-1/2 yrs and the male's been with me for 15 months (he's approx. 3 yrs).

In the beginning, the fights were over anything/everything. The 3 yr old male definitely came to us with issues about other dogs. He'd attack if one of the others got too close to him, if they even looked at him basically. He's a boxer/amer. bulldog mix and the amer. bulldog personality comes thru - his personality changes like the flick of a switch; there's no warning growl, baring teeth, nothing. Just attack.

I've used Flower Essence Remedies for his possessiveness, his low self-esteem, and his jealousy. That has really seemed to help. And PRAISE, PRAISE, PRAISE when he behaved appropriately around the others.

We clearly define pack order by doing everything in pack order - handing out treats, putting down food bowls, letting out of their kennels, etc.

One of the biggest problems we still have is at the fence - when someone comes by it and/or there's an object of "prey" visible on the other side of it, i.e., cat. Starts a big old ruckus going. But I've just noticed the 3 yr old backing down/away from those fights more - which is progress.

But we do have the issues over rawhides. Had one last night between the middle 2, in fact, over a rawhide. So we're done with having any of that type of thing around.

It's a long, hard road. Read The Dog Listener and I'd also suggest "Mine, A Guide to Resource Guarding......" by Jean Donaldson.

Good luck. With hard work, patience, and consistency on your part, things will work out.

 

[Suzanna828]

Originally posted by telefone
If they did fight, I got their attention and both got put on a down/stay in the area of the fight. Then, I started redirecting the behavior. We practiced individually. I opened the blinds and when a dog walked by, I stuck a peanut butter kong under their cute nose and ran "this way" into the kitchen.

This sounds like what I have to do when babysitting my two neices (similar ages, too!). First, time out, then redirect. Sheesh, boxers really are like kids!