Fighting while alone

[Delbert]

Hey guys,
Does anybody have an issue with their dogs fighting too rough when you're gone and then being fine when you're home. I have a 2 year old female and a 1 year old male that do nothing but love on each other when I'm home but the last few days when I've come home from work, the female has several mildly severe bite marks on her shoulders and neck. Not sure what may be causing this or how to fix it. Any ideas?

 

[Roge]

They may not be fighting just rough playing, There may be somthing happening when your not home to get them worked up. ie; door bell ringing ,unfamiliar noise outside like road works ect.I know that with Roge if he hears something out of the ordinary he gets worked up and starts to huff and puff and whine, there,s not a lot you can do to fix it except keep them apart as you cant defuse the situation if your not there.

 

[Sansal]

Unless you have the ability to set up cameras it will be hard to find out what exactly happens. Maybe they are just playing rough but it's also possible that something triggers fighting while you are gone. I think I would keep them apart while you are gone to avoid one of them getting hurt.

 

[CrazyCharlie]

I know that is Charlie gets really worked up he will take it out on Jersey. Although she kind of deserves it because she uses him as a chew toy 90% of the time. But he growls and snarls and snaps at her, like he is attacking her, she of course does it back but its only if he gets really worked up (when the DH is encouraging them to bark at strange people walking by our house...) but he stops as soon as I tell him too (Charlie not the DH). They don't do this while they are alone, as far as I know, they are mostly laying on the couch or Jersey is eating my shoes...

If you can, maybe set up cameras as was said before, its really the only way you will really know.

Charlie has scabs and scars all over from Jersey playing rough. She littlerally hangs off his neck skin sometimes.... I have to yell at her a lot.

 

[pairofboxerz]

Is it possible they are fighting over a bone or some other 'prized' possession while you are gone? I can't leave anything like that lying around when I am gone because Reba will get pissy with Duke and then sometimes he gets pissy right back.

 

[Animommy]

Another Recommendation

If its something you havent done yet, im a very strong believer in crate training. In our experience, its way too risky to leave our dogs out by themselves when we arent there to supervise.

Especially with having young dogs, they are even MORE high energy (if you can believe it! ) & therefore, imo, can get even more excitable even easier.

Crating isnt mean imo, i look at is at *Im* keeping them SAFE while im not home; not taking any chances. If they dont like a crate, one way to acclimate them to it is to make is a super positive experience, and make a game of it at 1st.

Once they actually GO in the crate, LOTS & LOTS of praise & LOTS of yummy treats & maybe even some toys! REWARD them for going in it & they will usually associate it with a positive place!

I once read somewhere (i dont remember where) but they made a great point "imagine everytime you went into your bedroom, someone gave you $1000. Eventually you would start going into your bedroom all the time even if just to get the $1000!" Youre giving the same message to your dog.

Even if it is just play, the fact is that youre still coming home to them hurt in someway (no matter how minor), you dont want to chance that it could escalate, especially if you DONT know why its happening or whats triggering it!

I really hope that helped some!