My 2 Females are suddenly fighting

[NurseMelinda]

I have 2 female Boxers and a male French Bulldog currently. I've had Boxers for 20 years and have never had a problem like this. Our family is just distraught over it!

Mya is 5 years old and Chloe will be 2 years old in Feb. They have always been great together...playing, sleeping, eating, etc. Until last week. They have suddenly started full-on fighting. We can not have them in the same space together now. Individually, they are the same happy, goofy girl. And they are each fine with Goliath, our Frenchie. It didn't start over food or a toy, either. We are puzzled and devastated!

Does anyone have any knowledge or suggestions for us?

 

[iluvfrankie]

I have heard of this happening when the younger female reaches her full maturity. Friend of mine has a staffie and a lab both females and they KILL each other, to the point that her mother took the staffie to live with her. They had tried everything.

I cant offer much advice as I have not dealt with this i have a male and female. Get in contact with a behaviour specialist and have them help you.

I really hope you sort this out. For the dogs, your and your familys sake.

Good Luck

 

[EAO76]

Yes, very common for females to start this nonsense once the youngest reaches adulthood. This is why we never adopt a female to a family that already has a female. Unfortunately this is very difficult to solve & I have seen many females surrendered to the rescue because of fighting. You will probably need professional help. You might want to contact your local boxer rescue & see if they have any trainer/ behaviorist referrals. Only someone really experienced will be able to solve fighting. In the mean time keep them separated (the more they fight the harder it will be to solve). Also I suggest taking them on long leash walks together (best to have two people so they aren't close enough to fight) that may help reinforce them as pack remembers and begin to re-establish their relationship (Walk them side by side everyday but don't allow interaction).

 

[NurseMelinda]

Thanks for the advice. I will look for a behaviorist in my area. I really hope that we can find a solution to this. We have been keeping them apart right now. This has just really upset our family :(

 

[Toasty]

Kadie was aggressive towards any dog when we first got her. When we went to look at a new (female) boxer this was obviously a concern. Through my reading and reading (and reading ) I came up with a strategy that worked PERFECT and now my two boxer females are doing great together. Even though Kadie was a pretty passive/submissive dog if she truly viewed me as her alpha and leader she would have no need to attack anyone else (human or dog alike) as that would be *my* job. She was overstepping her boundaries and taking it into her own hands (ok paws).

So basically what I did was when she first showed aggression to the new dog at the meet and great I immediate put her on her side until she was calm, had the new dog walk over and smell her, then I let her up. She tried it one more time and I corrected her the same way and I haven't had any issues since. Now she was a pretty seriously dog aggressive and it's completely gone. She did slightly growl at her once when new dog was growling while playing but I simple had to give her a warning and she stopped dead in her tracks. Now they play together, eat together, and sleep together.

As the leader I have to make sure they know that *I* take care of the pack issues not them. They trust me to protect them (physically and respectfully as well as territorially) therefor they have no need to become aggressive.

For instance if Kadie tries to eat Maggie's food I stand between Kadie and the food and "own" the space and everything in it (Maggie and the food) and Kadie walks away. The lesson learned from both of them is that I protect them and I protect them from disrespecting each other if need be.

Ok now I'm rambling. I hope you and your family find an answer!

 

[Maniago]

Thanks for the advice. I will look for a behaviorist in my area. I really hope that we can find a solution to this. We have been keeping them apart right now. This has just really upset our family :(

Good luck, we never found a solution. For 7 years now we have been playing musical boxers with our two girls

 

[EAO76]

Good luck, we never found a solution. For 7 years now we have been playing musical boxers with our two girls

Been there. Its nice to know Im not the only one.

 

[samsons]

slightly of topic ~~ BUT , what is the theory on why 2 female dogs will not get along in the same house hold , if u buy the pack theory, then it would be 1 alpha male , and many females living together ..... ?????? i am so confused on what to think ( thats another post ) so why do 2 females not get along ? i have a female foster and a female personal dog - and 1 male - my 2 girls are still pups , 10 MO & 6 MO and i see them squabble way to much. much more then with sam. so WHY in general ( of course ) do the females not get along ?

 

[ehayes21]

slightly of topic ~~ BUT , what is the theory on why 2 female dogs will not get along in the same house hold , if u buy the pack theory, then it would be 1 alpha male , and many females living together ..... ?????? i am so confused on what to think ( thats another post ) so why do 2 females not get along ? i have a female foster and a female personal dog - and 1 male - my 2 girls are still pups , 10 MO & 6 MO and i see them squabble way to much. much more then with sam. so WHY in general ( of course ) do the females not get along ?

I don't buy into the whole "pack theory", but even if you did, bitch fighting has very little do with hierarchy. Bitching fighting is not about who's "alpha", it's simply about one bitch wanting the other bitch gone, and they are willing to fight for this to the death. You can play pack leader all you want, but it's not going to do any good. That's why fighting between two females is very hard to stop once it starts and you usually end up having to either keep them seperate the rest of their lives or rehome one of them.

 

[gmacleod]

...if u buy the pack theory, then it would be 1 alpha male , and many females living together ..... ??????

Actually an alpha pair, not just an alpha male Some studies on wolves (if I recall correctly) suggest that such is the power of the alpha female that other bitches in the pack will not even have heat cycles - it is only the alpha pair that is allowed to breed.

Not sure if I really buy that (any more than pack theory as it is in popular mythology), but I would note that there are many species in nature that live in groups but don't allow subordinate animals to breed. Those with an interest in doing so are forced to (a) become the alpha, or (b) leave the group and start their own. On that last note, sometimes leaving means evicted - which is not incompatible with the fights to the death notable amongst bitches, the aim of which is getting rid of the other bitch.