My Boxer girls togeather since pups, at each others throats

[kjdocs]

I have had Jersey and Dakota since they where both pups. They are three years old and have played together since day one. They are crated together, spend hours at a time in the back yard together, they even eat out of the same dish with not so much as a growl.

In the backyard we play with a throw with our black lab as well. The game usually goes as such....I throw it, the girls stalk the black lab until he picks up the throw, the girls steal the throw from him, then the two boxer girls tug of war the throw untill one brings it back to me. It has been this way since day one.

Well today, we where playing with the throw, and I admit the normal growls did seem a bit escalated with the girls....after about 5 minutes of play, they broke into an all out fight. It has never happend before. It took both me and my girlfriend to seperate my boxer girls. Damage was minimal, few scratches with little blood.

I put them up seprately, then about 15 minutes let them out of there crates togeather in a room with my girlfriend and I ready to act if things escalated.

Things where normal for about 2 minutes. Standard licking each other and seemingly fine, then out of no where they both went to instant fight....I'm not a dog expert, but i didn't see one threating action from either before they burst into instant brawl.

Need some advice.

Thanks.

 

[EAO76]

I’ve been in your situation and I know fighting dogs are not fun to deal with. Are they spayed? Its not unusual for two bitched to start fighting at this age. At three years they have finally become adults. Hopefully this will not escalate but if it does I’d keep them separated until you can get professional help.

For now I’d start crating them separately and feeding separately as well. They need their own space and things. Also after a fight you need to keep them separated for at least 12 hrs and up to 72hrs. Because (as you learned) there is a greater chance of a fight occurring if the dogs are reintroduced while the adrenaline levels are still high (and yes for some dogs it takes 3 days for their hormones to level out). If it happens again the dogs need to know that fighting is not tolerated. Separate them and then put them into down stays for anywhere from 10 minutes to a half hour. During this time they need to see each other but not get to each other. Then I’d move them to separate crates. For the rest of the day they need to be totally ignored by you. You can tend to their needs but no nice voices, petting, loving gestures, or even eye contact.

Good luck & keep us posted…

 

[kjdocs]

Thanks for the advice. Everything you have said makes great sense.

By the way they are indeed both spayed.

 

[ELubas]

Bitches are the worst when it comes to fighting and maturity brings it on. Many go on to live peaceably together but I would get them evaluated by a behavorist. And there are trigers we do not always see. I have a male and female who will go at it occassionally, but no injury, so your girls are a little more serious. I would keep collars on them in the house so you can separate them easier and you may want to keep something handy to separate them so you do not have to stick your hand in there. The bottom liner of a crate is perfect-just stick it between them to separate them. With mine there is always a "stare" first-could be a split second but it is always there. Also, a tail straight out-not up-but straight out. I also would control all toys-do not leave things lying around so they can have a tussle over the "prize " of the moment. It is also important, when they fight, to not raise your voice as this will ramp them up. Just separate them, tether them separately away from each other. There are alot of good books on body language and calming signals. If you read up on this it will help you spot the posture and then you have an opportunity to preempt it. If I see mine getting "ready" I will get up and say in a happy voice, "Who wants a cookie, walk, whatever"
and it breaks the "spell". Good luck to you and your girls