We have just moved to a new place and our two biggest dogs are fighting with eachother. Not only living situations has changed but also the "master" is at work all day as before he was home with them 24/7. We have lab mix and a Pit bull. The lab mix is the oldest and was already around 3 years before we got the Pit bull. The Pit bull was a baby when we brought him home, he is now about 2.5 years old. They got along great at the old house, played together, swam together, slept together and even ate together. Since we have moved they fight once they even see each other. They are hurting one another very bad. I DO NOT want to have to get rid of one of our family members and I am also fearful of our third dog which is small dog and would not stand a chance to one of the big dog attacks.
Similar situation
I am in a simular situation with my two dogs, a female 6 yr old Staffy cross and a 2yr old male Dalmation cross both adult rescues. I am looking for all and any information that is available? I have tried lots of different things but nothing seems to be improving relations between them. Did anyone respond to this blog offering suggestions and if so what were they?
Interdog aggression
I would recommend that you keep the dogs separate for now and consider seeing abehaviorist, especially since the dogs are hurting each other. You don't mention whether the dogs are neutered, and the Pitbull has reached social maturity. You have a lot of changes going on at once inthe household. 1. They are in a new territory, 2. Previously someone was home with them always, and 3. the pitbull is maturing. I would recommend that you separate them and re-introduce them off the property - starting on leash at a great distance from each other. As you walk toward each other, click and treat the dogs for looking at each other without aggression. Continue as you move closer. At the first sign of aggression - pricked ears, staring, tension in the body, turn around and back up. Some books that deal well with reactivity are Emma Parsons - "Click to Calm", and Leslie McDevitt's "Control Unleashed". I highly recommend that you see a veterinary behaviorist if possible as often the proper medication can speed up the process. If your dogs are fine individually with the small dog, you may never see a problem. If the small dog has always been submissive and conceeds the other dogs control, they may never have a problem with it. It is also important that you see which dog is dominate and support that dog, frequently we play favorites or try to be democratic, or just feel sorry for the underdog, and our interference can cause the dogs to continue to fight. Although I don't believe that dogs are dominate or submissive to people, there is a hierarchy in dog packs and there is varying importance of hierarchy among dogs.