dog fighting

Bayli · Post by **Bayli** » Sun Aug 14, 2005 4:00 pm

hey i have 2 dogs on a V and the other is a fox terrier .. they fight all the time . does anyone know how to stop them ?

the V is 9 months old an the other is about 5 years

Margaret · Post by **Margaret** » Sun Aug 14, 2005 4:17 pm

Not enough information, sorry.

Casper · Post by **Casper** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 12:29 am

Bayli,

Are you sure thay are fighting or are they just ruff housing. If they are just playing it can sometimes look as if they are fighting. they will show their teeth, growl and bark. If neither of them is getting hurt It may not be anything to worrry about. But try and give more information so we can try and give you some sound advice.

Post by **Ayres** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 8:56 am

I'm not sure about the fox terrier, but for the V's... if the hair is raised just behind their necks and just before their tails, chances are that they're upset about something. If the hair lays flat and the tails are wagging back and forth the whole time they're "fighting," then they're just playing around.

If they're just playing then you have your question answered, but if you really think they're fighting then let us know the circumstances of the encounters.

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 12:52 pm

Ayres is right but my setter raises he hair when she is playing too. As long as there is no harm to the other dog let them be or let them settle it.

brush_buster · Post by **brush_buster** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 11:09 pm

I've got a similar problem with my GSPs. There are five all together and two of them are alpha males. I can run one of the males at a time with the other three but, if I put the two older males out they try to tear each other apart.

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 11:12 pm

Do you think you would get this in different breeds say a male brit and a male gsp? how do u stop it?

Bayli · Post by **Bayli** » Tue Aug 16, 2005 12:21 am

the V never used to raise fur , he just would wimper and run away with his tail between his legs .

now the V is older he dosnt run away unless he gets bitten . and i have noticed a few ummm scabs from the fox terrier biteing him .

it happens if the fox. has all the bones and when we feed them a few metres apart the fox. will leave his food and eat the Vs . and if the V dosnt let him they fight

umm i hope this is enough info

Post by **Greg Jennings** » Tue Aug 16, 2005 5:28 am

Kennel them for feeding.

Best,

APRock · Post by **APRock** » Tue Aug 16, 2005 1:34 pm

My uncle always picked one. He'd get another dog, let the situation be for a while and then decide which one was going to be the "Top Dog" (after my uncle of course). THAT dog got fed first, greeted first, bathed first, EVERYTHING first. The rest of the dogs also got put into a pecking order by him, not by the dogs choice. They all got the care and affection that they needed, it was just in an order that kept them all in line and behaved.

Seems the Fox wants to keep his place and with the V starting to grow up he is undecided about challenging. It is up to you to decide which one will be higher up in the pack. If you don't do it then they may have to fight it out to decide it for themselves. Then you have to watch for it happening all over again when the "lower" dog decides it's time to challenge again.

If you decide and enforce the issue, then they don't have a choice. You will have less fights, happier dogs, and a more peaceful household.

Post by **Ayres** » Wed Aug 17, 2005 12:04 am

APRock wrote:If you decide and enforce the issue, then they don't have a choice. You will have less fights, happier dogs, and a more peaceful household.

I've heard this advocated before and it makes perfect sense as well. Just remember that if you do this, you have to be CONSISTENT.

It may start to feel like you're hurting the other dog's feelings or something because you never greet it first, but it's establishing a pecking order and will allieviate a lot of problems down the road.

Margaret · Post by **Margaret** » Wed Aug 17, 2005 3:56 am

Hey, it's simple.

Don't feed them anywhere near each other, in particular no bones unless they are in seperate pens or areas.

I would be concerned that the foxy, and being a terrier foxies are pretty ready to have a go, may encourage similar behavior from your young Vizsla.

The advice to chose the dog you wish to be top of the heap and treat it like it is, is sound. But common sense around food with dogs is even sounder.

Maybe when the Vizsla matures a little it may decide to sort out the problem for itself, and this could result in serious injury for the smaller dog.

If it were me, I'd stop this behaviour right now.

Whose the Boss? You are!