Male and Female Fighting Each Other!

[LaRen616]

Not my dogs, my friend's 2 Dobermans.

The female, Addison, was adopted 4 months ago, she was almost 9 months old at the time she was adopted. She is now 13 months old and was spayed about 3 weeks ago.

The male, Ace, has been with my friends since he was 9-11 weeks old, he is now 9 months old and is not neutered.

They got along wonderfully in the beginning, never had an issue, well 2 months ago they got in their first fight. I witnessed their second fight that kinda involved my male GSD, Ace got a small cut on his head at the time.

For the past 2 months they have fought off and on, they get alot of separate time, my friends do NILIF with them and they still work on obediance every day.

Saturday night they had the worst fight so far, they were off leash at a park (not a dog park) my friends had a very hard time getting them apart, Addison had a bloody mouth and a gash in her neck, Ace was fine. After that fight, when they got home Addison kept growling at Ace when he was walking around, Addison was in the house when they let Ace outside and when he came back in she attacked him. No one was injured, they crated Addison but she continued to growl while Ace walked by.

They are torn, they love Addison, she's a great dog and they are very attached to her, they do not want to give her up but they also dont want them both to keep getting into fights and getting hurt. They will not crate and rotate because they think it is wrong to crate an animal for that long. My friend's mom said she would take Addison if they cant handle it anymore but they do not want to part with her.

Both dogs get lots of exercise, daily bike rides, walks, fetch, they get mental stimulation with dog the Everlasting Treatball, Tug-A-Jug, dog puzzles and play "Find It" with treats.

They have an evaluation scheduled for both dogs at Tops Training Facility this friday, they also plan on doing training there with both dogs at separate times.

I made a thread about this 2 months ago, 7 Month Old Male & 10 Month Old Female Fight but things are getting worse, any new ideas? Both dogs get along with other dogs, they get along great with my 2 GSDs, why do they keep fighting each other?

[Mrs.K]

LaRen, that is exactly what I went through with Zenzy.

Maybe it's too early for her. Maybe she is still in pain from the spaying. Was she cut open? Maybe she's still going through hormonal changes?

For now, I'd keep her separated and give her time to "heal". It's just three weeks ago, these things take time.

[gsdraven]

Originally Posted by LaRen616

I made a thread about this 2 months ago, 7 Month Old Male & 10 Month Old Female Fight but things are getting worse, any new ideas? Both dogs get along with other dogs, they get along great with my 2 GSDs, why do they keep fighting each other?

Honestly, they need to rehome her. Things are escalating and it's not likely that it will get better. Sometimes dogs just don't like each other and all this fighting is going to affect them both.

Keep them separate as much as possible for now. If they are together, it should be only for good stuff and always on leash and closely supervised. The more they are allowed to fight, the worse it is going to get.

I'm sorry. I know it's not the solution that your friends want but it is what's best.

[LaRen616]

Originally Posted by gsdraven

Honestly, they need to rehome her. Things are escalating and it's not likely that it will get better. Sometimes dogs just don't like each other and all this fighting is going to affect them both.

Keep them separate as much as possible for now. If they are together, it should be only for good stuff and always on leash and closely supervised. The more they are allowed to fight, the worse it is going to get.

I'm sorry. I know it's not the solution that your friends want but it is what's best.

I doubt that they will rehome her, they are too attached, they wont give up on her, they will be going through a trainer but they are seeking more advice on how to get them to get along.

[Mrs.K]

Originally Posted by LaRen616

I doubt that they will rehome her, they are too attached, they wont give up on her, they will be going through a trainer but they are seeking more advice on how to get them to get along.

Sometimes it just isn't ment to be. I've been there and done it and it did not end well. I should have never taken her to the US. I know that now.

I know you are in a bad position and they probably won't listen or even say that it's none of your business but if I were you, I'd tell them that this might be one of the options they have. It doesn't mean that it is the only option but it is ONE option that might change the problem.

Being attached is all nice and well but sometimes we have to do what needs to be done, everything else is selfish. Sometimes we have to do what is best for the dogs and sometimes it means that we have to let go of a dog and rehome one to keep both safe and happy.

As for now, I'd rotate them.

[gsdraven]

Originally Posted by LaRen616

I doubt that they will rehome her, they are too attached, they wont give up on her, they will be going through a trainer but they are seeking more advice on how to get them to get along.

That's the thing, Lauren, they may not ever get along and it's already gone too far. Being attacked by Addison is going to affect Ace's dog skills and it's not fair. It's not fair to either of them or to your friends to be constantly afraid of a fight. Everyone is living unbalanced.

The best attempt to get along is what I said... keep them separate unless REALLY good things are happening and even then they have to be under direct supervision to stop anything before it starts. No toys. I wouldn't have them off leash together either since it would be harder to keep them from starting.

Honestly, if they are going to be stubborn then they need to be doing big time management which may include crate and rotate. The harsh reality is that it IS getting worse and will probably continue to. By stopping it now, you'd be saving both dogs alot of physical and mental damage.

Definitely don't bring Sinister or Malice into the mix. You'd be putting them at risk too.

[LaRen616]

They do not get toys when they are together, they get fed separately, crated in separate rooms and when one is outside the other is inside.

They were thinking about muzzleing (sp) Addison when they are out around each other, what do you think about that option? They would get a muzzle that allows her to still drink water and open her mouth a little bit.

[LaRen616]

Originally Posted by gsdraven

Definitely don't bring Sinister or Malice into the mix. You'd be putting them at risk too.

The 4 of them have not been together in 2 weeks. We are getting Ace, Malice and Sinister together tonight but my friend does not want Addison around my dogs.

I do however want to get Addison and Sinister together, she loves Sin, they get along great.

[gsdraven]

Originally Posted by LaRen616

They were thinking about muzzleing (sp) Addison when they are out around each other, what do you think about that option? They would get a muzzle that allows her to still drink water and open her mouth a little bit.

It's a band aid and could go either way. It could relax her because she doesn't have the option to bite or it could frustrate her more and it does nothing to help what is causing her to go after Ace, that anguish is still there and it's not healthy for her to stay in that state of mind.

[WVGSD]

I have a multi-dog pack of both sexes with all spayed or neutered minus one female. She is now same sex aggressive and I crate, kennel and rotate all nine of my dogs. It is a HUGE undertaking, but it can be done.

Even with my dogs having been separated totally for three months now, the female grumble through barriers (crates, kennels and doors). I will never take a chance with putting all my females together again. My spayed females and neutered males can get along together, but by adding the one intact female in to the mix, all heck breaks out. She gets along beautifully with the males and those are her "company" so that she is not alone except for rare instances.

It can be done, but it is a lifetime committment and a huge challenge on a day to day basis.