What would you do if you had two dogs that did not get along?

[e.rigby]

I don't think I could rehome a dog just because of a training issue. I consider two dogs not getting along (even to the point of fighting) a training issue. I have a dog aggressive dog, but he hasn't stopped me from bringing dogs into the house. It takes a day of work to get him ok with the dog in the house; after about a week, he's no longer stressed, in a month the new dog is part of the pack.

It's a lot of work, but understanding dog body language really helps. By changing the way one dog views the other (or vice versa) they can learn to co-exist.

[k_sep]

I have three dogs and two of them don't get along. I recently rescued my GSD puppy when she was approximately seven weeks old (she's 13 weeks now) and my oldest dog really doesn't like her or get along with her. If she gets too close to him or tries to play with him he will angrily snap at her and try to pin her down. Luckily, she's gotten too big and too quick for him since he's a 15 year old Schipperke. The problem is pretty easy to deal with because my Schipperke is pretty solitary. He prefers to stay outside for the most part and is bonded pretty well to my other small dog. My GSD pup Luna, on the other hand, has learned not to bother him and will leave him be now. She also doesn't like being outside so she spends most of her time indoors. It's more an issue of supervising them when they do interact than actively separating them because they do that on their own. I would never think of rehoming my GSD and I've had my Schipperke for 15 years, he's not going anywhere either.

[Dogaroo]

Has anyone been successful in retraining two females who didn't get along & would fight until one of them was dead if they weren't separated? Just curious. I've been in that situation & eventually ended up just keeping the two permanently separated.

"Bitch fights" are a lot different than two males fighting, or even a male & a female.

[tapatio]

I am having that problem right now. Two female, 3 and 7 years old.My two girls can be outside together, and there is not a problem between them.They will lay by each other play together, and get along without any problem. The problem, happens when they are in the house,and I am in the room.All will be fine, and then the younger female will get up and start posturing around the older female,who is sleeping. Had a big fight last night and it took three of us to break it up. When my husband or anyone else is around them they will not do this, but when I enter the picture, it happens.
I am really trying to figure this out, and have them separated while I do.

[Castlemaid]

tapatio, that sounds like resource guarding - this is a leadership issue. Your dogs see you as something THEY own, are guarding you from the other dog - this can have very serious consequences if a full-blown fight happens, so keeping them apart for now is the right thing to do.

In the meantime, you need to look at how you relate to your dogs that they don't see you as a leader. You will have to change things around a lot to change the dynamics in your house. If you don't do NILIF already, start this very instant! In addition, YOU control EVERYTHING in the house. Toys, food, chews, play, leashes, access to different areas, freedom to come and go. ZERO tolerance for posturing. As soon as one dog starts, the wrath of satan falls down on them and they are crated until further notice, and so on!

This is fixable, but it all depends on you. Why don't you start a thread in the behaviour and aggression sections? You'll get lots of insight and advice from others who have dealt with issues like this.

[Samba]

I have a bitch who is aggressive to other bitches in the household. She has a zero tolerance attitude. When under obedience she can do okay with them on walks, for instance. But, she has no desire be around them or play with them in daily life.

I have had her for over a decade. She is crated and exercised separately. She gets her free in the house time on her own. I am highly valued by her and she prefers me to other dogs anyway. I have never had a desire to place her else where. She has lots of talents and is a super companion. Can't imagine her anywhere else.

Intersex agression is not uncommon with GSDs is it?

I have a bitch that gets on with others if they are friendly. She owns very little aggression and is just a silly girl. A very different dog from from the serious, powerful bitch who has aggression in her.