Can I keep this family together?

can we find out more about what the fight appeared to be about??? If we could find out if its a certain situation he can work to avoid that situation. Since Gunner is still a pup could he have wanted to play with Max and hurt him and thats why Max fought back? Maybe you can get just a little more info and we could help more. I definately, would neuter the younger dog but then again I would neuter a hampster if it crossed my path
Tell him not to give up yet.

All my males are neutered.

That doesn't sound right, but anyway...

I have one foster that Kramer (oldest-15-also a grumpy old fart) can't even see without going ballistic. He just sets him off-if he were 5 years younger, he'd kill him. My male Bruno is very wise to Kramer and very respectful to him (the middle child like in this story). Mario foster young dog thinks maybe old fart dog is a bit of a jerk and is at that stage of young powerful adolescence which annoys Kramer to no end.

Kramer also has pain from arthritis, is partially deaf and may not be seeing so great. So when Mario brushes against him (which the other dogs avoid doing) or moves, Kramer is often startled by it and lashes out. The girls avoid getting close to him-he has always had a very large body bubble anyway, so they are used to it. But Mario is trying to control space-not good.

What I do is try to praise Mario for ignoring Kramer. However, because Kramer is my second in command, I am responsible for protecting him, regardless of what nature might be saying in terms of who second should be. So I do correct-generally only verbally-Mario for getting near him-trying to shape the avoid Kramer idea. I will also body block or butt knock him out of Kramer's zone.

They play outside okay and like to hang out a lot there together-it's only indoors in cramped quarters that there is an issue. I make sure that Mario sees that I respect Kramer and that he is number one. I believe the phrase I will kill anyone who messes with Kramer has been uttered by me a few times. I know that's not positive or nice, but I am very serious about no aggression toward each other here. Except with the dog Kramer wants to eat-that is just something I've never seen before from him and I decided I am not dealing with in a really old dog!

I also give them plenty of time away from each other by rotating them with baby gates. Kramer needs to sleep a lot too, so he naps!

So basically, after all this babble is, if you mess with Kramer, you mess with me and that's not very smart, considering I control the food. So NILIF, positives, but also the knowledge in the younger dog's eyes that this is one of those non-negotiable behaviors. I communicate that verbally, through body movements and eye contact.

I just got a clicker and have been having fun with that-the younger dog might like it. A trainer coming in would probably help if it's a good trainer. I'd leash the pupper to me so I could control him better and shape those behaviors I wanted clearly.

If they can get the older dog on supplements if he's not already that might help. If they can, they should check out Adequan.

Originally Posted By: oliver annie

Originally Posted By: myamomBoth dogs involved are unneutered.

(actually the only dog not involved in the bickering is the neutered one)

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what does that tells you?

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Nothing really.

I have the same problem between Mac, 7-1/2, & Slider 5-1/2. When the problems started neither boy was neutered, however, Mac had to be neutered a couple years ago for medical reasons, but it didn't stop the fights.

I finally figured out that toys were the trigger to all fights. So I made some rules.

1. RULE ONE - Neither Mac nor Slider are allowed to touch a toy of any type in the house - NO EXCEPTIONS.

2. RULE TWO - I have them separated outdoors since I can't monitor them closely and they need to play with toys somewhere. Slider and Bruiser share a small 24'x30' pen while the rest of the Hooligans have the whole yard to play in (1-1/4 acres). After a couple hours, I put Mac away and let Slider and Bruiser have a sufficient time to play in the yard and get some exercise play - sometimes the three old guys are left outside, sometimes I put them in the house with Mac.

After everyone has had time to to rompt and play, we all come back in the house.

I haven't had a fight since I started doing this.

My pack consists of 2 males and 2females, and my only problem has been my female GSD I have had since a puppy developing an issue with my male rescue Gaige. He was running around the yard last year barking and playing and bumped into Vita. She decided to start a fight with him, and lucky for me I wasnt too far away and had access to a water hose. I dont have an alpha dog, becuase I am alpha- I learn all my dogs triggers (if they have any) and work everyday on redirecting, preventing, and if I think Vita is feeling overwhelmed, I give her some time by herself. There are times when she just wants to be left alone, she is tired of being sniffed, pawed at, nudged, and she needs a time out from the pack so she can lay down without being bothered. I know the signals she gives off so before any problem can arise, I am already on top of the situation and preventing one from happening. I absolutely do not tolerate any kind of aggression here, I also use NILIF, and obedience train my dogs. I give them plenty of walks on top of their run in my yard play time, to get excess energy out. I have found my pack runs smoothest when they are tired and dont have the energy left to annoy one another. Gaige was 1 when he came to us... and he was a pest to Vita at first lol. All he wanted to do was play, and he did play nip- something she wasnt use to as she grew up with a senior, and she snapped at him several times. It didnt deter him one bit and really got under her skin at first. He was leashed to me at that point, and I also used LEAVE IT for when he wanted to bother Vita. Gaige is still very much puppy ish in certain ways, and he does annoy Vita at times, but if I say "Gaige leave it" he knows that he needs to walk away from her (or toys, food dishes, etc...) For the most part he has learned to be respectful of her space, and that sounds like what may be partly going on here...maybe he can use a word to deter the younger one from going near the older one inside the house, or if he knows thats when the problems occur, keep them separated until Gunner is ready to lay down and be out of his space? My dogs also follow me around the house, my husband told me he could run around on fire and they wouldnt give him a second look, but as soon as I even stand up, my dogs are up and ready to follow. I manage a pack of 6 (right now 7, 3 fosters) through out the day, by myself with no issues, its very important for this guy to demonstrate clear leadership skills with his pack.