How do you break up fighting dogs?

[Adenauer]

bexVN said:

Will keep my fingers crossed for you that is does work then!!
This may be useful to be aware of (From the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors), so may be worth follow up with behaviourist if you haven't already.

Castration may be beneficial in:
• Aggression between two entire male dogs that live together: castration of one
or possibly both of the dogs can potentially help to reduce tension between them but
ONLY if done alongside BEHAVIOUR MODIFICATION, and ONLY after the dogs have
been assessed carefully by a qualified behaviourist before castration is considered

Edited by bexVN on Monday 23 January 12:50

Okay, thanks for that

We are also getting them done to calm them down a little, they have free roam into the woods at the back of the house if they fancy and we found that it helped with our last dog in so much as he didn't roam too far and wasn't as mad about chasing Deer, Wild Boar etc. after he'd been done.

[Chris Type R]

Boosted LS1 said:

I saw footage of a person doing that to a Staffie. The dog kept on fighting.

With most fights injuries are minor if non existent. Normal dogs will know when to call it a day as being pack animals they know they can't function/hunt etc if they're all injured.

I've always been somewhat sceptical. Not had first hand experience.

[Sharted]

When I was a kid a big dog had mine pinned down and was ripping at his throat.
I lifted his back legs off the ground by his tail but he carried on so I hoofed him in the balls, that stopped him. He bit me in the armpit though.

Nasty bd.

[Boosted LS1]

Chris Type R said:

Boosted LS1 said:

I saw footage of a person doing that to a Staffie. The dog kept on fighting.

With most fights injuries are minor if non existent. Normal dogs will know when to call it a day as being pack animals they know they can't function/hunt etc if they're all injured.

I've always been somewhat sceptical. Not had first hand experience.

Sceptical of the fingering bit or that dogs usually know when to stop fighting?

You'll never see a wolf pack all bloodied up from internal fights. They sort most things out with threat displays and aggression. They could easily inflict disabling damage upon each other if they chose to do so.

[Boosted LS1]

bexVN said:

Adenauer said:

bexVN said:

Male or female?

It is generally thought that in fighing males it is better to only neuter the 'submissive' dog, esp if that dog is trying to push its luck at any point and keep the more dominant male entire. I assume however this has already been discussed etc (hope so as probably a bit late now!)

Both male, Bex.

Rottie cross is now 10 months and the Alsatian cross is 8 months. Both lovely, both trying to be dominant, both double hard bds.

So we thought it best to get them done at the same time.

Fingers crossed it'll help, because they are getting pretty difficult to pull apart when they do go for it. They have 105 minutes left of having knackers

Will keep my fingers crossed for you that is does work then!!
This may be useful to be aware of (From the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors), so may be worth follow up with behaviourist if you haven't already.

Castration may be beneficial in:
• Aggression between two entire male dogs that live together: castration of one
or possibly both of the dogs can potentially help to reduce tension between them but
ONLY if done alongside BEHAVIOUR MODIFICATION, and ONLY after the dogs have
been assessed carefully by a qualified behaviourist before castration is considered

Edited by bexVN on Monday 23 January 12:50

Would it have been possible to try hormonal treatments initially before castration? As a means to a diagnosis.

[Chris Type R]

Boosted LS1 said:

Sceptical of the fingering bit or that dogs usually know when to stop fighting?

The former (hence the hand reference).

[bexVN]

Boosted LS1 said:

bexVN said:

Adenauer said:

bexVN said:

Male or female?

It is generally thought that in fighing males it is better to only neuter the 'submissive' dog, esp if that dog is trying to push its luck at any point and keep the more dominant male entire. I assume however this has already been discussed etc (hope so as probably a bit late now!)

Both male, Bex.

Rottie cross is now 10 months and the Alsatian cross is 8 months. Both lovely, both trying to be dominant, both double hard bds.

So we thought it best to get them done at the same time.

Fingers crossed it'll help, because they are getting pretty difficult to pull apart when they do go for it. They have 105 minutes left of having knackers

Will keep my fingers crossed for you that is does work then!!
This may be useful to be aware of (From the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors), so may be worth follow up with behaviourist if you haven't already.

Castration may be beneficial in:
• Aggression between two entire male dogs that live together: castration of one
or possibly both of the dogs can potentially help to reduce tension between them but
ONLY if done alongside BEHAVIOUR MODIFICATION, and ONLY after the dogs have
been assessed carefully by a qualified behaviourist before castration is considered

Edited by bexVN on Monday 23 January 12:50

Would it have been possible to try hormonal treatments initially before castration? As a means to a diagnosis.

We have done this before to see if makes a difference before a permanent solution. I actually wrote about it in my first post then deleted it because it seemed a bit late to say as they were already in for their op.

[Boosted LS1]

^ Poor doggies. Oh well, lets hope for a good solution :-)

[ATG]

Chris Type R said:

In South Africa the accepted wisdom was to insert a finger into the anus of the aggressor.

Never had any call or reason to try this though.

Does this just apply to dogs? I wonder if it would work with carjackers and muggers?

[parakitaMol.]

Sorry you are having this problem, it is really stressful once it's happened more than once between a pair of co-habiting dogs.

I'd suggest managing the dogs extremely carefully now that you are aware there is a problem, tuggy type toys are often a trigger as they stimulate the dogs into a fighty game - some dogs don't like this type of play and find it hard to control themselves or find it worrying when others are doing it. Food, treats, beds, you..... all of those things can generate resource guarding - I'd make sure there was plenty of space around each dog while those things are going on and I'd remove all 'high value' toys until the times when you are around to monitor and control the game. You might also consider leaving a collar on your dogs so that you have something to grab. Make sure they all have enough space to go off and find somewhere to sleep on their own if they want to.

As for breaking up fights, I have heard about the finger up the bottom too, however nobody I know has ever actually done this, probably because it would be nigh on impossible. Water is probably good but who has a handy jug of water? The corrector spray can startle them sufficiently to pause and you might have an opportunity to intercept but be very careful for yourself - lots of people get bitten in these scenarios.

The neutering issue is one that there is a lot of debate around, especially early neutering (and the effect on behaviour). I know that most vets will be happy to do it at 6m but a lot of people now leave till around 18 months - because whilst testosterone levels drop (testosterone lowers the threshold for aggression) but.... it can also boost a dog's confidence - so a dog with anxiety without testosterone levels can then react more readily - it's a complex story. I have a very anxious dog, was anxious and submissive when I got him, he had a buried and undescended testicle so we opted for castration at 6m, from then he became increasingly fearful and anxious, with hindsight I would have waited much longer if at all.

I'd talk to a behaviourist and seek help with your pack and for further advice before making any big decisions especially if you are considering castrating the more submissive dog. Good luck I hope you sort it out successfully, its really horrible to live with the worry

Edited by parakitaMol. on Monday 23 January 18:11

[Adenauer]

parakitaMol. said:

S

I'd talk to a behaviourist and seek help with your pack and for further advice before making any big decisions especially if you are considering castrating the more submissive dog. Good luck I hope you sort it out successfully, its really horrible to live with the worry

Edited by parakitaMol. on Monday 23 January 18:11

Bit late for my two, they are now wandering around in a VERY grumpy mood.

Still, we've never had better TV reception in the living room as we do now.

[parakitaMol.]

Adenauer said:

parakitaMol. said:

S

I'd talk to a behaviourist and seek help with your pack and for further advice before making any big decisions especially if you are considering castrating the more submissive dog. Good luck I hope you sort it out successfully, its really horrible to live with the worry

Edited by parakitaMol. on Monday 23 January 18:11

Bit late for my two, they are now wandering around in a VERY grumpy mood.

Still, we've never had better TV reception in the living room as we do now.

Awww lampshade heads??

I switched to the inflatable Buster Collar last time it was required.... much happier!

[Adenauer]

parakitaMol. said:

Adenauer said:

parakitaMol. said:

S

I'd talk to a behaviourist and seek help with your pack and for further advice before making any big decisions especially if you are considering castrating the more submissive dog. Good luck I hope you sort it out successfully, its really horrible to live with the worry

Edited by parakitaMol. on Monday 23 January 18:11

Bit late for my two, they are now wandering around in a VERY grumpy mood.

Still, we've never had better TV reception in the living room as we do now.

Awww lampshade heads??

I switched to the inflatable Buster Collar last time it was required.... much happier!

This is Lemmy (the younger of the two) and he really hasn't got the hang of it, I hope it doesn't rain when he's outside or he might drown

I'll have a look for those Buster Collars.

[parakitaMol.]

Oh bless Lemmy - poor little chap

Hope he recovers quickly

[Ali Chappussy]

rambo19 said:

I decided the best thing to do was the finger up the bum trick!

Would this work with Millwall fans?

[Adenauer]

Lemmy's fine, now that he has TWO cones on, he smashed the first one to pieces.

Red on the other hand, he loves Lamp.