Two dogs Imput

1275 Views 12 Replies 8 Participants Last post by CoAl-s-Mom, Sep 14, 2005

waiting

Discussion Starter · Sep 10, 2005 (Edited)

I have two dobes. Need imput they are having a hard time deciding who is the boss between the two of them. I being the alpha make them stop before it gets to carried away. Worried because of this when I go out I crate them so they won't fight. Which defeats the purpose of having a dog to take care of his family and home.

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Prettydobie

· #2 · Sep 10, 2005

In a way I say to let them go at it but keep a close eye on them but I totally understand what you are feeling. Are either or both of them fixed?

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jim

· #3 · Sep 10, 2005

You didn't say how old they were. I think they are just establishing the pecking order. If you are the alpha they are deciding who is next in line. As long as you are supervising let them go at it, one will eventually submit. If it gets too out of control break it up. Until the pecking order is established I would crate them when they are left alone.

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CoAl-s-Mom

· #4 · Sep 11, 2005

I'm afraid you will need in person help with this. It is too hard to say over the WWW if they really are fighting. Dobermans can play very rough. If indeed they mean business, if left to themselves to work it out one could be killed. Bitch fights can be very brutal.

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· #5 · Sep 11, 2005

fighting pups

I too would urge you to get professional assistance promptly. My own (limited) experience suggests that if the bitches are evenly matched, they will fight to the death. Dogs do not need to overpower physically a competitor in order to establish top dog status. Careful body language and similar forms of communication work very well for them. Once they have fought fiercely, I suspect that they can never again be trusted to live in peace. Many years ago, I had two wonderful girls (littermates...big mistake) who started fighting when they were about 8 months old. Despite years of training with an animal behaviorist, they could never be together. I should have rehomed one of them but instead I lived an anxiety filled life waiting for the next big fight. Careful separation may prevent fights but is an unreliable method if you have a busy household. Good fortune as you walk this bumpy road.

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waiting

Discussion Starter · #6 · Sep 11, 2005 (Edited)

Thank you all for your imput, it has helped me look at the situation in different ways. I know what you mean playing hard and ripping to the death. I can honestly say big dobe 75 your remarks hit home. I have thought about re-homing one of them. To be honest it is stressful most of the time. Yet the old stupid guilt slips in, you know you make a commitment. My breeder made me feel so guilty yet on the other hand I finally said to him what are you talking about any of your dogs that you have kept to show or breed that eventually didn't turn out like you thought you sold , Even the ones that get passed breeding age you say goodbye. Even after they had lived in your home for years. You got rid of them for comfirmation etc. not that they were ready to chew each other up. He then said just keep them seperate all the time well that is stressful to. Doors locked gates up yuck. On the other hand wouldn't we all be happier dogs included. I am going to talk to the vet and see if she can refer us to someone to help. If things don't change after that I will have to make a mature decision logical not emotional.

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Lexus

· #7 · Sep 11, 2005 (Edited)

waiting said:
Thank you all for your imput, it has helped me look at the situation in different ways. I know what you mean playing hard and ripping to the death. I can honestly say big dobe 75 your remarks hit home. The girls are only three months apart. I have thought about re-homing one of them. To be honest it is stressful most of the time. Yet the old stupid guilt slips in, you know you make a commitment. My breeder made me feel so guilty yet on the other hand I finally said to him what are you talking about any of your dogs that you have kept to show or breed that eventually didn't turn out like you thought you sold , even after they had lived in your home for over a year. You got rid of them for comfirmation etc. not that they were ready to chew each other up. He then said just keep them seperate all the time well that is stressful to. Doors locked gates up yuck. On the other hand wouldn't we all be happier dogs included. The one girl should be in a home with no other dogs. When we are in public she is dog aggressive as well. I am going to talk to the vet and see if she can refer us to someone to help. If things don't change after that I will have to make a mature decision logical not emotional.

Best wishes to you and the dogs.... Don't guilt yourself, if you put every effort into making it work and it doesn't, it isn't a good life for any of the 3 of you. Maybe if all else fails with rehabilition and training, it really may be the best thing for her to go to a new "only dog" home to fully informed new owners of her situation. It's a shame your breeder doesn't offer more help..... she is from his kennels correct?

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joce

· #8 · Sep 11, 2005

If your breeder cared that much he would have told you to get a male pup.So don't let him make you feel bad. I have two females(not dobes) that fight like crazy if they get anywhere near eachother. If I let them fight it out I know one would die. We just have a schedule were they never meet up with eachother. It works for us but if you are the only person spending time with the dogs then it may be a good idea to rehome.

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TracyJo

· #9 · Sep 11, 2005

I have to agree with the advice already posted... Had a friend with three same sized spayed female mixes... Kita would ALWAYS pick fights with Chubby. I urged Nik to rehome one of them but she never did... Eventually Chubby lost an ear to a fight, several months later she ended up loosing a leg, the final fight ended with Chubby being euthanized. It was a horrible and tragic situation all around. Chubbies death could have been prevented if Nik had thought with her head instead of her heart....

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Lexus

· #10 · Sep 12, 2005

My breeder said he wouldn't send two females to the same home either...... That's really a shame Tracy.... If you friend would have taken time to listen so much could have been avoided...

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Dobe_Paws

· #11 · Sep 12, 2005

I don't have much in the way of advice that hasn't been already been given but I can say that I do feel for you. My husband and I had a roommate that had a female Rottweiler and at that time my female Lab, Natala was still alive. The two dogs could not be within sniffing distance of each other, without one going crazy. For a while, we managed to keep them separate but one day when I came back from a walk with Natala, my roommate had his dog loose(stupid stupid thing to do when you have no control over your dog) and the Rott attacked Natala. Mind you, Natala was no spring chicken and she had bad spondylosis and hip dysplasia and the Rotti out weighed her by 30 pounds but that girl ripped into the Rott like the odds were on her side. I honestly feel that if my husband hadn't clobbered the Rotti over the head with a piece of lumber to seperate them, one of them would have ended up dead. After that day, the guy was told that he had to find somewhere else to keep his dog otherwise he could pack up and leave that day. I was taking no more chances because you never know if and when it could happen again.

Whatever happens, I hope you find the best solution for you and your two girls. I can't even imagine how difficult the decision to rehome one of them would be but you seem like you know what needs to be done. Best of luck to you.

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