June 27, 2011
My male dogs fight when we are not home. They aren't neutered, is it too late to neuter them?
Full Question:
I have a male and female ridgeback and 3 of their pups (2 males and 1 female). Females spayed, males intact. Pups are 17 months old. The one male challenges the other males only when we are not at home. I come home to bloody paving too often and he (the challenger)is always the one that loses the fight. Is it too late to neuter him? I don't want to give him away as he is the most loving most playful and respectful dog when we are around. He always loses but keeps growling at the other males. The father almost killed him 2 weeks ago and he is already challenging him again. If he growls at the other males when I'm around, I scold him and he immediately submits and rolls on his back. None of our dogs show any of the dominant behavior I read in your articles when we are around. Please help, I don't know if this problem can be fixed. 
Cindy's Answer:
It’s never too late to neuter but neutering isn't an answer to this. Your dogs run in a pack and are running their own social order. You need to separate the dogs and train them if you don’t want to rehome any of them. These fights are going to escalate.
People with only 2 dogs fighting will have a hard time dealing with this and you have a pack.
You need separate crates or kennels. Start with our groundwork program and Pack Structure for the Family Pet DVD.
I’d recommend the video Dealing with Dominant & Aggressive Dogs.
If you spend some time reading this section on dog fights, you’ll see that your problems are very common. I’ve received 6 or 7 emails just today from dog owners with very similar problems. If you don’t teach the dogs your rules, they can’t possibly behave how you want them to.
When you are managing a pack of dogs it becomes much more complicated (as you know already). You need to show unwavering leadership and give these dogs (even the dogs you don’t think are part of the problem) strict leadership and structure. This goes a long way into making them all feel secure in their place in the pack and secure in your leadership.
We also have a number of eBooks, which include topics that may help you.
Cindy Rhodes
People with only 2 dogs fighting will have a hard time dealing with this and you have a pack.
You need separate crates or kennels. Start with our groundwork program and Pack Structure for the Family Pet DVD.
I’d recommend the video Dealing with Dominant & Aggressive Dogs.
If you spend some time reading this section on dog fights, you’ll see that your problems are very common. I’ve received 6 or 7 emails just today from dog owners with very similar problems. If you don’t teach the dogs your rules, they can’t possibly behave how you want them to.
When you are managing a pack of dogs it becomes much more complicated (as you know already). You need to show unwavering leadership and give these dogs (even the dogs you don’t think are part of the problem) strict leadership and structure. This goes a long way into making them all feel secure in their place in the pack and secure in your leadership.
We also have a number of eBooks, which include topics that may help you.
Cindy Rhodes
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