(and sisters...LOL = ) )

Ok, so I'm wondering if any of you have come across this particular behavior and if so, what it means.

I went to put one dog into his crate the other night and he was very hesitant and while being escorted in (lightly pushed his behind) he distress vocalized. Well, the dog in the crate next to him, whom he has fought approx 4x's before (more frequently now) went ape. Gnashing at the crate, barking, the whole 9.

Now today the same dog (the hesitant crater) snapped at another dog (not the one he fought) and I gave him a correction for acting aggressively. Well, he tried to run behind the shed and as I was pulling him out he distress vocalized again, but this time the other dog full on attacked him. I corrected the attacker for his infraction, but my question is: Why?

Why does this dog keep attacking this other dog. They are house mates (I am just watching them for a friend) so it's imperative they get along somewhat.

My hypothesis is that the actual owner of these dogs needs to assert himself as their alpha and this should eleviate a good majority of this issue. I know other precautions need be taken as well (pick up food, toys etc amonst other things).

Im thinking the aggressor is taking the leader role because he does not know his rank in the pack.

Anybody had a similar issue to this or know or dealt with this kind of thing?

I could use any help, ideas on what to do, etc.

Thanks again everyone!

B.B

Nothing? No similar situations(s)?

Hard to believe,,,

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Nothing? No similar situations(s)?

Hard to believe,,,

I've never had this situation, but that dog sounds extremely distressed, getting attacked often. After you corrected him for snapping at another dog, you said he tried to run behind the shed (distress signal), then got attacked by another dog. He needs to be protected from further attacks. And in my opinion, whatever it takes to do that. Keep other dogs away from him. Separate them while in your care and suggest the owner do the same, if he can't bring this under control (and it doesn't sound like he can). It isn't fair to any dog to be subjected to constant threat of or actual attacks. It's no wonder he snapped at another dog, that's not surprising at all. He was afraid, trying to defend himself before he got attacked (which he thought would probably happen), then when you corrected him, he felt no protection and ran away. Only to actually be attacked. His being attacked over and over is just so wrong, he needs protection from now on. If someone kept punching me every time I left my house, I'd carry a damn gun and use it. Then "I'd" get hauled off to prison. How fair is that? The attacks on this dog have to stop, he needs to be separated from all threats.

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Nothing? No similar situations(s)?

Hard to believe,,,

I've never had this situation, but that dog sounds extremely distressed, getting attacked often. After you corrected him for snapping at another dog, you said he tried to run behind the shed (distress signal), then got attacked by another dog. He needs to be protected from further attacks. And in my opinion, whatever it takes to do that. Keep other dogs away from him. Separate them while in your care and suggest the owner do the same, if he can't bring this under control (and it doesn't sound like he can). It isn't fair to any dog to be subjected to constant threat of or actual attacks. It's no wonder he snapped at another dog, that's not surprising at all. He was afraid, trying to defend himself before he got attacked (which he thought would probably happen), then when you corrected him, he felt no protection and ran away. Only to actually be attacked. His being attacked over and over is just so wrong, he needs protection from now on. If someone kept punching me every time I left my house, I'd carry a damn gun and use it. Then "I'd" get hauled off to prison. How fair is that? The attacks on this dog have to stop, he needs to be separated from all threats.

Thanks, Sandy........ I am glad someone addressed this. It seemed like so much to take in and respond to. <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" />

The dog has been in four fights with dogs he lives with? Man........ And it has been allowed to happen........

The owner needs to separate them, IMHO, since he can't keep dog fights from happening, exactly as Sandy wrote.

It is not "imperative that they get along," IMO; what's imperative is that dog fights are not allowed to happen.

I too hope the O.P. can help the owner to see that what he is doing is not pack leadership at all.

So do we think it's an alpha complex with the aggressor or what?

I do. And as long as I have them I am going to make DAMN SURE no fights take place... and, if they do, the aggressor will be reprimanded severely.

Any other thoughts?

When you have more than 1 dog in the house, you have a dog pack. Fighting is often the case when the dogs are establishing rank. So, in short, yes, you have 2 dominant aggressive dogs who are picking on a lower ranking more submissive dog. When you corrected the submissive dog in front of the other more dominant dog, he just joined in, also correcting him by attacking him.
IMHO, you are being very irresponsible with the submissive dog, ruining him by exposing him to these very dominant aggressive dogs. His crate should not be next to the crate of the dog that repeatedly attacked him. Move it so he can have some restful sleep. And the dominant dogs should NEVER be out of their crates when the submissive dog is out and about. I'd adivse complete separation. If you let things get this far, you don't have the skills or knowledge to prevent dogs fights with all 3 dogs out and interacting at the same time.
Also, if after you corrected your dog (which I would not have done in this case), he ran away, that says to me you don't have a prong collar and lines on your dogs. How did you correct your dog then?
Be smart before the submissive dog is severely injured. If you perceive yourself as the alpha in your pack, then one of your jobs is to protect the subordinate pack members. Do the right thing and keep the beta guy out of harms way.

Michelle

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It is not "imperative that they get along," IMO; what's imperative is that dog fights are not allowed to happen.

I too hope the O.P. can help the owner to see that what he is doing is not pack leadership at all.

I agree with Connie that they don't need to get along, just be separated. Sometimes I think people don't take the time to establish their leadership over their dogs, or they don't know how, or they think it's just obvious that they're pack leader cause they feel since they're the owners, that makes them the leader. I guess with some dogs that works (with a couple of dogs I had, it seemed to be "automatic" so I'm not sure), but with dogs that are born challengers it takes work and effort to get to that place. And probably maintenance along the way.

I really don't know if the aggressor is doing the alpha thing. It seems like something else, like maybe he's just a bully and enjoys the attack. Only reason I say this is cause for instance in a wolf pack, the alpha doesn't have to keep attacking the others out of nowhere, for no good reason, and will only assert its position if challenged. Does the dog who gets attacked keep challenging the attacker? I get a feeling that may not be the case, but hard to tell from what you wrote. I don't know if dog pack structure is somewhat different from wolf pack structure - maybe an alpha dog will constantly fight the others, even if the others submit to the alpha - if that's so, maybe dogs have lost the inherent structure of the wolf pack over hundreds of years. I only once had 2 dogs at a time, and there were never any fights or challenges going on. They lived together and liked each other. One protected the other (story in itself), perhaps that's why there was no need to challenge.

At any rate, Brian, I still emphatically feel the dogs should not be allowed to be loose or even leashed around each other, and should always be separated. At least long enough to bring peace to the one being attacked and remove the constant fear, until the next step can be thought about and implemented. One in the crate while the other is out.

One thing I've seen Cesar Millan do and say is to make the aggressive dog submit and lay down next to the other dog while the other dog is standing. Cesar does have a gift and I suspect this isn't as easy as he makes it look. This may not work if the other dog is always challenging the attacker.

Sorry I can't be of more help, except to reemphasize the dog who is being attacked be separated from all other dogs, for his safety. Maybe some others will have more to offer.

If you're just watching them for a friend keep'em apart till they go home. It's not a leadership thing (you're not their leader), they're your friends dogs right? If you were boarding my dogs i wouldn't want you correcting them, let them out to pee and stick them back in the crate. If i was to board a friends dog i'd have to do the whole introduction thing, if it's for a short time just keep them apart,

AL

Thanks for saying what I was thinking - why the fuss if you are just watching someone else's dogs. Keep them separated.

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Thanks for saying what I was thinking - why the fuss if you are just watching someone else's dogs. Keep them separated.

Good point from Al and others.

QUOTE: ...... as long as I have them I am going to make DAMN SURE no fights take place... and, if they do, the aggressor will be reprimanded severely. END

No............ just A.

I feel for that submissive dog, crated beside a dog who has fought him "4 times."

Please let me add that the idea of the dog-sitter forcing the dominant dog to submit to the submissive one is not a good plan. JMO.

I would separate them, 100%, immediately. Analyzing the behavior is SO second to immediate separation .......

You asked! <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />