I posted this in another section - but it seems more appropriate here. I have read some further into postings on this board and have gotten some good tips. However, my JRT cannot be dealt with harshly or it makes her more aggressive so I guess I want to add that caveat.

Here is my original post:

This seems like the perfect spot for my first post and the reason I joined this group.

I have 4 dogs. One male 7 y.o. neutered Rottie mix, one female 4 y.o. spayed Jack Russell Terrier, one male 5 y.o. neutered mini-dachshund and one female 5 y.o. spayed mini-dachshund.

Nearly 1.5 years ago, my female dachshund and female JRT began fighting. There is no clear warning - they just attack each other. We have had medical workups done and have taken them to several trainers and behaviorists. The last trainer recommended euthanasia for the JRT. Seemed rather extreme to me - killing a dog because it doesn't get along with another dog. This is not an option for us - she is a great dog and we would find her another home before we would do that. Wwe are trying to do that without much luck. They are a difficult breed to rehome.

We really want to keep her if possible. So, what do I do first? What videos should I view first and how do we go about living with 2 dogs who hate each other? I think it is important to note that they do tolerate each other at times and can be near each other without aggression often.

We are not home all day (we have jobs) and the dogs are confined separately when we are gone. I have a difficult time keeping dogs who have been locked up all day already in crates when we get home. Isn't this just insane? To expect dogs to be confined 24 hours a day with only an hour or so outside for the entire day?

Sorry - I know this is a long posting. I just want to give a complete picture of our situation in hopes that someone can help us.

Thanks
Rikki

I am going to guess that are there are warning signs prior to the attack that you aren't seeing.

Do the dogs fight every time they are together? How do they relate when they aren't fighting? What were they doing immediately before fighting?

I'd suggest reading up on dog body language and signals. Google, and there are several books you can read - off the top of my head, I'd suggest 2 books by Brenda Aloof - Canine Body Language and Aggression in Dogs.

From your post, I'd gather you aren't separating these dogs? How supervised are they? Do you keep them tethered when they are out of their crates? What do you do once they do fight?

No, they don't fight every time they are together. They will even attempt to play once in awhile - not often. We actually went for about 7 months with no incidents and they even seemed to begin to trust each other again and like each other. The fighting just began again about 4-5 months ago.

Now they are usually tense when around each other. Obviously because they are both nervous of an attack. We separate them more now. They are not in the same room alone ever. When they are in the same room, they are supervised.

Different things were happening at the time of the attacks. It USUALLY happens during ANY excitement. We were trying to get our male rottie to learn how to use the dog door and when he finally came through it - we got all excited and an attack followed. That was totally our fault - we had gotten comfortable with them not fighting and let our guard down - they were in the room together. One time I was holding the dachshund and she jumped out of my arms and the JRT was on her in a second. One time, I was sitting on the couch reading - one was on one side of me and one on the other and they flew at each other after a split second of eye contact - with me in the middle. A couple of times, when this first started - the fights happened at the door when someone rang the bell, they all ran to the door.

When they fight - they each get grabbed by the scruff of the neck and separated. I think I even throw in some shaking and loud yelling. Probably not the best way to act - but I get really freaked out when they fight. I get conflicting info on this - do I keep them separated after a fight - or should they be put back together (leashed) and have to be in proximity to each other?

got the same problem, kennels during the day, when I get home lots of obedience and exercise. anytime I can't see them directly they go into the kennels, anytime they look like they are ranking I call out a correction and call them to me, if too edgy back in the kennels

Rikki, I'm going to post some links for you, but I can't really offer specific advice since I have no experience in this area. Someone with a multi-dog household will likely give you some pointers.
That being said, keeping the JRT tethered to you(like Jennifer suggested) is a great idea. If you are paying attention it will enable you to preempt the JRT's aggressive behavior. At the very least, you will be able to give a collar correction when she exhibits snarkiness toward the other female. Much better than shouting and scruffing, IMO...
You need to be able to correct before it escalates to physical contact, and a tether will enable you to do that...

Some links to free e books:
http://www.leerburg.com/pdf/packstructure.pdf (Pack Leader -Adult Dogs)
http://leerburg.com/pdf/dealingwithdominantdog.pdf (Dominant Dog)

Some links to DVD's:
http://leerburg.com/308.htm (Pack Structure w/ the Family Pet)

http://leerburg.com/301.htm (Dominant and Aggressive Dogs)

Good luck...
OK, and this (now that I said I'm not giving you advice... )
In times of excitement, (ie someone at the door), put the JRT in her crate, or remove to another room before she gets out of control. You need to be thinking 'prevention' here...

Our life is all about prevention - it's all I think about. We fear the day someone will come to our home unannounced and ring the bell. We make people call us first before they come over. Our lives no longer belong to us. We don't have any time for relaxation because we are always in fear of a fight breaking out. 95% of the time my husband and I are also separated so that the dog who is separated from the "pack" can have some attention too from one of us. I'm not getting much help from this board, I guess my problem is not big enough to warrant any meaningful help. Would anyone suggest that I repost in a different thread?

Have you read any of the articles, books or watched any of the DVDs that were suggested?

Sorry, I hate the whole 'feeling sorry for myself and throwing out guilt at other people' thing. But anyways.

It sounds to me like you can identify when the fights are about to start, to some degree, anyways. But I would still read the Brenda Aloof books so you can pick up extra signs and also get a better idea of the aggression/behaviour. Angela's question stands.

I don't understand, if your dogs are totally separated, why there is a continuing problem with fights breaking out at the door.

How much training to the dogs have? I would step that up and start requiring certain behaviours - calm, quiet sit, or a go to place, or even a trick, something - for the dogs to do during high risk times - rather than just correcting the dogs, give them a job and something other than the aggression to occupy themselves with. But I would also continue to tether the dogs.

You needn't lose your life to these dogs.

Just because the dogs don't get along doesn't mean they can't be in a room together.

Crates and leashes are your friend.

As far as not being able to correct the JRT, that's patently untrue. You just can't give the sort of correction you are trying to give.

Try a dominant dog collar, crate each dog and bring them out one at a time. If you decide to have both dogs out, keep them on leash, tethered to you.

Erika, Lynne posted links that answered every question you posted; that would be why not much else was posted to your thread.

It's not an uncommon problem at all and the answer is pretty much universal: Separate the dogs if you are unable to be certain that they can live fear-free and fight-free.

How can fights break out at the door if the dogs are not allowed to run to the door (unseparated, I have to note) when someone knocks?

PREVENTION is the absolute key here. A pack leader does not allow any pack member to be attacked.

A multi-dog household can require planning and scheduling, but it definitely can be done. A four-dog household can slide into "dog pack" in a heartbeat. Personally, I don't recommend more than two dogs to anyone who is not an experienced and very strong pack leader. But it can be done.

Does everyone have a crate, and what kind of basic obedience work has each had, one-on-one? (If none, just say so; no sense getting advice that isn't applicable.)

Tell us what of the links you did read and what you did not, so we don't just repeat advice (and re-invent the wheel).