This morning my rescue Doberman pinned my 17-year-old JRT to the floor by her neck. I believe it happened because the Doberman was lying on the floor in a doorway and the JRT was trying to get by her. The Doberman was hauled off, swatted on the back, yelled at and closed off from the rest of the house. As for the JRT, there were no wounds so I think the Doberman was pulling her punches. (it sure sounded like she was trying to kill the smaller dog) I have noticed in the past that the Doberman seems to have issues with personal space and food guarding. She is totally submissive with people, but with other animals--watch out. I have read that "Saying Hi" article about rude dogs and a dog's right to tell others to back off and wondered if it in some way applies to what's going on with my Doberman. I have seen her give a warning snarl on her face when a dog has gotten to near her and it is only when the other dog has ignored the warning that she goes ballistic. Unfortunately, the dogs she's given these warning to are old and half-blind or not used to someone being so damn touchy over their personal space. All "arguments" have only resulted in minor cuts at most so she doesn't seem to be wanting to kill anyone, but how should this be handled other than to watch out for signs of impending violence and breaking up fights when they happen? When the JRT goes to her reward someday, we were wanting to get a mastiff puppy. Knowing how puppies can be we know never to leave the puppy alone with the Doberman or let the puppy go to far, but how does a puppy learn manners if they are never sensured by their elders?

Thanks
Kitty S.

Kitty,
Exact thing happened to my dog when he was 5 mo. at a dog park, thought my dog would be dead. Not a scratch on him, lots of foam. He learned that day to stay out of Dobermans butts.

You need to seperate these dogs. My best friend has had the same doberman and corgi in the house for 4 years together. One day a little over a month ago a very similar thing happened to his corgi. The dog had no scratches, no tears, no nothing and the next day he was dead. 8 yrs old totally healthy and was scheduled to be collected 2 weeks later.... too bad it ended up two weeks too late.

I was really suprized it didn't go the other way... corgi's are mean little snots....

RIP CH M-Candoll's Tazmanian Devil CD <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Kitty,
First of all, welcome aboard. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

You need to read up a little on pack behavior and on getting two dogs to get along. This story will likely not have a happy ending. Deanna is right...these dogs need to be kept apart. Read the articles Ed has on this site about animal on animal aggression and on pack drive in dogs.

This is depressing. The JRT is my mom's dog and the Doberman is mine which I begged I could have. Now my mom is shooting daggers at my dog whenever she looks at her. And just because the Doberman is a mortal threat to the JRT, will this also apply to a puppy which we had planned on getting after the JRT goes to her reward (hopefully by peaceful means)?

Thanks
Kitty S.

Kitty,

We have a basic rule around our house: The big dogs aren't allowed to touch the little dogs...Period. You may be able to control this when you are there by putting a leash on the Dobe and correcting the snot out of her for looking at the JRT, and then crate her when you aren't there to supervise. If necessary, shuttle dogs in the day time to keep them seperate when they can't be directly supervised.

Keep in mind that you ahve a difficult mix there. If the Dobe as any dominance issues at all you got fire and oil with a JRT. The JRT is going to figure it can whup the world. It is just they way they are. I saw an episode of Emergency Vet one day when they brought in a JRT that had attacked a Rottie, and lost. The Rottie basicly skinned the dog from just behind the front legs over the back and about half way up the neck. The JRT was running around like nothing had happened at all, and trying to start a fight with a coulpe of other dogs in the office. Gotta love 'em, as long as you don't have to keep them with any thing else!!!

I agree about JRTs and whoever said that the "T" in JRT stands for "Terrorist" hit the nail right on the head. I cannot think of any other breed that is as willing to take on the world and shake it to death as they are. Even at 17, our JRT is still ready to take on all comers. Well, she's a little less rabid now--and we were so sure she die with her boots on long ago. When we adopted my Doberman three years ago, the JRT immediately went for her face and then for her achilles heel. The JRT told her who was top dog and that was it but I believe things have changed since then. I have seen the Doberman stand over the other dog and sort of tip-toe around her with her head and tail up and sometimes poke her with her nose. We were seeing it more as the Doberman trying to get a rise out of the other to get her to play but the JRT has always either ignored her or showed her teeth. We'd always call the Doberman away. This used to happen with some frequency but now it is rare. I think the Doberman has taken over the top spot and the JRT has for the most part bowed out graciously. The only sign I have seen contrary to this is when the JRT goes and lies on the Doberman's bed. But then she'll park herself on anything soft so I'm not sure if this is some kind of nose-thumbing or not. Anyways, they almost never have any kind of interaction. As for correcting the Doberman whenever she even looks at the JRT, do you mean ANY look no matter how benign? Also, I am unable to do leash corrections but have an e-collar which I have used to stop her from lunging at passing cars. I had heard that using an e-collar on a dog when another dog is near is a mistake because the dog might think the shock came from the other dog and therefore that dog must die. Is that true? If I can use the e-collar, should a verbal command be made before or during the shock or should there be no command coming from a person at all?

Thanks.
Kitty S.

Kitty;
First of all the JRT and the Dobe's temperments clash. If you can't physically supervise the interactions 24/7 between the two dogs; separate them immediately. The Dobe is giving warning that doom is impending. The JRT has probably aggreviated the snot out of the Dobe and the Dobe has had enough!

You say you can't correct with a leash..WHY? It would be my advice to attach a leash to the Dobe whenever the Dobe is to be "permitted" access to the JRT and teather the leash to your person. If the Dobe makes the slightest ill move or ill sound towards the JRT (watch the body language)..correction is at your fingertips. This may not only help with the aggression that is displayed to the JRT but will also educate the Dobe that aggression is not acceptable nor tolerated and correction by a very quick, firm upward motion accompanied by a firm NO. Also; don't make the mistake of overly making a big "ta do" in front of the Dobe to check the status of the JRT. This will only re-enforce the anomosity that the Dobe feels towards the JRT and contribute to more aggression.

In the meantime..while you are making up your mind on how you're going to approach this problem; keep the dogs separated. Crate one and allow the other to have family/household privleges..then switch dogs and crate the other with equal time out for both. An ounce of prevention combined with the minor costs of crates may insure the life of the JRT.

I wish you luck!

Any approximation of aggression at the JRT, NO EXCEPTIONS. I would rather do it with the leash because the correction will be seen as coming from you and that is the idea. The Dobe must know that you decide who behaves how towards who. You have to demonstrate that you are firmly in charge.

The reason leash corrections are not an option with me is because I'm in a wheelchair with limited arm strength due to a car accident. I guess leashing her to me is one option. She is kenneled at night and for part of the day. Gating half the house off maybe something else to be done... I'm just trying to figure out how to do all this without making it seem like to others in my household that my dog is some kind of blood-thirsty monster out to get the poor, old venerable JRT. It is amazing how something like this can make one see one's dog in a whole different light.

It's all a damn bummer that's for sure.

Thanks all,
Kitty S.