There are only two who are allowed to fight in our house and no-one is allowed to join in and take sides when we bicker.

I made a mistake the other day for which I could kick myself - I washed out the water bowl and decided to put it in front of the elder dog as the younger one spits into it while drinking, though why this should worry me, heaven knows. Since then, the older one has taken to watching the younger one when I refill the bowl and then trying to zoom in on him. If they're not around when I refill it, nothing happens, neither do they have trouble when we leave them together. Up to then they sometimes drank out of the same bowl So much for my interference.

Since having more than one dog in the house, I've learned a lot more about dog behaviour by just watching how they interact.

Our friends came once when I had an adult Briard and a 3-month old Fila. They brought the litter sister with them and the 2 pups played happily together. I was in the kitchen when I heard an aggressive note creep in but before I could move, the Briard had zoomed in and growled at them - then there was peace for a while but he kept on zooming in - afterwards all he needed to do was pretend to get up and they kept their peace.

Gillian

Hey everybody I am new at the board.Forgive my english I am learning more.I wanted put one question similar to Donna.
I have an inteligent 8 years old male GSD. 4 months ago I get a mixed pit bull(perhaps pit/canary dog) female. Now she have nearly 7 months.They live together very well at the garden and everything turn great.BUT,last week with the food I gave a little of Salmon that they love. After eating the 7 months female went sniff the muzzle of the Shepard and they got in a tremendous fight.I break them up(Yes I know that is a mistake) but I cant see the Shepard be biting.I am afraid that this can happen again.They turn well all the day,but the food is the problem.In the past I was feeding the dogs at the same time but first the Shepard and immediately the female. Now I dont give appellative meat.Sometimes she sniffs(but now no meat or salmon) and I thinK that the Shepard is worry. It is necessary to separate them in different Knells all the day,or perhaps only when they are eating?I think in future female will be more dominant then the Shepard.I am going to see some LEEBURG video that I acquired trying to resolve this.Thank you very much for your expert opinions.Jorge

 Quote: Jorge Pinto

Hey everybody I am new at the board.Forgive my english I am learning more.I wanted put one question similar to Donna.
I have an inteligent 8 years old male GSD. 4 months ago I get a mixed pit bull(perhaps pit/canary dog) female. Now she have nearly 7 months.They live together very well at the garden and everything turn great.BUT,last week with the food I gave a little of Salmon that they love. After eating the 7 months female went sniff the muzzle of the Shepard and they got in a tremendous fight.I break them up(Yes I know that is a mistake) but I cant see the Shepard be biting.I am afraid that this can happen again.They turn well all the day,but the food is the problem.In the past I was feeding the dogs at the same time but first the Shepard and immediately the female. Now I dont give appellative meat.Sometimes she sniffs(but now no meat or salmon) and I thinK that the Shepard is worry. It is necessary to separate them in different Knells all the day,or perhaps only when they are eating?I think in future female will be more dominant then the Shepard.I am going to see some LEEBURG video that I acquired trying to resolve this.Thank you very much for your expert opinions.Jorge

Separate them while they eat. Not just separated, but not able to see or glare. You don't want any pack member to be afraid to eat in comfort. You're the pack leader and it's your job to protect them.

Toys, food, treats -- these can start fights, and I just don't allow aggression.

What videos did you get?

What is appellative meat?

How are they now aside from eating times? That's what determines separation.

All JMO.

Jorge, please remember to start your own thread rather than hijack someone else's. This one seems to have wound down, so maybe this time it's OK.



P.S. Welcome to the board!


Edited by Connie Sutherland (05/20/2008 04:54 PM)
Edit reason: p.s.

Thank you so much for your help.This is a great board.The videos that I have are: 1-Dealing with dominant and aggressive dogs.
2-Basic dog obedience. 3-Establishing Pack Structure with the Family Pet. Appellative meat is fish(salmon),or any kind of meat.Now I give only Kibble.Please Connie Sutherland can you explain- How are they now aside from eating times? I m sorry my English but this seems very important for this problem.
I Now also that I must establish pack structure as a leader.
I want say also that the puppy is very welll with people.My wife loves her.Thanks again.

I mean is there any aggression when they are not eating?

By the way, meat or fish in the crates would be good. I would not feed even kibble to them in the same room now, since the fight.

Connie.Perhaps now I understand the question.Aside from eating times they go well.No problems.I am worry only,after eating,sometimes the puppy tries to sniff the GSD.But the dog ,after this incident don´t play so much with the puppy.I think that he dont want problems.But they live all day together without problems.Now I gave kibble to the puppy in one local and my hife do the same to the GSD in another local that is not possible to see each other. But no meat and no fish and no fruit.I have the videos only till two days ago.I am starting to see them.Thanks.Jorge

Well, for a while I would be present all the time when they are together, I would have a drag leash on each one when they are together, and I would never ever leave them out when I left the house.

I would crate them every time I left the house, and I would watch them carefully during any together-time.

Not only do you want to prevent any aggression 100%, but you want to eliminate any anxiety or fear in either dog.

You have crates, right?

I'd start with the pack structure video, I think.