Quote: Alec S. Garrison

My kids are older so there is little chance they would get in the middle of anything. ...

They are the age that tries to break up a fight. Adults do too, but sometimes are a little smarter than to grab for collars. Kids are likely to do exactly that.

Wow! All this info is great. I am so glad I found this site. here is why I think they see the kids differently. They get very excited when my wife or I came home and almost don't care when the kids walk in. My wife and I do most of the feeding and walking so we are the providers of their resources. here is the biggest clue. If I rough house with my 19 year old son Jeter will come over quickly and jump on my son (not using teeth)and then move away. Almost like he is letting my son know that he is there to protect me. Of course I would never want that to escalate. I recognize that it could. Also in regards to Jeter and Dakota having an issue with each other. These dogs lay together all the time and seem to love each other. If I take one out without the other they are always looking for each other. Jeter will lay by Dakota while she is chewing a bone they share and he will wait for her to lose interest and then go over and take it. If he is chewing a bone Dakota will come over and he shows no sign of aggression towards her. In fact he will often let her take it. he may lay down and bark until she is done with it and then he will take it. If Dakota has it first she (sometimes) will growl at him if he comes to take it but NEVER does Jeter respond to that particular action in an aggressive way. He will lay there and complain (whiny bark) until she lets him take it. He seems like the more aggressive one and the more dominant one but Dakota is the one that will show aggression over her food or a toy. He reacts like he thinks she is playing. Almost like he knows he can kill her and doesn't take her threats seriously enough to get aggressive back. Keep the info coming. You guys are so great with the information I am tempted to invite anyone who lives on Long Island to come by meet my dogs and I will give you the best hamburger off the BBQ you ever ate. LOL .

I am a HUGE fan of e collars and find they are a wonderful training aid, provided they are used correctly. I use mine as a tap on the shoulder for attention and obedience...not "shock & awe".

The LB electric collar training DVD is a must-have, IMO.

In regards to e-collars:

 Quote: sarah morris

I use mine as a tap on the shoulder for attention and obedience...not "shock & awe".

I like this description.

I have to say that even though you are painting a picture that seems non-threatening. The fact is that they have already shown you as plain as day that they are developing aggressive issues towards one another.

You have to watch them closely and MANAGE their interaction as their interaction seems to be changing.

Pay closer attention and don't reply on past behavior to "save" the situation. They don't count anymore. Dogs live in the here an now - NOT in the past. How they beghaved with each other before IS the past.

Again - keep toys separate, feed separately, be EXTREMELY careful around children, and be 100 %^ consistent with whatyou expect of them. Don't correct one day for a behavior and then not the next. If you do it - do it always. If not, it will breed confusion in the dogs mind and they are liable to do whatever they like whenever they like. And usually when that happens is when you'll have little or no control over the situation.

 Quote: michael_wise

In regards to e-collars:

 Quote: sarah morris

I use mine as a tap on the shoulder for attention and obedience...not "shock & awe".

I like this description.

Me too! Perfect. I'm getting ready to get an e-collar as a refining mechanism in my training.

**Sorry to have diverted from the topic at hand**

Back on topic now....

 Quote: alec s. garrison

If I rough house with my 19 year old son Jeter will come over quickly and jump on my son (not using teeth)and then move away. Almost like he is letting my son know that he is there to protect me.

Alec, keep in mind this type of behavior isn't always attributed to a specific "protective" mode and can often be elicited out of pure excitement. My dog will immediately show interest and want to jump on us if my boyfriend and I play fight or tickle each other - any squealing "fuss" between us gets him all agitated, even though he is 100% subordinate to both of us. Pack mentality can cause a dog to reflexively react to a commotion within the pack without really "thinking" about why he's doing it.

 Quote: alec s. garrison

He seems like the more aggressive one and the more dominant one but Dakota is the one that will show aggression over her food or a toy. He reacts like he thinks she is playing. Almost like he knows he can kill her and doesn't take her threats seriously enough to get aggressive back.

Regardless of which one is truly dominant over the other, the behavior at meal time escalating to fighting should just be a giant warning that the same thing COULD happen at another time, under different circumstances. Resource guarding is a classic trigger for fights, and I would just be VERY careful once you go down the road of "shared stuff". Otherwise, it's wonderful that both dogs seem to get along so well and simply removing the possibility of issues over toys/bones and resolving the feeding issue should create the kind of stable environment that will support that peace.

~Natalya

 Quote: natalya zahn

Regardless of which one is truly dominant over the other, the behavior at meal time escalating to fighting should just be a giant warning that the same thing COULD happen at another time, under different circumstances. Resource guarding is a classic trigger for fights, and I would just be VERY careful once you go down the road of "shared stuff".

Good point and I would like to also mention that MANY people have a tendency to overlook the warning signs and then wonder what happened. This forum has an area for dog bites. In all cases the dog had produced a warning sign that was ignored/overlooked.

That fact that there ARE warning signs gives you an edge. Now, you are aware of something that is afoot and can now take positive action BEFORE something gets out of hand.

Again - knowledge is power! Use it to your advantage.

 Quote: alec s. garrison

. If I rough house with my 19 year old son Jeter will come over quickly and jump on my son (not using teeth)and then move away. Almost like he is letting my son know that he is there to protect me.

I think it more likely that Jeter is just getting excited, joining in the "fight", and ganging up on the one that looks like he is losing. That's what dogs do.

I just read through this thread, and I have to agree with those who have already raised several red flags about clear signs of growing tension between these dogs over resources (food, toys, bones). The growling, barking etc. that you describe as the dogs trade bones between each other is another warning sign. Something else to consider: you said the male is 2 years old and the female 18 months. These are still adolescent dogs - the male is probably just reaching maturity. Things could get a whole lot more serious as the dogs mature.

Please take the advice already posted about completely separating them while feeding, and never allowing them to "own" or share bones, toys etc. You might also checkout some of the advice and resources on this site about groundwork and pack structure. You are projecting human reactions and emotions onto your interpretation of your dogs' behavior, but dogs are dogs - they don't think in the same way that people do.

Thank you all again. It's funny because I know all about what Sara is saying about dogs not thinking like humans. I understand this. I just have to remember it when I am considering and watching the behavior. Maybe it would be a good idea to start fresh with toys. Since they have been sharing all along would you agree that throwing those toys away and establishing what belongs to who with new toys would be a better way to begin this fix?