Hi to you all.
I posted an advice needed please in the last week or so about an innuit which i had taken on.
I am glad to say that he has settled down well, and i have slowed down my expectancy of him.
However, my rotty has taken to instigating fights with him. they are awful and full blown aggression. I know that this sounds as though i am humanising my dog- but i swear she baits him into reacting. She will approach him and get his attention by picking something up, or digging at something close to him(which happened today), then as he goes to investigate she will launch at him. If i am indoors and they are outside alone they will sniff each other then generally ignore each other- very respectfully.
She was doing this a little before when i posted, but now we are having fireworks almost daily.
The fights always happen when either myself or both me and my hubby are around. They were caught snuggling up together on the sofa when i was out and my hubby was busy in another room only yesterday!
Someone suggested that she is trying to protect us, but as very often she is not physically closer to us than him, i can't see that it is a protection issue. If she were trying to get between him and us then i would agee. sometimes these spats are quite a distance from where we are.
i had already taken the precaution of muzzling them both if they are in close proximity to each other to limit any damage to either dog, but the spats come out of the blue.
The innuit- Henry- is now getting on very well with my Jack russell (male) and they spend a lot of time together playing or just hanging.
today when trying to separate the fighters, my rotty daisy slipped her muzzle and grabbed him a couple of times. I couldnt see any damage, but boy did he squeal. He finally backed off, but she kept going even after i got her muzzle back on.
Will this ever pass? I have never seen her so aggressive. She usually avoids trouble.
I remember when we brought charley home she took a dislike to him, but although they're not the greatest of pals they co-habit without issues.
Daisy has been with us for about 4 1/2 yrs and is now 9, and Charley has been here for nearly 4 yrs and must be coming on 5.
Both were rehoming cases.

Hi Trai,

I don't have aggression experience but I would strongly suggest separating the dogs. Muzzle or no muzzles the more the dogs practice this behavior the more frequently and violently it will ocur to the point of becoming a learned behavior. Don't let that happen!!

There are many on this site who have strong dogs with dominant personalities who can give you great advice for handling but until then keep the dogs apart and do not allow the aggression to happen again. Do you have crates for the dogs? A sound investment if not.

Goodluck! Your efforts will pay off with lots of patience and even more management

If you seriously want to keep both dogs, then you and your husband have to change the way you both live with the dogs. If you chose not to, things won't get better. IMO, it is better to re home one of them for the dogs and your safety.

1. keep dogs separated

2. Buy better muzzle than the one you have now. It should not be able to slip out by accidently. Leerburg sells a muzzle that made for rottweiler's muzzle/face shape.

3. Find a good behaviorist who understands dog to dog aggression. You should speak to many behaviorists as you can find. Ask them about their skills, ask them if you can speak with their pervious clients who had similar problem, how much do they have experience, what kind of method do they use like avoid training or koehler, have they titled any dogs in sports, etc. Buy dvds from Leerburg on dog aggression/establish pack/basic OB.

4. Do you have a dominant dog collar? E collar? You should keep the dog tethered to you all the time when you can't watch or doing something, the dog should be in crate!

Good Luck!

Thank you.
I have been keeping them apart for most of the time because, as you said, i don't want this to become habitual learned behaviour.
I have now put in place measures to have Henry rehoused as soon as possible, for his own safety.
A very sad situation, but hopefully i will find him somewhere and someone who will give him the life he deserves.

Thank you Lindsay for your reply.

Having given the situation long and hard thought for the last week, and the problem escalating instead of reducing, i agree that i must now find Henry a safe and loving home.He does not deserve this barrage of abuse, particularly as i had rescued him from a pretty miserable existance.
I have been in touch with a friend of a friend who has rescued innuits before and has contact with a rescue centre for this breed.
We will now keep them separated and safe until a home can be found.
Daisy has to be my priority as she is in her twilight years, and although she is behaving appallingly, this was her territory first, and the interloper just won't do her bidding, despite both hubby and me having changed our behaviour towards her and insisting that she follows the rules of the house.
I know that her previous owner felt she could not be trusted with other dogs which is why she ended up with us.
Thank you again, your response has confirmed to me understand that i am doing the right thing.
By the way the muzzles are back in situ and are now very secure ( i was to blame for the slipping muzzle as i pulled at it in my attempt to get them apart).