shelleythompson777

They dont do it in the morning so I dont think food is the trigger, I think it is when it gets dark and the food gives them a boost of energy?

Ok, thank you. You have made me feel a lot better! I am working from home tomorrow and Friday so i will keep an eye on them and fingers crossed they settle. If not I will separate them during the day and get a trainer in. I will keep you updated

Thank you! I will give it another week or so, If i separate her she will bark and cry all day though because she LOVES being with the other 2. I also am hoping that because this has only just started to happen and we have had her for 6 months now it comes down to me going back to work this week and Milly being a bit bored. I really really dont want to get rid of her, I love her so much. IF she doesn't calm down and it gets worse, is there a particular program or process you would recommend of rehoming? I really don't want to do this but I will not risk the safety of my other 2 dogs. Thank you again.

If they have always been left alone and have been together for 6 months now, how likely is it that a fight would break out if one has not happened while we have not been home yet? I will try separating them during feeding and keep them apart for a while but I feel like that might make them more excited once I re-join them as a group even if they have calmed down before I do it? Do you think getting a dog behavior specialist in would help? They are so expensive for just one session!

Hello, I previously had 2 dogs - 1 x 9 year old Female Staffy (Layla) and 1 x 10 year old Female Staffy (Zara). In October last year my partner and I recused a third dog that is a Female Staffy X - 9 months old (Milly). From the way she looks, I think she has Ridgeback or Great Dane in her but I am not sure. At first the dominant dog (Zara) was not very nice to her and there were a few fights but that stopped after a month or so and they have all got along fine until recently. My partner recently passed away and I have been off work for 6 weeks, I went back to work yesterday and all was ok but once i fed them in the night they got very excited and Milly and Layla got in a fight that I had to run in and grab Millys lead and put her outside for a minute to calm her down (Milly and Layla have always got along). After the fight Milly kept nuzzling her snout into Layla's face or ear or chest like she wanted to play but Layla was then scared and kept growling at her which made her do it even more. Eventually they calmed down and all went to sleep completely fine and were fine in the morning. They are all in the house together so I was worried about them at work today and came home early at 2pm. When I got home they were all fine with each other, laying in their beds together and the occasional play but once I fed them at night the same thing happened and Milly started getting in Laylas face and Layla started growing and snapping at her again. It went on for about an hour and half and even Zara was being rough with Layla which wasn't helping. Eventually it calmed down and Layla and Milly are sharing a bed snuggled together. Milly is now 15 months old and I read that when a dog comes into adolescents they may start to fight for dominance but Layla is not the dominant female so If this was the case wouldn't Milly be doing this to Zara (the dominant dog)? There are a few things I am thinking it could be but I dont know which one/ones it is and how to stop this from escalating - 1. My partner is no longer here and this is causing them stress (if this is the case would it really take 6 weeks for this to happen?) 2. They are upset because I have been around for 6 weeks and suddenly I am at work all day again (if this was the case why is this only happening after I feed them?) 3. It has suddenly become very dark and cold at night and this is causing them to play up? 4. Because my partner was the dominant owner, him not being here is making the 2 submissive dogs fight over hierarchy? 5. Zara is on her last heat as she is 10 but she is not the one causing the issues. Could her mood be affecting the other 2 dogs behavior? Please help! I don's want this to escalate and one of my older dogs get hurt because Milly is the biggest even though she is the youngest. I am also not handling the stress of this very well due to just losing my partner and I really need help. p.s. Milly and Layla are desexed. Thank you.

Hello, I previously had 2 dogs - 1 x 9 year old Female Staffy (Layla) and 1 x 10 year old Female Staffy (Zara). In October last year my partner and I recused a third dog that is a Female Staffy X - 9 months old (Milly). From the way she looks, I think she has Ridgeback or Great Dane in her but I am not sure. At first the dominant dog (Zara) was not very nice to her and there were a few fights but that stopped after a month or so and they have all got along fine until recently. My partner recently passed away and I have been off work for 6 weeks, I went back to work yesterday and all was ok but once i fed them in the night they got very excited and Milly and Layla got in a fight that I had to run in and grab Millys lead and put her outside for a minute to calm her down (Milly and Layla have always got along). After the fight Milly kept nuzzling her snout into Layla's face or ear or chest like she wanted to play but Layla was then scared and kept growling at her which made her do it even more. Eventually they calmed down and all went to sleep completely fine and were fine in the morning. They are all in the house together so I was worried about them at work today and came home early at 2pm. When I got home they were all fine with each other, laying in their beds together and the occasional play but once I fed them at night the same thing happened and Milly started getting in Laylas face and Layla started growing and snapping at her again. It went on for about an hour and half and even Zara was being rough with Layla which wasn't helping. Eventually it calmed down and Layla and Milly are sharing a bed snuggled together. Milly is now 15 months old and I read that when a dog comes into adolescents they may start to fight for dominance but Layla is not the dominant female so If this was the case wouldn't Milly be doing this to Zara (the dominant dog)? There are a few things I am thinking it could be but I dont know which one/ones it is and how to stop this from escalating - 1. My partner is no longer here and this is causing them stress (if this is the case would it really take 6 weeks for this to happen?) 2. They are upset because I have been around for 6 weeks and suddenly I am at work all day again (if this was the case why is this only happening after I feed them?) 3. It has suddenly become very dark and cold at night and this is causing them to play up? 4. Because my partner was the dominant owner, him not being here is making the 2 submissive dogs fight over hierarchy? 5. Zara is on her last heat as she is 10 but she is not the one causing the issues. Could her mood be affecting the other 2 dogs behavior? Please help! I don's want this to escalate and one of my older dogs get hurt because Milly is the biggest even though she is the youngest. I am also not handling the stress of this very well due to just losing my partner and I really need help. p.s. Milly and Layla are desexed. Thank you.