JudyG Posted September 24, 2011 Share Posted September 24, 2011 I have two westies, one is 13, the other 2 (both female). Thy have tolerated each other quite well but in the last couple of weeks they have had a couple of nasty fights. Today they have had two witin half an hour of each. Unfortunately I haven't seen who started it or why - I suspect over food as they were both hanging around in the kitchen while dinner was being prepared. Even worse my eleven year old was in the way and got a nip on his leg. I am sure this was inadvertant by whichever dog it was but disturbing nonetheless. So any ideas why and what to do? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ams Posted September 24, 2011 Share Posted September 24, 2011 The two year old may well be challenging the older bitch. Really your only option is to keep them separated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DBT Posted September 24, 2011 Share Posted September 24, 2011 Couple of things come to mind. Thorough health check on both dogs, esp Mrs.13. It's natural progression for a younger dog to usually want to climb the social ladder. Miss 2 might be feeling it's about her time to shine, and the older dog is an easy target. If this is the cause of the behaviour, you can either step in as a higher ranking pack member and not tolerate it, or just accept the natural progression and behave towards the dogs as if miss 2 is more important than mrs 13. It sounds harsh but may just solve the problem. Fairly subtle changes in health & behaviour from any household member (both canine & human) can lead to power struggles. Of course it may be neither of these things. Other people may also have some great suggestions. It wouldn't hurt to talk to a qualified behaviour specialist esp as their are kids in the mix.....but first thing i'd be doing is booking a thorough health check for both. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aphra Posted September 24, 2011 Share Posted September 24, 2011 Keep them separated when you're not around. Feed them separately and don't leave bones or other high value items around. Consult a good behaviourist Whatever has changed the dynamic between them better to be safe until you work it out, if you can. There might be many causes for the fights and only someone with a good eye will be able to tell you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdierikx Posted September 24, 2011 Share Posted September 24, 2011 Having 2 large breed dogs who have done exactly the same thing, I keep them separated at all times now. It's fiddly, but the dogs have adjusted to it very well, and I no longer have to worry about huge vet bills... or worse... T. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christina Posted September 24, 2011 Share Posted September 24, 2011 Vet check for older dog. At their ages the pack order is usually fairly well settled & has appeared so for a while. Keeping multiple dogs for a long time I have found that when this has happened the older dog is affected by something & the younger dog senses it & seizes its chance to become top dog. Could be as simple as fading eyesight, not always drastic or dire. Seperate if it happens again, its a pain but you can't watch them all the time & damage is upsetting for the dog & expensive for you too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diva Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 I have two westies, one is 13, the other 2 (both female). Thy have tolerated each other quite well but in the last couple of weeks they have had a couple of nasty fights. Today they have had two witin half an hour of each. Unfortunately I haven't seen who started it or why - I suspect over food as they were both hanging around in the kitchen while dinner was being prepared. Even worse my eleven year old was in the way and got a nip on his leg. I am sure this was inadvertant by whichever dog it was but disturbing nonetheless. So any ideas why and what to do? Don't let them anywhere near the kitchen when food is being prepared, and probably not at all as they know that is where the food is. I'd avoid them being together around any potential triggers which increase the liklihood of conflict - the presence of food, exciting events which increase arousal like chase games and dinner time, a highly prized toy, jostling each other going through doorways etc. Teach them to wait and defer to each other on cue, you control the resources so there is no point in them fighting for them. I'd institute a NILIF program and increase general training and exercise as well, esp for the youngster - won't solve things if they are destined to hate each other but should help you get control and can be enough to avoid minor niggles. I'd get at least the older dog vet checked, don't leave them alone together if no-one is around, and if problems continue get some pro help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cannibalgoldfish Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 I have found that when this has happened the older dog is affected by something & the younger dog senses it & seizes its chance to become top dog. Could be as simple as fading eyesight, not always drastic or dire. This is why one of mine has started getting narky with the other dog. Turns out he is getting cataracts and it's making him feel a bit insecure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Missymoo Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 (edited) Younger one challenging older one..until they sort it out or kill or badly main one another I wouldn't keep them together... Are they entire or desexed? That can have a factor in it as well.. Edited September 25, 2011 by Missymoo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OSoSwift Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 I had two Dobes that did that. One was 8 and did have old age issues, young one was 2. Basically the young one picked at the old one but was always controlled quicklya dn they were never left together when not with me. Then one evening the young one decided to take the old one out. The old one survived - she did have lots of holes - and they were seperated from then on. If they both had to be in the car togetehr they wore basket muzzles and I carried a horse whip. Never had to use the whip, but a couple of times there was growling and it got waved in their general direction and they stopped. Get them checked, but keep them seperate and it may be an indefinate thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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