Two dogs are good buddies. They get in fights for no reason. Anyone else?
My two dogs get in fights, mostly about food or toys, so we've tried to avoid those situations by feeding seperately, making sure they only get special things like bones when they're in their crates. They've been together a month, and they love playing and rough-housing, but sometimes they get in fights and break skin on each other, though this hasn't led to anything serious.... yet... because we're always around to break it up. We don't leave them together unsupervised. Has anyone else been through this?
2008-03-28T21:39:28Z
The dogs really enjoy each other's company. They sometimes sleep together, love to go to the dog park together, lick each other's faces, etc. We've had one dog for a year, the other one for about a month, and these fights are getting less common, but they're still a problem.
ckm19562008-03-28T21:44:35Z
Favorite Answer
Dogs being dogs, they may always fight over food.
Our 'alpha' dog, an old man of 17, still tries to pick a fight with the 3 y/o (twice his weight) if food is too close.
When we leave them alone together, we make sure there's no food or toys around.
Be sure to pay a little extra attention to your older dog. Much like kids, dogs can get jealous, whether or not it's justified.
In any canine pack, be it wolves or dogs, there is a leader. These two can be the best of friends, but, there must be one that is the Alpa dog. These actions that they are displaying may be part of sorting out who is the Alpa dog. Usually, the weaker dog will give in . Until this is done there may be a few fights to establish this. Just be sure they are not put in an area where one can not retreat if this happens. If you know who is Alpa then, be sure to give always give the Alpah dog the food and treat first and then proceed to the other dog. It takes a while for this pack order to work out.
Humans can have best friends. And best friends can have disagreements and fight. Dogs are the same. While sociable, they can often have disagreements. About space, food, toys. In the case of unneutered dogs, often it's these things, combined with a higher testosterone level. Yes, I have been through this plenty of times. From my experience, 10 out of 10 times, the dogs will resolve the fight themselves. Doesn't hurt to make them stop though.
The dogs are just sorting out their pack order - who is boss and who is not. It is unlikely that they are going to seriously hurt each other because they KNOW they have to live together. Best to feed seperately and not leave toys around when you aren't there.
I know my two still fight sometimes 12 months down the track. The noise is dreadful and you think they are going to kill each other, but it will settle in time.
The important thing is that YOU are the boss of everyone and no matter what they are doing they listen to you when you tell them to do something.
I think that the older dog is a little jealous because there is another dog around just pay close attention when there are playing. I would let them be dogs.I would also feed them in different rooms. Have a good day!