Question:
I just got a new 1 year old Male Collie, I brought him home last night. He has been constantly attacking my 2 year old Male Collie I got in May and my 11 year old mixed breed. I know it’s dominance, they are fine together outside, but the minute we get in the house, he starts in again. Both my other dogs are now scared of him, and avoid being in the same room with him. At the moment I have a baby gate at the kitchen door to keep the new dog away from the other two. But I figure that may make it worse, as now I’m in the living room with the other two, and he is alone in the kitchen, probably getting more jealous. How can I get him to stop attacking the other two dogs? I’d let them work it out, but am afraid one of them will get seriously hurt. The new Collie is gentle and loving with people. Please help!!!Shari Ratliff
Response:
My two dogs fought for a year and a half. They never really hurt each other, besides a few knicks. But it SOUNDED terrible! Today, they fight very rarely, but they will get into it in a strange place or with lots of strangers around. When they would start, I’d run toward them with a book or magazine and throw it down NEXT to them, not at them, yelling NO at the top of my lungs. They would sepaprate pretty quickly. Maurey "If you want to sacrifice the admiration of many men for the criticism of one, go ahead, get married." Katherine Hepburn
Response:
If you keep these dogs separated, you will escalate the problem. Condition your new dog to a human negative reinforcer (a sound device is good); keep him on a LONG line indoors; monitor his interraction with both other dogs. Males generally work out rank problems with littl violence (although tremendous display of threat). If he is on lead and you have negative reinforcer available, you should be able to interrupt any SERIOUS situation (where dogs are actively fighting with no end in sight), with small chance of real injury. If you DO interrupt, do NOT get into the middle or attempt IN ANYWAYto handle the new dog (or the other dog, for that matter). Immediately isolate BOTH dogs from you. Then plan to rehome the new dog.
Response:
: If you keep these dogs separated, you will escalate the problem. : Condition your new dog to a human negative reinforcer (a sound device is What is a "human negative reinforcer"? As I understand the term "negative reinforcement" it means that you take away something the dog doesn’t like to support behavior you want. In my mind a "human negative reinforcer" might be where I would squeal in a high pitch stopping when my dog did what I wanted him to do. Is that the kind of thing you mean? — Diane Blackman : good); keep him on a LONG line indoors; monitor his interraction with both : other dogs. Males generally work out rank problems with littl violence : (although tremendous display of threat). If he is on lead and you have : negative reinforcer available, you should be able to interrupt any SERIOUS : situation (where dogs are actively fighting with no end in sight), with : small chance of real injury. If you DO interrupt, do NOT get into the : middle or attempt IN ANYWAYto handle the new dog (or the other dog, for : that matter). Immediately isolate BOTH dogs from you. Then plan to : rehome the new dog.
If you like this post and would like to receive updates from this blog, please subscribe our feed.