Stop My Dogs from Fighting

From LoveToKnow Dogs

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Hi Jeremy,

It sounds as though both your puppies may be alpha males, and they are having difficulty working out which one is going to be the top dog. Neutering can lower the aggression levels, but it's not a guaranteed cure.

If you're willing to go to the expense, you could invite a canine behaviorist to come to your house to observe the dogs in action. the behaviorist would then recommend a course of action based on your dogs' exact behaviors. This would be the surest way to resolve the issue.

It may also be helpful to give your dogs more to do in order to divert their energy from each other. Indestructible Dog Toys, trips to the park and daily walks may dissipate some of their machismo.

Thanks for your question, and I do hope you're able to work things out.

Hello, I have two coton de tulear 9 month old males. It was when they were about 6 to 7 months that they had first fought with each other. Ever since then the dogs had been fighting with each other. It's extremely odd because they fight out of no where. What happens is that they start staring at each other and putting their heads down sniffing each other. All of a sudden one of them starts growling, and the other attacks him. When I pick one of the dogs up, they try to leap out of my arms to try to attack again. I can't stand to see them like this. They don't completely "hate" each other because there are times where they run around the backyard together and have fun. Last night, they both slept next to each other next to me on the bed, with no problem. They are not neutered. I plan to do so very soon. I really want to solve this problem as fast as I can. Is there some sort of product I can buy to resolve this issue? Trainers usually charge a grip to come to houses. For the past 5 days, they have been having at least one fight a day. Something has to give. I do not want to resort to permanent separation. Please help!

I have 2 pitbulls... a female (spayed) almost 5 years old and a male (not nuetered) about 2 years old. Within the last month or so fights have been breaking out amongst the two. It ALWAYS starts because of a stare-down. One will look at the other and the female immeciately perks her ears up accompanied by very wide-eyes. The female will then growl and when the male growls back the female will attack. It seems the male doesn't even know what is happening as he doesn't posture up and just remains seated.

Since this reoccuring theme I have learned the art of breaking dogs up. Since being bitten on the forearm pretty bad I've learned to never come in between them and grab their back legs to pull apart.

The male dog always receives the worst of it. Last evening they fought twice. One resulting in a punctured lip and welps around his neck and shoulders.

We used to let them up on the couch but after a couple fights we decided to try making them stay on the floor as I've read letting them up on the couch can progress into dominance. This worked for about a week or so.

Then it became a fight over who gets to lay under my wife and I's feet. Last evening the female upon my request laid down under my feet with her belly up. The male then came about 4 feet from her and was simply sitting. The female then began the stare... I tried over and over to snap her out of it and I don't know if it was her reluctance to stop staring or his. After doing the Ceasar Milan "dog bite" and scolding her about 4 or 5 times she jumped up and growled. Fight commense...

This has also happened as the male would sit all the way towards the end of the couch, the female on the other. The male will peek his head around to see whats going on and the female will jump up into his face and begin growling. This escalates quickly into another fight.

Last evening I separated the dogs for 2 hours.. regardless of their incessant whines and howls.

This is becoming a problem I don't know how to handle even after reading numerous books and websites. Please help!

• Hi Chris,

I'm sorry to hear that your dog's aren't getting along, but in this instance I'm not surprised. Pitbulls typically develop a certain level of intolerance for other dogs around eighteen months old. Even if the dogs get along for a while, the sparring is bound to begin sooner or later.

I would definitely have the male neutered to see if the lowered testosterone level mellows him out a bit. In this case, I'd also hire a canine behaviorist to come observe the dogs together in your home. This person is trained to identify the behavior cues that lead to the fighting and figure out ways to avert those cues. I do hope you'll find this helpful.

Thanks for your question, and best wishes for a harmonious home.

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