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Pupforum presents your training questions answered by professional dog trainers.
Lynne has been training dogs since 1985. She has worked as head trainer for two facilities, a studio trainer (print ads, commercials and television) and as a continuing ed and certification rep for what was then the largest dog training company in the US. Lynne is a member of the IACP and keeps her training techniques current by attending various seminars and reading books. She currently competes in the sport of schutzhund, has a registered therapy dog, and has started her young Papillion in agility. Lynne owns and runs Blazing Trails K9 Academy in Santa Clarita/Antelope valley California.
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1/3/2007
I have two beagles. One 6months old male and one 3month old female. They don't seem to be getting along. The little one always starts the fight and
it turns into rage. When I'm home I can stop the fight but the problems is when I'm not home. I've got a complaint letter from the neighbor that they're too loud. They don't usually bark except when they're in a fight. So I'm assuming they're fighting all the time when they're left alone. I tried to separate the two but they howl and cry. I really don't know what to do. Help!! =) (hangin80, Texas)
ed note. Any information on the pupforum website does not substitute for
sound advice and recommendations from an experienced dog
training professional who has evaluated your dog in person. Please read the rest of
our disclaimer here
This problem really should be looked at by a
professional trainer with experience in dealing with
aggressive dogs, or a veterinary behaviorist. It is
extremely hard and dangerous to diagnose aggression
without seeing the dogs and getting more details to
figure out why the dogs are behaving the way they are.
Without knowing this, it is next to impossible to come
up with an appropriate training plan.
A couple of things come to mind...generally when dogs
of this age behave aggressively (under 6 months of
age) there are some real problems. Either the dog
learned to cope with stress at an early age by
reacting aggressively, or there is a genetic tendency.
Perhaps the first fight was started by the older dog,
and now the younger one has associated seeing your
older dog with the fear of being attacked. Perhaps
they're fighting over some resource not mentioned in
your question. Perhaps there is some status conflicts
going on (though at this age it rarely if ever
happens), or perhaps they're just playing roughly (I
HAVE had clients approach me before with concerns of
the dogs fighting only to have it turn out to be
play). It is impossible to determine this without
further information, and without seeing the dogs.
One thing that could help a trainer or behaviorist
(information that would be helpful when you have
someone come out) would be if you can videotape the
dogs behavior when you're gone. Setting up a video
camera on a t
ripod with the camera zoomed out for at
least the first hour you're gone may be helpful. Also
make note of any behaviors happening BEFORE the
"fight". Are the dogs stiffening? Staring each other
down or giving each other "the eye"? growling? Was
there conflict over resources like tight spaces, entry
areas (doors, hallways etc), food, toys, or the best
resource of all...their humans? Did the dogs get
overly excited over something else and then turn and
attack each other (redirect aggression)?
Make note as well of any injuries occurring in the
fights. List if the injury was superficial or if there
were spots of broken skin and where on the body these
injuries occurred. Also note on which dog these
injuries occurred.
Some basic tips for breaking up a fight include
grabbing the back legs of the most offending dog (the
one doing the most fighting) and swinging out. You do
NOT want to reach into the middle of a full blown dog
fight, nor do you want to escalate it by screaming.
For the time being it might be best depending on the
severity of the situation to keep the dogs separated,
or to at least keep a leash/drag line on the dogs at
all times for ease in breaking up squabbles. The only
problem with keeping a line on is the risk of having
the dogs become tangled. Use your best judgment.
You should also read my article "Who's leading Who"
and apply the leadership concepts as soon as possible.
Again, you really should invest in a trainer or
veterinary behaviorist who specializes in this type of
behavior. There are too many factors in play here to
be able to properly diagnose this from an email, let
alone be able to give you accurate advice. The only
other (and less desirable) options would be to rehome
one of the dogs, or keep them separated at ALL times.
At this point, there is some sort of anchor formed in
the dogs’ behavior. This means that there has been some
sort of association made. For example: if the last
time the dogs looked at each other, they got into a
fight, then on subsequent times when they look at each
other, they are more likely to fight because of the
association made by looking at each other and
fighting. I don't know this for sure without further
information however and you really need to have
someone come out and spend some time with you and the
dogs.
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