Not sure what to do anymore

[Lucky Chaos]

Well the situation with Riley has gotten worse.....Every time Chaos sees Riley she flips out, and turns into a whole different dog. I just don't understand why, she gets along fine with dogs outside, plus we've looked after dogs before, a pug plus Holly and she was fine. Were just not sure what else to do....they can't get within 5 feet of each other, I think my parents are thinking of taking him back, so he can find a new home. :cry:

Other then that, he's a great dog. Listens well and is so smart. He'll do anything I ask of him and he has just enough energy for me, (probably way too much for the average person :wink:) all in all, he's just an awesome dog, and if Chaos wasen't such a b**** everything would be great. I'm just afraid that one day its gonna get really serious, and one of them is gonna really get hurt. Poor Riley really tries to avoid the fights, he's submissive to her, but she picks on him, and yet she's putty in Lucky's paws :-?.

[Guest Anonymous]

That has to be hard. I am hoping my dogs will always get along, but with their breed..it's not certain or likely they always will.

Could there be some pack issues? Has anything happened to either dog to shift or change their pack order? Has either been ill, away? Given more attention, less? Stress? anything? Maybe something really you have not thought of or have not seen is going on?

Have they been to a trainer, together? If not, maybe that would be a good idea?

Are they only getting along any where? Sorry I don't really know a lot about their past together, so forgive me for all the questions. I hate to say this but if they have actually fought or sometimes it just takes a spat, for them to never get along again. Sometimes they just cannot work it out, which means the best thing for everyone and the dogs, would be another home. It's a last step sort of thing though. Can they not live seperated?

[Lucky Chaos]

That has to be hard. I am hoping my dogs will always get along, but with their breed..it's not certain or likely they always will.

I hope its not her breed......she is half pit, but outside she gets along with most other dogs, and if she gets bossy, I just put her on leash and she's fine.

Could there be some pack issues? Has anything happened to either dog to shift or change their pack order? Has either been ill, away? Given more attention, less? Stress? anything? Maybe something really you have not thought of or have not seen is going on?

Well we just got Riley a week and a half ago, and there were like this the day after they got home, they were fine on the first day, though Chaos was a little reluctant to let Riley come into the house with her.

Have they been to a trainer, together? If not, maybe that would be a good idea?

No they haven't, but it would probably be hard to get them to the trainer in the same car, and my parents probably don't have time to take them.

Are they only getting along any where? Sorry I don't really know a lot about their past together, so forgive me for all the questions. I hate to say this but if they have actually fought or sometimes it just takes a spat, for them to never get along again. Sometimes they just cannot work it out, which means the best thing for everyone and the dogs, would be another home.

Thats pretty much what happened, Riley came to close to ME and Chaos went after him. After that, thing went downhill and they haven't got along since.

It's a last step sort of thing though. Can they not live seperated?

Well I'm not exactally sure how we could do this, the dogs usually have full access to the whole house and the yard, which isen't that big, and I don't think that either of them could be outside dogs.....

[Guest Anonymous]

Ok. How old is Riley?

If Riley is new to the house, there is a chance that the two dogs have not had time to figure out their pack order. I think that with any new dog/puppy there is usually 2-3 weeks of trouble, the dogs are all just getting to know eachother, the humans are trying to bond with the new dog. It's a fun and happy time, but it can and is trying for the other dogs and people as well.

How were the two dogs introduced? There is a lot to be said about a proper introduction, and it really can have an effect on the entire rest of the dogs relationship. However...you can successfully in some cases reintroduce dogs, using the same steps you would with the first introduction.

Have you tried taking both dogs to an area (park, field) that neither regard as "their" turf? Is that how they were introduced the first time? off the orginal dogs property, or home/turf? Dogs are territorial animals, and if you just bring another unknown dog on to their territory..things may not go very well. You can try taking them to another area, like I said. Both leashed, LOTS of treats in hand...one person for each dog! And simply walk normally with each dog, act like the other dog is not even there. If Chaos ingores Riley then praise her, give tons of treats...be crazy happy!

If she does not, try putting her in a sit or down and praise her for that. Keep doing this until she has calmed down. Try to keep it positive and upbeat. Lots of treats and happy praise, but do not calm or react to her if she does freak out. To a dog your calming will relate to them as praise. Instead of trying to settle her down, either make her sit and or act like she's being nuts, ignore her, be like "are you crazy? that's just another dog..you wing nut!". Try to keep you tone even if you talk to her, neither happy or upset with her crazyness!

She should start to settle down, as that happens move closer to the other dog..with you making the move closer. Keep repeating this until you can be side by side. Clearly if Chaos does not settle down do not get too close to the other dog...but also do not give up if she doesn't get over her grudge in one day. This may take time and probably will.

The dogs could live seperated if you/your parents can live around this type of living arrangement, without having the dogs live outside. One can be inside, while the other outside and so on. Are the dogs crate trained? If so would you/parents think about crate training either dog? This would also help.

Have you or your parents maybe been paying more attention to the new baby in the house? Because this can upset the pack order and without knowing it you can cause conflict amongst the dogs. It's hard to tell over the computer, but do you know which dog is the alpha? I can probably guess Chaos, is the boss over Riley...but I think there is a chance that she feels like her position is being tried by Riley. And she does not want to give it up without a fight.

Here are some good links to dog/dog fights...maybe it will help, if I did not. :wink:

Dog fights:

http://home.att.net/~vlea/DOG_FIGHTS.htm

Leeburg's Dog Fight Question and Answers (not too sure if he is a good trainer or not, but maybe you will like his methods/ideas?):

http://www.leerburg.com/qadogfight.htm

Explaining Canine Rivalry:

http://www.ahshc.org/behav/canine_rivalry.htm

How to Keep Your Dogs From Feuding:

http://www.petplace.com/Articles/artShow.asp?artID=2303

Multiple Dog Households:

http://www.paw-rescue.org/PAW/PETTIPS/DogTip_Multiple_Dog.html

Good luck I hope that helped.

[Guest Anonymous]

I forgot to ask what breed Riley was? If he is the dog in the pic under you nick, he looks like he might be a Pit bull? If so sometimes...Pit bulls will get along with all dogs, except other Pit bulls. They actually can tell the difference, and more then likely this is something that will not change. It can be redirected but it will be a lot of work.

[Guest Anonymous]

How well does Chaos do with her obedience work? Will she work around other dogs and keep focused on you?
If she's pretty obedient under distraction, then you can use that to help you keep her under control when Riley is around. That's what I'v ebeen doing with Annie (dog aggressive kamikaze mini Dachshund) and Haley (also dog aggressive, and thinks Annie could possibly fall into the "prey" category).

If you're the only one working with them...
Bring Riley into a room, on-leash, and hook the leash over something on the far side of the room. Then bring Chaos in on leash as well. (You're bringing her in last because if she's already in there, she'll be more likely to try and guard the space when you try to bring him in.) Hook her the same way far enough away from him that they can't reach each other (or even get too close, I'd keep it so they were always at least 5 ft apart, more if she's carrying on or trying to get to him). Make sure that whatever they're anchored to is sturdy. Then work both in obedience. Start by going back and forth each time you do a command... first one dog, then the other, then first dog another command, then second... you get the idea. Then start doing several commands in a row for each dog before switching. You can even do this while you're watching tv... put both on the tie-downs, and give commands during the commercials, with break time in between for them to just lounge. Or if you can get them (or even just Chaos) to do long sit/down stays, you can even do that, put them into down/stays while you do something else. Another thing I've done is to work Goo before I work them, with one in the room with us, and one (usually the troublemaker) blocked out a la gate. She's usually a complete angel for this type of thing, and since the other dogs see her working and getting "paid", they want their part, too, and are usually MUCH better behaved when it's their turn.
If at any time one of the dogs snips at another, barks, growls, or even gets too intent in their staring, they're tossed out (not literally, though sometimes I'd like to :lol: ), and I put up a gate so they can watch the other dog(s) behaving and having fun. As they get used to working around each other, you can start slowly moving them closer, but don't let them get to where they can reach each other while on the tie-downs, or if they get into a fight, they'll get themselves AND you tangled.

It's much easier if you have two people who can each take a dog, then each person works their dog through obedience, and you can move closer as they progress and become comfortable.

I watch Haley carefully with the other dogs, and at the first sign that she's getting pushy or trying to pick a fight, she gets seperated (gated in the office, "her" room) for a bit to let her cool off. "Pushy" includes everything from humping (she's only tried that one a few times, both times Goo put up enough of a protest that Haley actually ran away, tail tucked :roll: ) to trampling sleeping Goo while trying to do zoomies, to leaning on/licking/sniffing others after she's been warned off, among other things. Goo minds her own business, but I've also had to seperate Annie from Haley a few times, so EVERY dog involved gets it when they get out of hand, doesn't matter WHO they are.

It's taken WEEKS to get to the point where I can let Annie and Goo go through the house to go outside in the mornings without having to put Haley away or pick Annie up. Even so, I have to be careful to keep Annie close by me, just in case Haley gets any goofy ideas. All three sleep in my bed on occasion, and all three will hang out on my bed while I watch tv or on the floor while I'm on the computer, but I still watch them carefully(When they sleep with me, Goo is on one side of me; Annie on the other, on a 2 ft lead around my wrist because she used to sneak out to pee on the floor during the night, and I still don't trust her; Haley at my feet. If Annie tries to go down towards Haley, she pulls the leash, which wakes me up. If Haley moves up, she makes the matress sink in, again, wakes me up. I really don't think they'd bother each other during "sleep time", anyway, but I'd rather be safe and keep track of them.).

I guess the point I'm trying to make is that it can take time for them to work things out, and that you have to try and be patient, as things don't always just "click" (though it's great when they do!). :wink:

[Guest Anonymous]

We know all about the "standing over" and the "head over shoulders" tricks here, K. Haley is especially adept at them because of her missing leg. She just scoots up beside the other dog, leans over them, and her stump either rests on their back or prods them in the side. Thankfully, Goo is much too dignified to get involved in these silly games, and just rolls her eyes up at me complete with the (now trademark) exasperated Goo expression ("rude youngsters! No manners at all!" :roll: ). Though Goo did sass Haley a little the other day... Haley was running around the house, and Goo decided I should play with her (I was doing schoolwork), so she started playbowing and barking at me. Haley came over to see what the fuss was about, and Goo started doing the same to her, and grabbing playfully at her ankles. I almost laughed when I saw Haley's reaction to having the tables turned. She didn't know what to do, and by the time she figured out that Goo was playing, Goo had already turned her attention back to me. Seperating her when she gets like that has helped a lot, as have Goo's few strong corrections when I didn't grab Haley fast enough or she did something that pushed Goo over the edge and out of the land of indifference :o :lol: I hope he figures thing out soon :wink: