Hmmmm - advice please! Aggression between dogs (long, sorry!)

FestiveSpirit

FestiveSpirit

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Yup, probably I am vastly over-reacting, but you all know how I am so here goes :p.....

At home the three doglets get on fine - Amy actually growls more than the other two, when Flick and Islay try to invade her space! But never any incidents, I always make sure they are spaced well apart when being fed and never leave them with any treats or toys unsupervised.

When we go for a walk around the woods they are all fine - Islay and Flick tend to tuck in behind me mostly and trot at my heels (which drives me mad actually, I would much rather they were dashing around!) whilst Amy goes and explores ahead of us.

But I am having a few problems when I let them have a gallop around the paddocks, which of course are lovely flat grass so they can really let off steam! Initially Amy was fab and spent time running endless circles with Flick in pursuit, whilst Islay pretty much ignored them. But as time has passed Amy is less and less inclined to run, and I can see why - as soon as she does run Flick and Islay BOTH set off in pursuit, and basically course Amy like a hare :eek: Islay is downright nasty, growling and snapping at Amy's hind legs, and I have now realised the small (well, tiny) cut which Amy has just above one hock is due to Islay not due to Amy catching herself on wire as I originally thought :eek:

So far I have intervened to avoid an out and out fight, as Amy will snap back (and I dont blame her in the least) but I'm not quite sure what to do? Should I just avoid the scenario happening, by not letting them run in the paddocks? Or by keeping Islay on the lead whilst Flick and Amy run? Or should I let them sort themselves out? Any advice for a dithering wet numpty owner gratefully received :o

PS - Islay is now sulking because I walloped her very hard tonight when she chose to be aggresive to Amy when too close to me :o
 
My two do this. When it starts to escalate, ie, it is not play chasing, it is grumbling and snapping, Big Bad Mum has to come out. Use your voice (OI!) use a loud noise (I usually slap a lead off my welly boot, clap my hands etc) and once the focus is back on you, recall and only reward calm behaviour. Once they have calmed down, free again.
I only have to grizzle at mine in a loud voice and that's the end of any grumbliness, snapping or face-making.

I wouldn't call it agression, it's just boisterous behaviour and Amy saying 'no, that's it, I've had enough' and then you come in 'no, that's it. I'VE had enough of the pair of you, leave it out!'
 
I know exactly what you're talking about! The lurchers I walk can get up to that sort of fun! The buggers! One of them in particular thoroughly enjoys coursing a younger bitch - they are all bitches btw. I cannot run them together and even when I have, the younger bitch comes skulking back to me and refuses to run, so theres no point anyway. I have found that running two or four or more generally works fine, its when there is three. Two gang up on one so the only answer I can offer is to get another one!!!!! I have been tempted to carry a lungeing whip with me and give the little cow a crack but my aim is none too good! - and i'd probably get arrested. Sorry not a lot of help, I've tried yelling at her which is occasionally effective, but all in all haven't discovered the remedy yet!
 
blazingsaddles said:
I know exactly what you're talking about! The lurchers I walk can get up to that sort of fun! The buggers! One of them in particular thoroughly enjoys coursing a younger bitch - they are all bitches btw. I cannot run them together and even when I have, the younger bitch comes skulking back to me and refuses to run, so theres no point anyway. I have found that running two or four or more generally works fine, its when there is three. Two gang up on one so the only answer I can offer is to get another one!!!!! I have been tempted to carry a lungeing whip with me and give the little cow a crack but my aim is none too good! - and i'd probably get arrested. Sorry not a lot of help, I've tried yelling at her which is occasionally effective, but all in all haven't discovered the remedy yet!
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Ooooh very glad it isnt just me BS, and that just made me LOL about the lunge whip - dont get me wrong, I adore Islay (she is my favourite even though you shouldnt have favourites) but I will not tolerate that sort of behaviour from her - I did call her a little cow too today!

I was wondering about getting a nice big greyhound dog to keep the narky females in order :p But I shall probably just end up leaving Islay on the lead, I cant really see another greyhound in here.....
 
CaveCanem said:
My two do this. When it starts to escalate, ie, it is not play chasing, it is grumbling and snapping, Big Bad Mum has to come out. Use your voice (OI!) use a loud noise (I usually slap a lead off my welly boot, clap my hands etc) and once the focus is back on you, recall and only reward calm behaviour. Once they have calmed down, free again.
I only have to grizzle at mine in a loud voice and that's the end of any grumbliness, snapping or face-making.

I wouldn't call it agression, it's just boisterous behaviour and Amy saying 'no, that's it, I've had enough' and then you come in 'no, that's it. I'VE had enough of the pair of you, leave it out!'
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Oh no CC, Islay doesnt do boisterous behaviour, she really means it - I have had dogs in the past which just pushed it over the boundaries now and again, that wouldnt be a problem, this is different :(
 
But whatever we call it, it's dogs trying to sort things out between themselves when it isn't their place to. I get twisty faces, bared teeth, grumbling between my two.

I see it everyday, one pushes the other too far, then the other snaps back. Before it gets to that stage, when you see the warning signs, step in. If voice or loud noise does not work, try a water pistol! Better range that way.

ETA - funnily, B always starts it by grabbing Bella's legs too, usually her hocks or pasterns!
 
Disclaimer: I do not recommend cracking your hounds backside with a lungeing whip when said dog is displaying bullying tendencies. Nor do I recommend yelling - in your loudest possible voice - profanities at said dog in a Public Park.
 
The problem is CC when hounds run, they take off, coursing each other at speed. Only if the dog being coursed returns to you, can you physically do anything. When they are going at speed - generally away from you - and the back dog attempts to take down the coursed dog by means of their back legs (!) at speed theres not alot you can do. Its highly frustrating!!! Sometimes I bloody hate lurchers!!!
 
Ah here we go 3 dogitis. It happened with my 2 bitches after they had lived together in complete harmony for 2 years. We got the Dexmeister and once he got to 12 months old the girls (well Sage actually) started scrapping. Sage was serious though and really tore into poor Matts, who never retaliated.
With mine it was a case of recognising the warning signs and stopping it before it even got started. When we lost Matty we had been aggression free for 6 months.
Really hope you can resolve the problem GH J
 
Forgot to add, when hounds chase they go into 'the zone' They fixate on the creature - even if said creature is their pack buddy - they're chasing and become oblivious to everything around them. Not even me legging it as fast as is humanly possible for an unfit 5ft2 shrimp in their general direction, waving leads about, yelling louder than Pavarotti can distract them!!

PS Love them rarely, i mean really.
 
blazingsaddles said:
Forgot to add, when hounds chase they go into 'the zone' They fixate on the creature - even if said creature is their pack buddy - they're chasing and become oblivious to everything around them. Not even me legging it as fast as is humanly possible for an unfit 5ft2 shrimp in their general direction, waving leads about, yelling louder than Pavarotti can distract them!!

PS Love them rarely, i mean really.
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Couldnt agree more with all of what you are saying BS (hmmm, this cannot develop into a habit here :p) - although I did think that was a description of me :D (also 5'2" and in my case dreadfully unfit :o)

Bl**dy sighthounds, who would have them :mad:.......... nope, cant keep it up, I love them to bits really :D
 
mattilda said:
Ah here we go 3 dogitis. It happened with my 2 bitches after they had lived together in complete harmony for 2 years. We got the Dexmeister and once he got to 12 months old the girls (well Sage actually) started scrapping. Sage was serious though and really tore into poor Matts, who never retaliated.
With mine it was a case of recognising the warning signs and stopping it before it even got started. When we lost Matty we had been aggression free for 6 months.
Really hope you can resolve the problem GH J
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Thank you J :) Love your avatar by the way, even though it makes me feel a little bit sad whenever I see it too :(

I am trying to think back to when we last had three dogs - then we had two lurcher dogs and a greyhound bitch, we didnt have any problems but the greyhound (Jura, my brindle) was always pretty laid back on walks and pottered off to do her own thing all the time :D And Talisker was so submissive to Macallan it just wasnt true poor lad, he was terrified of his own shadow back then :(
 
Ah, you see my wonky-legged cripples never make it more than a few feet before collapsing :p

Mine do run too but I can tell by the replies this seems to be a breed specific theme. At risk of repeating myself, if like myself you are acting remotely and this is taking place off the lead, it is a matter of reading the warning signs.

If all else fails then maybe alternating on-lead-off-lead free time maybe the answer.
 
If you have a gob like mine and u don't give a sh!t who is listening, u will get their attention with your voice, I will also go as far as a reprimand with the yell so the yell is enough to stop said dog in it's tracks, in my case when my lot are running and one becomes rather aggressive in their attempt to come between 2 nice players or catch in frustration it's usually TIA, and she gets a "TIAAAAA" in my angriest fog horn voice and she literally slinks from the pack and returns like a wonded dog, otherwise she is well aware she will become the wonded dog:rolleyes:, and will recieve a winding jab in her side via me.

I have no qualms in reprimanding in dangerous situation or one where a fight or injury will occur, if you don't have it in you, then u must make her assosiate the negative in another way, and as you suggest that would be placing her back on her lead.

"I WILL RECORD MY MOUTH PIECE FOR YOU, THE NEXT TIME IM OUT" I keep meaning to do it, im sure u don't believe the manor in which I shout, I have so far frightened the sh!te out of 2 owners over the last few weeks reprimanding their dogs with my mouth, obs not many woman/girls shout like me, but it does work......im sure CC has a gob like mine and im sure she will tell u it works:rolleyes:
 
CAYLA said:
If you have a gob like mine and u don't give a sh!t who is listening, u will get their attention with your voice, I will also go as far as a reprimand with the yell so the yell is enough to stop said dog in it's tracks, in my case when my lot are running and one becomes rather aggressive in their attempt to come between 2 nice players or catch in frustration it's usually TIA, and she gets a "TIAAAAA" in my angriest fog horn voice and she literally slinks from the pack and returns like a wonded dog, otherwise she is well aware she will become the wonded dog:rolleyes:, and will recieve a winding jab in her side via me.

I have no qualms in reprimanding in dangerous situation or one where a fight or injury will occur, if you don't have it in you, then u must make her assosiate the negative in another way, and as you suggest that would be placing her back on her lead.
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Ah ha, I am reading between the lines here..... OK, I get what I need to do :D Dont worry, I love them all and I wouldnt choose to do it, but at the same time they need to abide by my rules and accept that I am in charge - so they will be duly notified if I feel that the rules are getting broken :p

Who would have thought little sweet innocent Islay could be such a cow? Flick does it with no malice at all, she is just a bit of a blundering idiot really, but Islay will have to learn it is completely unnaceptable :mad:

Poor Amy, when I called her over tonight to save her she thought she might have done wrong, but I soon reassured her that she was doing just fine :)
 
You wanna hear me walking my lot gazey!! :o :p No calm peaceful, quiet countryside walks for me!! I have the added problem (and have done for many years) that I also keep terriers with the lurchers! Terriers do not like to be coursed by lurchers and lurchers very much like coursing terriers! I come home with a sore throat some days! It's constantly
''OIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII''
''F****NG PACK IT IN YOU LOT''
''GET YOUR SCRAWNY ASS BACK HERE NOOOOOOOOOOWWWWW''
''TOUCH THAT DOG AND DIE''
''PLAY NICELY OR YOU CAN FECK OFF HOME ON YOUR OWN YOU MISERABLE BITCH/BARSTEWARD''
and my favourite (usually directed at a terrier that has been accidentally sent flying by a larger dog...nothing sends them madder!)
''IT WAS A F****NG ACCIDENT, KEEP YOUR HAIR ON''

Oh I'm glad we have no neighbours!! PMSL :D :p

Basically what I'm trying to say here in a very round about way is find your inner angry side and release it in vocal form when walking bad doggies! Nothing ever escalates above a growl at the very most in my pack. They don't like mum's scary satan she devil voice!
 
LMAO....I will admit seen as Vizzy has that is exactly how I sound....:D
I think we def need to go on a walk together.....it will sharp clear the fields of any other person for miles:D:D

One lady (has an aggressive boxer) said to me, "what if someone looks at me funny or makes a remark when im using a firm voice".

I said tell them to "F*** off and mind their own f****** business" using the same voice:rolleyes:
 
You know it's funny I was having a convo at the yard today about the fact people had noticed that mere cross voice alone was not enough to control my young horse from the ground when he is on one..sweary words are essential! :p :D Was trying to explain to the groom that if she didn't start telling him to f**in pack it in and keep his f***n feet on the floor then she would never be able to lead him in without being squished, and no she can't put him in a chiffney cos quite frankly he is a lamb if you f and blind at him! I think my dogs and my horses have similar training commands and practices! It's all in the swear words, if I'm not f***n and blindin I don't sound geniunely cross enough!!!
 
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