Just don't know what to do

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Annette4

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The girls have been really good recently so since they were knackard we decided to try them together.....the result is a puncture wound on Quila's chin and three/four on Tia's leg :(

No warning, nothing just full blown fight. We've been persevering with exercise, keeping them separate etc but it's not a long term solution. We both work full time and are back at college. We can't spend a decent amount of time with them all and they're suffering because of it.

I just don't know what to do. Quila is 100% the problem. She is dog aggressive in general and for whatever reason Tia is a massive issue for her. That being said, Tia is the one doing the damage and although she's not dog aggressive now, I'm worrying what damage this is doing :(

Is it really fair to keep them separate and just spend less time with them on the whole? Or do we rehome? And if we do rehome, which one?

Please be gentle? I've just had to hibiscrub both my girls after pulling them apart....my skin isn't as thick as normal.
 
Poor you and poor girls. Have you tried muzzling Quila and walking them together. Or muzzling both if you have concerns about Tia too? Are either or both neutered? Not sure if there is a previous thread but presumably both are adult dogs that you are introducing to each other rather than a pup and an adult? How long have you been trying for?

Hugs anyway, sounds scary and stressful. It'll work out one way or another, promise!
 
Had a chat with mummy dearest, she is adamant it's about me and OH (Quila jumped on sofa with OH, Tia approached them and thats when it happened) so we're getting some help (and muzzles) and going from there. They walk together fine, they're brilliant so it must be something about being in the house/being territorial.
 
SadKen said:
Poor you and poor girls. Have you tried muzzling Quila and walking them together. Or muzzling both if you have concerns about Tia too? Are either or both neutered? Not sure if there is a previous thread but presumably both are adult dogs that you are introducing to each other rather than a pup and an adult? How long have you been trying for?

Hugs anyway, sounds scary and stressful. It'll work out one way or another, promise!
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They walk brilliantly together. Neither are 100% to recall for very different reasons so on long lines but they're brilliant out.

Tia came in as a puppy 18 months ago. Quila is neutered, Tia isn't but is booked in for December (she needs an eye op as well so delay has been saving for that).

It's happened this year so presumed it was hormonal but now thinking it's more of a territory thing.

Going to be fitted for muzzles on Saturday.
 
Can you muzzle them both when together? (basket muzzles?) the younger, or the more friendly one is likely to be the easier to rehome.
 
I'd start being very clear with them all about what is and isn't acceptable and where they can or cannot be. Sadly sofas, beds, doorways, are common flashpoints so I'd cut sofas and beds out, anywhere where a dog feels elevated or cocky. My own dog was getting a bit above his station so he is no longer allowed on the sofa, he's no longer allowed to run around the house like a whirling dervish, he's either on the mat in front of the fire or in his box or out in his run and if he is going in or out of the house he must be beside or behind me.
He still gets loads of fuss and exercise but things have to be clear for him.

It's not Quila's house, it's yours, it's not her place to tell Tia off, it's yours.

It's a bit of a pain to instill and be consistent with and you have to watch them all like hawks without creating a stressy atmosphere but if you want to hang on to Tia I'd start putting a few more ground rules in.

I've had dogs which did not get on but we have outside space to rotate them in and out etc but we had two bitches who did not get on and one went back to her breeder to allow the older one her retirement in peace and then the younger one came back when the older one passed away.
 
We had exactly the same problem with my rott and Ridgey bitches when we got a male rott. Very musch about attention and never food related. We just had to spot the signals and stop it before it started. Only ever happened when we were around. Not easy but doable. We put it down to rott not wanting to be bottom of the pack.
 
Annette4 said:
We both work full time and are back at college. We can't spend a decent amount of time with them all and they're suffering because of it.
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Sorry to hear they are having problems, but I think the answer lays here, you both work full time, and as you say the dogs are suffering due to it, I would try to rehome at least one of them, I dont have a problem people working and having dogs, I work from home and know how much they sleep, but they must be on edge, you must be on edge, not nice for any of you, so perhaps if you rehomed one, you will all be much happier...
 
Could you put outside kennels and runs up for them? I always think if you are going to be left a lot there must be more to see and think about outside.
 
Clodagh said:
Could you put outside kennels and runs up for them? I always think if you are going to be left a lot there must be more to see and think about outside.
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We're in a rented house with a small garden so couldn't :(

They're going to start going to a trainers on a regular basis as well as more rules in the house. If needs be, Quila can go to my parents until she finds a new home :(
 
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