my dogs are fighting

Mrjacks0n

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I have had 2 dogs for a while a 11yo border collie bitch and a 5 yo springer, the bitch has always been untolerante of other dogs if they get in her face and i have done lots of obedience and agility with her and she is very controllable ,springer quite good never fights and very sociable, my son persuaded me to have a dog a staffy, hes a lovely dog about 6 mnths old now and the problem is him and the springer fighting, i do beleive its a pack thing with 1 bitch and 2 dogs and the staffy doesnt know when the springers had enough playing so it turns nasty, i dont know if having both dogs castrated will work its getting hard as i like them all out in the garden on days like this, they are so close and sleep together staffy has always sat on top of springer i think as they are getting older its a leadership thing any ideas thanks
 
I think you answered your own question. Castration may help but you need to control the situation and step in before it gets to the fighting stage.
I had a problem with 2 bitches fighting and eventually learned to recognise the flash points and diffuse them before the rotty got stuck in.
Cayla is probably going to be more helpful to you that me. May be worth a PM if she doesn't come out to play tonight.
 
As M and KT suggest you should castrate, it may def make them more bidable and if the staff is still young I would def suggest you get him done before he matures and gets to mean business, I know many people say "oh all dogs can cause the same amount of damage" but really if that fight turned for the worst the springer will def come off worse, esp if you are not there to intervene, staffs are boisterous in play at the best of times and push their luck and they push past the warning signs where maybe other dogs would take a telling, when they play and they are very rough in play, meaning dogs can take this as dominance and are more likely to turn and warn them and of course as they dont back down they are more than happy to carry on the battle, you need to make a point to say right "ENOUGH" (any voice) and really mean it and if need be if the staff takes no notice, show him you mean business and remove him physically via his collar and make him have time out on his own, this way you can diffuse the situation when you say it's time.
If my dogs play, i.e my whippet and any puppy I have in, although it's never a fight, at times I cannot be arsed with the noise, so they get an "ENOUGH" and they will scarper onto their beds because they know if I have to get of my fat arse:rolleyes: that means trouble:D
So, you say what goes and when it time out and take that job of either dog and def castrate, starting with the staff.
 
Just to add, I would also part them when your are not there, not as in in another room but def crate one if you can, I have seen the damage 2 unsupervised dogs with a history of play fight/turned real fight have done when left alone and a fight has broken out.
Still let them play by all means but introduce rules, i.e on your terms and as long as you let them!
Edited to add, I doubt it's a pack thing, it's a staff thing, they are boisterous and dont know their own strength even in play:rolleyes:
 
thank you ,i will do as suggest, staff dont mess with bitch if he pushes her and i have seen him push her asking to play she tells him off and he listens to her but with the other dog he pushes and pushes even when told off , not being a stffy person its interesting to see others knowledge of the breed cayla you are spot on with the boisterious dog thing he sometimes deserves what he gets but i wont let it get out of hand and i do need to moniter it more closely when they are together, thanks all
 
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