My two dogs fighting

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Equineart888

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Need help my Labrador bitch(1year) has started to for no apparent reason to attack my terrier bitch(1year) they ate both spayed and have been best friends up to now, first thing they do on waking is lick each other with lab cleaning terrier. The attack started two days ago and has happened every day since no biting, but very worried, help please.
 
Remove all shared toys and bones etc and feed separately. This is the biggest source of most fights. The toys are YOURS and you decide when they come out and who plays with them, you bought them, you have the receipts, they do not belong to the dogs.

Are there ANY triggers? Would one licking the other cause some sort of pain response in the terrier? Or she just might find it annoying, I know I would :p
You could pop them both to the vets to be on the safe side.

Problem areas can be elevated spaces such as beds or sofas so I would ban both of them for now. Also doorways/gateways, entrances and exit points are where scraps can break out.

Put a short hand line on both of them so you can lift one or the other out of the conflict without grabbing the dog or getting bitten by accident.

Break it up firmly and calmly and isolate the aggressor. Don't get stressy or high-pitched and try not to stick hands or feet into a scrap.

Never leave them alone unupervised until you get this sorted.
 
They feed in separate rooms already, and attacks not at time when they are licking or playing, but good idea to keep them both off bed and sofa, will
Also try line to grab, this morning an attack happened as I was about to put their leads on and last night terrier was heading out of room and lab was on sofa with me she just launched at terrier. Thanks for tips
 
No worries, that all sounds relatively normal in terms of where and when fights are breaking out - sofas and doorways - they are just probably coming into maturity and trying to assert themselves - it's important that you act as leader and take all the ambiguity away from the situation, don't lose your temper but don't tolerate any nonsense either - it's your house, your rules, scrapping is not acceptable and it's not happening, end of. Once it's over, back to neutral.

Fighting bitches are much worse than fighting dogs!
 
Thanks for that feel better about dealing with it, just was shocked and worried that lab would change they were such good friends, but think your idea of them both barred from height great idea,the attack is all pinning small dog and aggressive growling as if savaging with scruff up but no biting, yet! have just been out the fields with them and they were racing about together as if nothing had happened!
 
My rottie bitch starting attacking my ridgey bitch about 18 months after we got a rottie dog. They had previously been the best of friends. It only happened when people came into the house so we became very aware of those occasions and mostly managed to control the situation. You have to become very smart and read the signs and step in to stop it before it happens. Best of luck with your girls.
 
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