Please help! Fighting bitches.

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Ilovefoals

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I have a 9yr old Border Collie and a 1yr old Great Dane. They have always got on great, the collie being the boss and the dane following her around like she was mum.

Yesterday they squared up to each other and had a fight. Mostly noise and posturing to start but then full on biting and scrapping. It kicked off as the collie had finished her dinner first and was loitering by the danes bowl and the dane started to growl. Collie growled back and no amount of "oi!" or "quiet" from me shut them up. Then all of a sudden the dane flew at the collie. I literally screamed "ENOUGH!!!!!" and they jumped apart in shock but the rest of the evening stalked around each other really warily.

Today they were fine, back to running and playing together. All friends again. Then Tesco home delivery arrives and the shopping bags were on the floor. They were both sniffing around the bags and the dane again begins to growl. Collie responds and they end up in a very noisy scuffle. I had to boot the dane up the backside to stop her as she had the collie pinned down.

Why has this started? What's happened that the dane now thinks she's the boss? She's in season but it's her second and she wasn't like it the first time. I'm really worried.

Advice would be appreciated :(
 
I'd say it's a linking of the age (she was not anywhere near mature during her first season) and season and the fact that the collie is getting on a bit and the Dane is trying to assert herself.
In fairness the collie was pushing her luck hanging around the food bowl (feed separately).
The second incident also sounds like food/resource guarding so I would just eliminate shared mealtimes/bones/chews/treats etc.

It would be nice if dogs could eat happily together but some dogs are a bit more defensive of their food and space than others and the Dane did warn the collie twice to back off.
 
i agree with CC, the collie will learn to back off but you need to try and prevent this happening as much as poss cos it could all end in tears both scraps were around food, dont let them be around food together
 
They don't call them bitches for nothing.

Food appears to be the catalyst in their dynamics. Don't feed them or give them treats together. It isn't worth the aggravation, worry, or possible serious injury to them or you.
 
I like you style and your firmness will help you keep them in place (when you are there) as your are the one to regard (they must learn that) a fight or squaring up or a simple growl means you are on their case. The boot up the arse, the vocal! is all needed.
As suggested no chews left/feed far apart or feed together like I do and stand guard, when collie finishes, make it your job to play "food police" and block any advance she makes towards other dogs bowl.
My dogs will always give me eye contact to see if Im aware of their intended next move "I am";) I am like judge Dredd:p
Make no qualms you will not STAND for any behaviour of this kind.
Ps as suggested the Dane is finding her maturity and her hormones are catching up, she is now in "stand up for myself mode" and less "I look up to you and respect you mode" in regard to the collie. It's you they both have to respect and regard.
 
Thanks guys. Great advice there. I've just fed them both at opposite ends of the kitchen with me standing in the middle. The collie did look at me as if she were weighing up if was serious about not letting her past then decided I was and sat and waited for the Dane to finish. I scooped up their bowls double quick when they were empty and they were fine.

A seperate question, how long after her season can I spay the dane?
 
speak to your vets as advice still varies, where i work its mid cycle thats said to be ideal as there is less blood flow to the area, meaning there is less chance of a bleed, so 2-4 months after her season finishes would be ideal
 
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