JustAnswer > Dog
Ask A Question|Register|Login|Help
JustAnswer

Dog

Ask a Dog Question, Get an Answer ASAP!

Have your own Dog question?

5 Vets and Dog Experts are Online Now
characters left:
Not a Dog Question?
Bookmark and Share

Question

I have a 6 year old staffordshire bull terrier. Two day ago I rescued a two year old staffie. the 2 year old is a bit unruly but I was careful to ensure they were socialised, the eldest fed first , the youngest I have had to teach to sit etc,They have had a couple of play wrestles in the garden and seemed fine. This evening they had a full on fight over a stick when I was walking them. It occured twice. I'm not sure if I can trust them. Any advice would be appreciated. The new one is in her cage right now with me nursing the eldests wounds.

Submitted: 437 days and 19 hours ago.
Category: Dog
Value: $9
Status: CLOSED
+
Read More

Optional Information

Age: 2; Female; Breed: Staffordshire bull terrier

Already Tried:
Since the dogs fight we have separated them and caged the 2 year old. My 6 ear old staff will not look at the younger. I walked them back t the car side by side. It seem that the stick was the problem but I can't trust them now.

Accepted Answer

This sounds like a fight that erupted over a desireable object.

It may be you have been elevating the status of the wrong dog and its the younger dog who is naturally the more dominant. You've been trying to put her in second position to you as well as to the other dog. You humans she will agree to being the leaders, but she may then feel she can be second to you, and that your other dog must be third.

This is a great breed but they are designed through generations of breeding to arouse or excite quickly and act decisively when aroused. A small tussle can easily blow up into a big fight very rapidly.

If something as low value as a stick can trigger this then they could get into real trouble over a real food type chew treat, or your attention, which are more highly valued items.

While I do not think this makes either dog 'bad' I do think it may mean these two cannot live together, particularly as it sounds like they are the same sex which increases the potential for dominance issues.

You may be able to work this through with a trainer's help, though it may take relegating your original dog to second place dog rather than first.

It can make life stressful while you are trying to work this out.

I'd suggest seeing if your vet or a local shelter can refer you to a really good trainer or a veterinary behaviorist to evaluate the situation and see how much it will take to allow them to live together with you peaceably.

It may not be possible for you or them to do so and recognizing that soon and finding one a single dog home might be the best choice.

I know how hard this is but even we humans sometimes can't live together, so too not all dogs can manage to do that.

Hope this helps you!

 

 

Picture
Expert: NancyH
Pos. Feedback: 99.5 %
Accepts: 
Answered: 9/11/2008

Dog Expert:Rescue, Train,Breed,Care

30+ yrs dog home vet care & nursing, rescue, behavior&training, responsible show breeding, genetics

437 days and 17 hours ago.

Reply

I figured that may be the case as hard as it may be. I guess we'll stay a one dog family, at least we have rescued one dog. i'l find a suitable hme for the newly acquired dog. I have children and I can't risk another fight around them, or worse involving them.

Thank you very much

Jamie

Posted by NancyH 437 days and 17 hours ago.

Answer

You are welcome - she may be a great dog if there isn't any competition for who's #1.

Thanks for your accept!

+
Read More

Related Dog Questions

  • Is it ok to give beer to a puppy?
  • OK lets try this again. We have a 2 year old female Rat Terr...
  • we have a 3yr Lab.Twice she has gone into a siesure or a typ...
  • I have a Chihuahua,2 in Jan., that is with pups and I notice...
  • I have a long haired Dachshund, his hair is not silky as oth...
  • I have a male maltese cross cavaliar 4yrs old he has what se...
  • Our 2 1/2 year old Havanese ate several almonds, possibly 10
  • i have a small yorkshire terrier, who is now 7 years old. Ab...



Disclaimer: Information in questions, answers, and other posts on this site ("Posts") comes from individual users, not JustAnswer; JustAnswer is not responsible for Posts. Posts are for general information, are not intended to substitute for informed professional advice (medical, legal, veterinary, financial, etc.), or to establish a professional-client relationship. The site and services are provided "as is" with no warranty or representations by JustAnswer regarding the qualifications of Experts. To see what credentials have been verified by a third-party service, please click on the "Verified" symbol in some Experts' profiles. JustAnswer is not intended or designed for EMERGENCY questions which should be directed immediately by telephone or in-person to qualified professionals.
Question List | Become an Expert | Terms of Service | Security & Privacy | About Us
© 2003-2009 JustAnswer Corp.