Hi XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX~
While dominance can be a cause of aggression, there are many, many other causes. Fear and anxiety are actually more common reasons for dog-on-dog aggression than is dominance. You can read more about dog-on-dog aggression here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog_aggression However, the first thing you need to do is rule out any physical causes of aggression. Hormonal imbalances, especially of the thyroid, can lead to this type of aggression. You should have your dog's thyroid function tested, and ask your vet about any other tests she/he feels may be important for a situation like this. If no physical cause is found, you'll need to make some decisions on how your'e going to handle this aggression. You should never punish or yell at the dog for this behavior. Yelling only causes the excitement level to rise. Punishment reinforces the idea that the dog does have something to fear or be anxious about. To change the behavior, a serious and consistent behavior modification program would need to be used. I recommend that you consult a professional dog behaviorist to work with you on this. If you don't want to do that, you can keep the two dogs separate. Perhaps there's a door between kitchen and living room, or a bedroom and the family room, where you can put up a doggy gate. Both dogs could have a crate, and take turns being out with you and in their crates. I would definitely feed them in crates or in separate rooms. If you have a fenced yard, they can take turns being inside and outside. If both of these methods seem like too much trouble, as a last resort, you may want to consider finding a new home for one of the dogs. It may be that your aggressive dog is just not one who can live happily with another dog. If you decide to do that, contact a rescue group in your area to be sure the dog goes to a good home. If your vet finds a physical cause for the aggression, medication may solve your problem. Otherwise, this is far too serious for you to try to "train" your more aggressive dog out of this behavior. The best options seem to be consulting a behaviorist for help, or keeping the dogs apart. You may also find them in the yellow pages, or by referral from your vet.
I hope this helps.
There are actually three other dogs in addition to the new dog keeping the three other
dogs separate would be really difficult our house is really small. We only have one crate and the house is not big enough for two crates. They do get along when out in
the back yard together we have a huge back yard. We have an appointment with
an animal behavorist that is used to dealing with aggresive dogs. I hope that a
tyroid test is not very expensive. Also we have feed them in the same room without any
problems .
I really just wanted to get a secound opinion on my question. I am fully prepared to accept an ansewer if I feel that is satisfactory. All I ask is the expert please fully read
the question before ansewering. The animal dog trainer that came by our house is
very expensive and not real sure I am comfortable with him training my dog as he
believes in extreme aggresivness to train a dog bordering on abuse. Which I'm not ok with. We have had her on a leash all day with a choker collar so we can be in control in
case she lunges. Still considering bringing her back to the pound if the behaviour dosn't
get better . She does seem very nervous around the other dogs like she feels she has
to protect herself. Please anyother tips would be welcome. I can't spend weeks following her around on a leash.
I am in total agreement with you on the dog trainer but not with the choke collar. The problem is pain and violence often makes a dog more aggressive as its a self fulfilling prophecy situation. The dog thinks gee those dogs being here or near me is bad, she reacts, you punish her and she is confirmed in her belief that other dogs are bad because bad things happen when they are around.
To understand the sort of training that may help you with this you can see the videos on this site from a positive type trainer
http://www.veoh.com/collection/imotd
that may give you clues on methods to use with her but will definitely give you an idea of the training style you want to be working with.
I'm also in agreement with CVT_in_MN that you need to do a health check up with her.
You cannot train out a low thyroid issue or a pain problem from a sore hip or a tick carried disease that is making a dog quarrelsome.
It sounds to me like these fights have been of the mostly spit and noise type with maybe a bit of a nick from flying teeth and dog heads. If that is the case it may be you can resolve it.
If she has tried to pick up the small dog and shake it like a rat, or has done serious harm requiring vet stitches or care to one of the other dogs then trying to get her into an only dog home may be the best choice, or returning her to the pound, but be aware aggressvie dogs are often euthanized so maybe a boxer rescue would be a better choice if she is pure boxer.
If she is not that aggressive about it then make sure to pick up all real food toys and chew items in the house to limit 'bones of contention' that fights might start over.
Feed each dog in its own space and don't allow any 'stealing' from another dog's dish.
Pick dishes up after meal time is done so no one can guard their dish.
I'd recommend you put in place the Nothing in Life is Free program (NILIF) with your pack (which is what you are now coping with a dog pack) and you can read abotu that here
http://www.paws.org/cas/resources/fact_sheets_dogs/nothingfree.php
It puts you firmly in the leader role without any violence.
I'd suggest for a control collar if you feel you need one that you check out this one
http://www.cannyco.com/
it works even on boxers. Or for in home control a flat collar may do.
I would also recommend reading here about calming signals to help her relax
http://www.diamondsintheruff.com/calmingsignals.html
and this site can help you read body language to catch the dogs before anything starts and change their focus
http://www2.aspca.org/site/DocServer/CanineBody_Language.pdf?docID=6521
Hope this helps you!
Dog Expert:Rescue, Train,Breed,Care
30+ yrs dog home vet care & nursing, rescue, behavior&training, responsible show breeding, genetics
Your ansewer has been most helpful . I thank you for being so though and I am looking
up all these sites. We need all the help we can get for getting on top of this dog. My
last resort would be a boxer rescue as I do not want her to be put down she is a beautiful full breed boxer. I'll call my vet and ask about the thyroid test and any other
test to rule this out . I have called several behavorist specialists . I appreciate all the
site infomation on dog signals body language too. I truly want to try to help this dog
before giving up on her and with out stressing out my other dogs too much.
I will definatly want to use your expert advice again if i have any more problems. I thank
you again . I just pray my family can get through this difficult time .