This is not my usual tone, but I’m really, really frustrated and worried. Actually, my husband and I are both really, really frustrated and worried. So I’m hoping someone out here might have some insight that would be helpful.
We have three dogs. Two are male, one female. We’ve had the males for 5 years; the female was a desperate rescue situation, and we’ve had her for about 2.5 years now. The males were puppies when we got them, and they have been together since they were very, very little (they came from the same foster care home through a pet adoption agency — one was actually born there, the other was barely old enough to be weaned when they got him). All three are fixed. The two males were obedience trained early on, and we have NEVER had any of them even threaten to bite a person.
Anyway, we never had any problems with pack position fighting until about a year-and-a-half ago. I’m not sure of the female’s position in the “pack” — she’s very quiet and submissive to us, but on the occasion they have started picking on her or tried to bully her, she has definitely showed them who was boss. However, on the other hand, the two boys have now had three bloody fights. The first one was in April ‘06; my husband and I tried everything then actually had to just about climb on them to pull them apart (which was difficult and dumb, as they are 65 lbs and 98 lbs). The 98 lb one had to get stitches. They soon after made up, and we spoke with their trainer and vet — both said to just watch them, it could just be vying for position, and it could’ve just been a sibling spat. So we did, and nothing, until Labor Day of this year — so that was 17 months without incident. Then the other one needed stitches. So we kept them separated for a few days, and they cried and cried until we let them be together again. And then, last night, it happened again. This time, it seems like the wounds are superficial, though one dog’s limping a bit.
So, we’re at a loss. The two dogs are otherwise gentle, playful, and loving, and have never shown any aggressive tendencies towards the family at all (including our two kids, who can basically sit on them without even getting a reaction). In fact, the dogs clean each other and sleep together often. Our trainer, though a naturalist in many respects, suggests electric shock collars for situations like that (he and his wife have three malamutes with the same problem, and they’ve used them with success), but we’re afraid that it will exacerbate the situation, they’ll identify the pain with the other dog, and fight harder, know what I mean?
:::sigh::: I have too many other things to worry about, than to have to constantly shell out the bucks to the vet’s office!
I was brought up in a household that taught me that pets become part of the family, and once they’re in you tough it out (unless, of course, there’s some unfixable serious danger to a member of the family). However, I can’t say I haven’t had fleeting thoughts since last night about looking for homes for one or both of the males, as much as I love them both. Because this is ridiculous – my biggest fear is that they’ll kill each other one time, when we can’t get them off of each other. Worse yet, that they’ll bite one of us trying to get them off of each other, and then we’ll have to get them put down.
There’s just no easy answer. I sit here, in my office, with one laying at my feet. The other male has been limited to the other side of the house – we tried leaving him (with the female) out in the backyard, but he whined and whined until we let him in. Now he’s in the other room whining and whining, because he can’t be over here (how very catlike). But I won’t let them be together until we figure this out. Once in a year-and-a-half is somewhat bearable, but this is twice in two months.
I don’t really want to have to find another home for them, because I know it would be next to impossible. People generally don’t want a 5-year-old dog when they adopt; they want a youngster. Plus, we’re the only family they’ve known, and I think that would damage the dogs mentally, too. And we do love them. My kids would be DEVASTATED.
My husband is calling the trainer today, but any suggestions would be helpful.
