Dogs not getting along

[Tabitha]

When Jody came home almost two years ago, one and only dog, F-kap, wasn't pleased. They always got into fights when Jody grew up. I used to stop them when they would growl at each other, then a few months ago I decided to let them work it out and only interfered if it got out of hand. This happened about five times, them growling at each other, circling, and bearing their teeth for up to ten minutes. I only ever stopped them if they snapped at one another. They haven't done this in over a month now, and play fight a lot more. I always watch these play fights to make sure it doesn't go any further than that. I can't ever play fetch with them though, it always ends badly. F-kap doesn't like Jody to run and play. Dose anyone have any experience with dogs that do this?

Also Sarah is trying to dominate EVERYONE. Not just the dogs, but me as well. When I run them she's always barking at the others. When I run just her she barks at me and sometimes try's to heard me by nipping at my ankles. That's when I stop and ignore her, over and over again. It doesn't ever work. It's really annoying.

 

[Mom2Melli]

F-kap doesn't like Jody to run and play. Dose anyone have any experience with dogs that do this?

Yep. My sheltie I joke is some sort of Puritan. She doesn't believe anyone should have any fun. No chasing, no ball, no running around outside. That includes the cats, the other dog, or my husband and me -- or any combination of the above family members. Fortunately, the other dog is really calm and the cats are older, but still. Teeth will show if someone is frollickin TOO much for the little diva's taste. I stop that nonsense.

I think since she has only been here 3 months she is trying to take control. Nothing I can't handle, nothing too aggressive. I think she was doted on in her former home and she wants to be alpha. It is my job to make sure she does no become a little tyrant which if I give little by little she will definitely become. I just use an interrupter "be nice" or "eh" to stop when she starts getting snarky. This is a phase because she is new and we will all learn with time how to get along. No little tyrant in this house.

One of my Aussies was an alpha+++ and so this sheltie is small potatoes in my book but something to make sure does not progress.

 

[Judyg]

I know I'm going to have to deal with this in a few month's. My Eskie was not the alpha dog when Kody was around and now he's the only one, but he was always submisive. It was quite a trip to watch Kody put him in his place. Note that Kody was a 14 lb Pomeranian and Milo is a 35 lb American Eskimo. It's going to be interesting to bring a puppy in. My cats are not going to be happy with us that is for sure.

 

[Katagaria]

F-kap doesn't like Jody to run and play. Dose anyone have any experience with dogs that do this?

Yeah, whenever I try to play around with Cosmo, Jet either A starts barking like mad at us, or B grabs Cosmo's tail or nibbles his side. Yet if we play with Jet he happily runs around while Cosmo only watches.

And Jet can be a massive trouser-grabber if he gets really into it, that's usually when I have a dog on each leg.

 

[labgirl]

Only person allowed to start a fight here is me Seriously I do not tolerate in-fighting among my dogs, or for that matter between them and the cat. Whoever starts it is told off and sent to the kitchen. If it happens because one has a bone say, I would always feed bones separately rather than risk someone getting cross.

Most of the time it isn't dominance, just dogs getting on each other's nerves, like kids.

As for the barking, nipping when you run, well you are being herded that is common behaviour in a sheepdog, again not dominance. Jody clearly has a strong herding instinct. I would avoid running with her, or do as you have already and stop when she starts to herd and wait until she is calm before moving on. If it is a really strong herding drive, however, you may have to just walk with her.

 

[Caro]

Sounds like there's some jealousy happening. With fetch are you only using one ball? Like Sophie said, if there's arguments about a shared resource then it's better they have one each. So with the ball - one for each dog. If one tries to take the others then the game stops and you will probably just have to play fetch with them separately. Time outs for any dog displaying jealousy. If Sarah is interfering with the others playing then give her some time out to let them play, but also give Sarah some play time as well - let her know when it's okay to intervene and when it's not.

 

[Tabitha]

As for the barking, nipping when you run, well you are being herded that is common behaviour in a sheepdog, again not dominance.

Trust me, I grew up with herding dogs, I've had 7 shelties, a corgi mix, and an Australian Shepherd mix. I think I know when I'm being herded! But it seems to be more than that. Sarah (not Jody) is very demanding. She wants you to do what SHE wants to do and she wants you to do so as soon as she says. I don't tolerate this behavior, but she's been spoiled by other members of the family. Now she thinks she can tell ME what to do like she does with everyone else. I've never had to deal with a dog like her, so I'm not quite sure how to handle this behavior.

btw, Jody is a boy, EVERYONE mistakes him for a girl at first.

Sounds like there's some jealousy happening. With fetch are you only using one ball? Like Sophie said, if there's arguments about a shared resource then it's better they have one each. So with the ball - one for each dog. If one tries to take the others then the game stops and you will probably just have to play fetch with them separately. Time outs for any dog displaying jealousy. If Sarah is interfering with the others playing then give her some time out to let them play, but also give Sarah some play time as well - let her know when it's okay to intervene and when it's not.

Defenetly jealousy. I tried to play with them all yesterday, nothing I did worked they still agued and chaced each other (no mean growling thankfully). I was just had an idea, maybe I could start off with just two dogs with two balls, holding dog #1's collar and throwing a ball for dog #2. Then while #2 was going to get it trowing the other ball and releasing dog #1. Wonder if this would work? Worth a try I guess.

 

[labgirl]

Sorry, got muddled I still think it is extreme herding behaviour. If it's any comfort Merlin barks at me on walks when I stop moving. Even the people in the park now know what he is like and say "uh oh, Sophie isn't walking fast enough today!"

You need to get some ducks and getting her using her instincts, I would love to do that with Merlin.

I would try the thing with the balls and see how it goes. It might be the case you find certain pairings work best. I've seen it done with gundogs where you have one in a sit wait and the other does the fetch, then swap them. I think it's a really good idea.

 

[melbell]

Sounds like there's some jealousy happening. With fetch are you only using one ball? Like Sophie said, if there's arguments about a shared resource then it's better they have one each. So with the ball - one for each dog. If one tries to take the others then the game stops and you will probably just have to play fetch with them separately. Time outs for any dog displaying jealousy. If Sarah is interfering with the others playing then give her some time out to let them play, but also give Sarah some play time as well - let her know when it's okay to intervene and when it's not.

This. In order to keep all the doggies happy, you gotta have a toy for each and be a fetching machine. I actually have a video on my FB of my fiance playing tug with both Ruutu and Honey at the same time (I'll post it when not at work). I joke we can only have two dogs at a time because IDK how we'd keep up with more. Ruutu always steals Honey's toys. The only way she gets to play is when he's in his crate or they're both playing.

Mine two also fight... Honey never loved puppies which we knew this before we added in Ruutu. Surprisingly, she likes Ruutu a lot more than other dogs my parents have added in. It's funny though because when Ruutu tries to play with her or annoy her, she will growl and go after him, but he just wants her to play chase so he enjoys it. She has yet to pin him or bite him though. I always break it up once they both are acting bad. My favorite part is when we go to PA to see my family and Honey protects Ruutu from my parent's dogs Sooo She must like him a little bit