What is happening???

[lovemysheltie]

Hello,
I have a couple questions to ask, I really need your help.... I don't know what is going on, Ok.. So My Lyla just turned 1 yr. on April 5th.... We have a outside dog that is a girl, well I let Lyla in the backyard to go potty play with Lucy our other female dog, never any problems well about 1 month ago all the sudden they just started fighting it took alot to finally get them apart... then they were fine 5 minutes later, and nothing like that again until Yesturday! Same thing! They were really fighting! What is going on? She has not been spayed yet... Do you think that is why this is going on? Also, the other thing is she does not like my Husband at all! He has not done anything to her and whenever he even walks by her she starts going crazy barking! I dont know what is going on... Please some one help me! She loves only ME!!!!

 

[BarbV]

What do you mean by "outside dog"? Does Lucy never go inside? How is she socialized with people and other animals? Does she get walks? What breed is Lucy?

I'm not putting blame on her, btw....just trying to understand the situation before I comment further.

 

[melbell]

I agree with Barb, more information is needed.

To the husband comment, some dogs prefer females/males over the opposite. Honey hates males and will bark at them more than females, but she grows accustom to males she sees often. Also does your husband wear hats or anything scary that would set her off?

 

[Caro]

A few thoughts (more info would definitely help).

Yes Lyla being entire could be part of the problem (you don't say if the other dog is desexed). My female was attacked many times when she was young (by other females - mostly desexed females) and in the end a behaviourist vet said the best way to stop the attacks was get her desexed, and it worked, the attacks stopped (I won't go into the long details of why). Being intact will also be feeding into other issues, which include
- Lyla's an adolescent with hormones so is likely to be edgy
- mature dogs don't really like adolescents
- your outside dog may be jealous.

Not unusual for dogs to be scared of men - they have deep, growly voices. Get your husband to talk to her in a higher pitched voice. Get him to give her meals - a way to a dog's heart is through their stomach. Although crazy barking is often excitement - maybe she wants his attention.