Hi,
I have a dog problem and hope someone can help!
I have a 7 year old dog and have recently got a 2 year old from a rescue home. They play around together most of the time but every now and then the new dog will randomly attack my other dog. She has drawn blood on him and it is defo not play fighting. Im always on edge that she will attack him again ( she has done it about 4 times in 4 months ) I think it is a dominance problem... she wonts to be top dog over my other dog who has been in the house about 5 years now. How do I remedy this problem or should I give her back to the rescue home?

The general rule is that it takes 2 months for a dog to fully settle into its new home. if they are still doing it after 4 months then unfortunately I would say it is going to keep happening...

Your 7 year old dog has been the centre of attention for so long now that I doubt he will 'give in' to the new dog.

Your only options are to constantly watch them and keep them separated when you go out...
Or rehome your new dog

Is she showing any other signs of controlling or aggression like growling or herding/crowding him away from what she wants? The actions may not seem like much at the time, but taken together they form a pattern.

You can try putting her in a separate room (isolation) when she is acting up and giving her love and praise when she is behaving. However, if she is actively attacking the other dog even occasionally, it might be best if you take her back/re-home her in a place where she is the only dog.

Did the rescue group say anything about how she got along with other animals? If they said that she was fine with other dogs, I would let them know that maybe she wasn't around the others long enough to show her true colors.

A lot of the time when you bring in a new dog a pack hierarchy is set immediately. The Female will always be in charge, doesn't matter what age.

Dogs need to set pack rules. If your new dog is coming in and wanting to be "alpha" over your older dog, then there is really nothing that you can do. The fights are going to continue to happen until both dogs know and respect who is in charge. If I were you, go out and buy a cage muzzle. The dogs will still be able to do what they need to do but no one will be hurt.

Also, during this time, really watch for body signs. Does the other dog really want to play? Or is he just "going along with it". Body language is key to knowing whether your two dogs are going to make it together.

Try not to interfere too much when the dogs are trying to figure out who is first. Definitely be there so that no one does get hurt, but if a spanking is in need, then let it be. Otherwise you are going to continue to have problems.

If you do not feel comfortable with any of this, consult an animal behaviorist. I would stay away from the chain dog trainers, such as Petsmart and Petco. They're not very well educated in animal psychology.

Good Luck!

Try not to interfere too much when the dogs are trying to figure out who is first. Definitely be there so that no one does get hurt, but if a spanking is in need, then let it be. Otherwise you are going to continue to have problems.


Good Luck!

Great post in general but I do not agree with this part...
If you spank a dog that is fighting it will only make it fight harder because it thinks the 'person' doing the spanking is the other dog... it's also a great way to get yourself bitten.

I prefer either a bucket of cold water or a large blanket. I have seen blankets break up huge fights in seconds because the dog can no longer see what it is attacking.

Never ever hit your dog water to the face works great tail straight in the air is sure sign of a fight also to prevent a fight is make a noise or say leave it she will get the idea

I had a similar problem once upon a time... you don't say the breed of the dog,mine were a 2 labs...

An older dog we had for 10 years and a rescue that was 3 years old... both males.. both neuthered...

I fed the older dog first,supervised,since I was the pack leader,and made it clear to the new dog,it was my way not his way.and spent time with the new dog,training one on one, when greeting the dogs I ignored the new dog until he calmed down,and then petted him.

I do wonder if she is confused as to her place in the family pack...

If he was getting to rough I would growl at him... seriously...

But as I said,different dogs have different temperments..

I also made sure the new dog knew his place and where he ranked... which was under the cat,last!

It took 4 -5 months,but he turned into a wonderful dog,and we loved him for 12 years.

I just want to add,we did not know his early history or how he was treated prior to us getting him..

It might be worth investagating your new dogs past if you can.

Shaz...

I didn't mean for the person to spank the dog themselves. I meant that for the other dog. Hitting a dog gets you no where. They don't understand it, it scares them and they could turn on you very quickly, especially if it is a unknown dog.

When you first brought home the new dog how did you treat her? Did you give her extra love and attention because she was new or a rescue? Did you give her special privileges or treats over your other dog?

A lot of the time the issues between dogs get unintentionally caused by us the owners without even realizing it. If you give a new dog special treatment and allow behaviors that you wouldn't normally or don't intend on continuing to allow when bringing it home, as a rescue or a puppy then you teach them that it is okay, period. Dogs don't have the ability to understand that this is only for a little while they can only know what is or isn't expected of them so you have to be careful to not blur the lines.

I have seen issues like this caused in the past before when loving owners adopt a new dog and since they feel so much pity for the dog due to whatever past it may have had they coddle it for a little while over their existing dogs which can give the dog an "I'm more important" complex or cause jealousy issues with the other dogs.

Shaz...

I didn't mean for the person to spank the dog themselves. I meant that for the other dog. Hitting a dog gets you no where. They don't understand it, it scares them and they could turn on you very quickly, especially if it is a unknown dog.

Ahhh I get you now, apologies, but it did sound as though you meant to spank them if they got into a fight.

No! Definitely not. Dogs don't understand that type of punishment. The only thing they learn from being hit, is that its scary and that it hurts.

Now I'm confused...
Are you for or against spanking?
Your first post said to spank them and now you are saying they don't understand it :confused:


Try not to interfere too much when the dogs are trying to figure out who is first. Definitely be there so that no one does get hurt, but if a spanking is in need, then let it be. Otherwise you are going to continue to have problems.

Or did you mean spanking as letting the dogs fight?

Sorry I just don't get it.

I guess I should re-write it.

Dogs spank other dogs. When a dog grabs another dog and basically pins it to the ground until the other dog gives is considered "spanking"

I guess it would be letting the dogs fight, kind of. Non-aggressive fights do happen. It is a dogs way of saying, "Back off, you're not going to boss me around and you need to start listening to me."

Right, I understand now ;)