Post by erinclark on Jan 17, 2006 22:04:37 GMT -5
I was hoping to get as much advice as possible for this problem. I live with 5 dogs, all male. One (Bear) is probably around 10-14 years old, and we've had him for about 7 years. Another (Aroo) is 9 years old, a dalmation german shepard mix, and we've had him since he was a puppy. The third (shaboo) is 5 years old, a Toy poodle, and we have also had him since he was a puppy. We have two young dogs, Romeo, a Border Collie almost two years old and a black lab, (Toby) about 10 months.
All of our dogs seem to be having agression problems right now. My husband and I just got back from a 2 week vacation, when we left the dogs with my husband's parents at our home. The dogs are very very comfortable with them.
When we got back from vacation, Aroo had been inside the whole time along with Shaboo and Toby who are always inside dogs. Aroo was inside because he got in a fight with Bear and had to get stiches on his back leg. The three dogs inside did very well together, but my husband's parents didn't let Aroo and Bear be together while we were gone because of the fight.
The two puppies, Romeo and Toby, have always been good friends. They wrestle and chase eachother a lot, but have never shown any agression problems. Romeo is an outside dog, and toby inside. I think that Romeo and Toby were separated while we were gone, because they have been acting very strange since we got back.
I noticed the first problems today. I went out to get some food for Toby, bringing Shaboo and Aroo out with me. Bear and Romeo were in their pen (which is about 1/4 acre), and I let them out to play with the others. As I was getting the food I heard some growling, so I called for Aroo, thinking he was growling at Bear. I put Aroo in the pen to avoid a fight. Then I turned around to see Toby and Romeo standing together. Romeo is very submissive. Toby was standing with his hair raised, his ears forward, and his tail up and wagging slowly, and growling. I tried to get them to relax by talking in a high voice, calling them good boys, but Toby was still growling. As I came closer with the food, toby snapped at Romeo. Scared, I grabbed Toby's collar to bring him in the house (mistake), and he starting doing that snarl/bark that indicates a fight is coming. I put the food down, yanked toby in the house, and scolded him when he got inside. This was the first time he had been so agressive.
After putting toby in his 'room' for a while, I fed him. Shaboo was there, and wanted some food too. Usually the two dogs have no problem sharing, but toby began growling at shaboo. I again made the mistake of grabbing his collar, and he started snarling and barking again. Shaboo barked back, scared. I told Shaboo to go away, and calmed toby down, and put him in his room again. After some time, Shaboo and Toby relaxed, and they forgot they were mad. Thinking that Toby was just being possessive of his food, I thought I'd try to let him play with Romeo. But when I brought him out he started acting agressive again, so I called him right back in.
I have no idea what to do with my dogs. I want to make sure I take the right action, and not make things worse. Please give me whatever advice you have as soon as possible!!!!
All of our dogs seem to be having agression problems right now. My husband and I just got back from a 2 week vacation, when we left the dogs with my husband's parents at our home. The dogs are very very comfortable with them.
When we got back from vacation, Aroo had been inside the whole time along with Shaboo and Toby who are always inside dogs. Aroo was inside because he got in a fight with Bear and had to get stiches on his back leg. The three dogs inside did very well together, but my husband's parents didn't let Aroo and Bear be together while we were gone because of the fight.
The two puppies, Romeo and Toby, have always been good friends. They wrestle and chase eachother a lot, but have never shown any agression problems. Romeo is an outside dog, and toby inside. I think that Romeo and Toby were separated while we were gone, because they have been acting very strange since we got back.
I noticed the first problems today. I went out to get some food for Toby, bringing Shaboo and Aroo out with me. Bear and Romeo were in their pen (which is about 1/4 acre), and I let them out to play with the others. As I was getting the food I heard some growling, so I called for Aroo, thinking he was growling at Bear. I put Aroo in the pen to avoid a fight. Then I turned around to see Toby and Romeo standing together. Romeo is very submissive. Toby was standing with his hair raised, his ears forward, and his tail up and wagging slowly, and growling. I tried to get them to relax by talking in a high voice, calling them good boys, but Toby was still growling. As I came closer with the food, toby snapped at Romeo. Scared, I grabbed Toby's collar to bring him in the house (mistake), and he starting doing that snarl/bark that indicates a fight is coming. I put the food down, yanked toby in the house, and scolded him when he got inside. This was the first time he had been so agressive.
After putting toby in his 'room' for a while, I fed him. Shaboo was there, and wanted some food too. Usually the two dogs have no problem sharing, but toby began growling at shaboo. I again made the mistake of grabbing his collar, and he started snarling and barking again. Shaboo barked back, scared. I told Shaboo to go away, and calmed toby down, and put him in his room again. After some time, Shaboo and Toby relaxed, and they forgot they were mad. Thinking that Toby was just being possessive of his food, I thought I'd try to let him play with Romeo. But when I brought him out he started acting agressive again, so I called him right back in.
I have no idea what to do with my dogs. I want to make sure I take the right action, and not make things worse. Please give me whatever advice you have as soon as possible!!!!