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Hi, I have a behavior question and if anyone could help me with this situation I would be so appreciative. I have two neutered male dogs who have fought several times (over food or attention) and after the last fight which ended in $250 of vet bills, I separated the boys. It has been about 4 months now of them being separated, and I have just in the past few weeks started crating them side by side when I go out. There has not been any growling, but there has been some staring. I really want them to be together again because they used to be such good pals.
I don't know how to bring them together again without being really nervous about them having another fight.
Does anyone have any experience with this kind of thing, or any advice? One of the dogs is 14 months old and 95 lbs, and the other(the one who gets hurt) is 5 years old and 55 lbs. Both are boxer mixes, unrelated.

Thanks for any help.

>>Hi, I have a behavior question and if anyone could help me with this situation I would be so appreciative. I have two neutered male dogs who have fought several times (over food or attention) and after the last fight which ended in $250 of vet bills, I separated the boys. It has been about 4 months now of them being separated, and I have just in the past few weeks started crating them side by side when I go out. There has not been any growling, but there has been some staring. I really want them to be together again because they used to be such good pals.
>>I don't know how to bring them together again without being really nervous about them having another fight.
>>Does anyone have any experience with this kind of thing, or any advice? One of the dogs is 14 months old and 95 lbs, and the other(the one who gets hurt) is 5 years old and 55 lbs. Both are boxer mixes, unrelated.
>>
>>Thanks for any help.

>>>>>>>>>>>>

Once there have been injuries, it's very risky to try this. Your best bet is to get expert help in person, such as a veterinary behavior specialist. And it still may not work.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47

"Once there have been injuries, it's very risky to try this. Your best bet is to get expert help in person, such as a veterinary behavior specialist. And it still may not work."

Why, in your opinion, is this risky? Have you worked with dogs in this situation before? Can you please tell me what you have seen?
I understand that I will most likely have to hire a professional, but if you can share some experiences that would be helpful to me.

>>"Once there have been injuries, it's very risky to try this. Your best bet is to get expert help in person, such as a veterinary behavior specialist. And it still may not work."
>>
>>Why, in your opinion, is this risky? Have you worked with dogs in this situation before? Can you please tell me what you have seen?
>>I understand that I will most likely have to hire a professional, but if you can share some experiences that would be helpful to me.

>>>>>>>

I have two articles on this you may find helpful at the link below my signature. Titles are "Fighting Dogs" and "Same Sex Dogs in the Home."
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47

Thank you, Kathy. I checked your link and it turns out I have read several of your articles before. I appreciate your help, I will read the articles you recommended.

There are jsut soemedogs that do not get along no matter what you do. With being two males its even mroe likely it won't work out.

Which one is the dominant dog? What did all of the fights start over? Was it jsut them by themselves or in front of you?

I have a female corgi and a female husky who can not get near eachother. Sometimes they act fine and then they jsut go at eachother. So we never let them in the same room anymore. With how our house is set up it works well butI know it won't work for everyone. Its been like this for five plus years now. It never got to the point were I had to take them to the vet but when I picked up my husky adn the corgi came up with her that was it and I was never risking it again. Neither one wanted to give up their position and my corgi is jsut to small to even put up a good fight(I swear I should have named her napolean!).

if you really want to introduce them try a behaviorist but if this has happened mroe than once maybe try to work out a schedule so they are not in contact with eachother. Even after a bahaviorist comes in you will probally never want to leave them unattended together. I would never cage my two by eachother,I think it would jsut make it a lot worse for them. I already think they spend their days plotting how to get rid of eachother
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My boys were best pals until the big one, Nigel, turned a year old. At that time a breeding pair of pit bulls moved in next door and would rouse fights with my dogs through the fence in the back yard. Tension was high and Nigel started acting very protective of his food inside at feeding times. Zoot, the smaller of my boys and 5 years old, got in the way a few times, defended himself, and ended up wounded. Every fight happened in the presence of me or my boyfriend, the dogs never had any problems when they were alone together.
I have kept them completely separated for about 5 months now, it is not too hard. They don't react when they see each other through a fence, they never lunge at one another or try to get at each other. They eat side by side in their crates and they don't growl. (I read about the crating them side by side technique in an interview with Joel Walton.) There was always a trigger for the aggression, it never just happened randomly.

If I have to keep them separated forever I don't mind, because they are both my boys and neither one is going anywhere. I am devoted to both of them.

I'm not a behaviorist, but what you described in the above post sounds like "redirected aggression" and not necessarily overt aggression towards your other dog.

The true aggression was towards the neighbor dogs and since your dog couldn't get to them, he chose the nearest target.

I'd 100% recommend getting these two to a behaviorist who can watch their interactions together. They may not have a problem with each other. I'd certainly never let them "fence fight" with any dog ever again though even when seperated.
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Chelle and the rest of the crew including, but not limited to Kita and Taiko (the shiba inu wrestle maniacs), Adi (reserved and dignified tabby cat), and all 28 reptiles

I am in the middle of this miserable situation myself. Mines with pit bulls though, so there would be no turning back and no room for trial and error. I am in the process of hiriing a behaviorist myself, havin a little difficulty locating one. But, I do know that one way to decrease the who has to be the biggest baddest dog thinking process is to have them meet in nuetral territory, like a park or something. And I have to say that i agree with the person who said not to leave them alone unattended anymore. also, have a breaking stick on hand, that way you will do the least amount of damage when breaking them up because one mouth, hopefully two will have been opened so as not to increase the tearing done by pulling them apart. you may also want to keep a leash on hand incase you have to secure one of them so you can get the other one off with out the other one jumping back on, if that makes sense. it may take a minute or two to go grab the stick and leash, but one strategical move will go much farther than 10 made out of desperation. if you get them back together, another good rule to implement is not to allow them to have toys are food unless they are seperated or crated, that way they will not feel the need to be rescource agressive. let me know how it works out!

I have been here and done this.

Try through glass and when they can hadle that...try in the same space but ON LEASHES!

It took up almost a year to a year and half.

Also recognize the dominant dog. We feed him first, he sleeps with us in our room, etc.