Two bitches

[griffy]

I Have two bull terriers lulu 10 months and deaf and keba who is 3 years we've had keba 2 years and lulu since she was 3 months.keba was speyed as soon as we got her We recently had lulu speyed there seems to be a slight difference in the behaivor of keba since we got lulu back from vets, keba has become intolerant of her and now growls at her when she tries toget on sofa with her and when she tries to drink from same water bowl and similar things, keba has always accepted lulu and there relationship has always been harmonious up to now, I am trying to eliminate reasons and wonder if the speying has somehow got something to do with it any views or opinions would be greatly appreciated thanks

[Nicola]

It may be the speying, but at 10 months old Lulu is now an adolescent and her puppy licence has just well and truly expired, it may be this that is causing the problem

Im sure others will have some advice, but fwiw I have 2 bitches and we have this sort of low key bullying most days, but it doesnt escalate further

[Miranda Luck]

I've had a mixture of breeds/sexes/neutered and un-neutered over the years and there is alway a little squabbling going on - over food/space/toys. As long as it doesn't get serious, I have just stayed cool, calm, not interfered and they sort it out amongst themselves.

[LisaBC]

not interfered and they sort it out amongst themselves.

Im sorry but I would never allow my lot to sort it out themselves, I always take control of the situation and send them away or remove them until all is calm, Maltese bitch and collie bitch allowed to sort it out Only going to be one winner!

[LeviBevi]

i'm with LisaBC on this one
as the leader it is up to you to sort any disagreements within your dogs out
especially amongst bitches

good luck

[LisaBC]

Leaving 2 bitches to sort it out will lead to it esculating and becoming more serious, I had a problem a few month back with my little one getting bossy over who went out for wee's first, she would guard the door and become a growling mop! The boys all stepped over her without batting an eye lid but my collie bitch thought she needed sorting, so for a week or more I guarded the door and said who could go out and in what order, bossy mop last No problem at the door now

[Xita]

Hi everyone, this thread's a god send to me, so I hope you don't mind me piggy-backing with some more questions about a similar situation. I've got a slightly 'special needs' (highly strung - very playful - very boisterous) BSD bitch who will be 2 in December. 3 weeks ago we got a 6 months old smooth collie bitch as a companion. We picked her very carefully for her calm temperament and orientation towards people (didn't want two hooligans!). Neither is speyed, and I don't intend to have them speyed unless there are medical indications.

I've had such contradictory advice on how to handle their relationship. Some people said to let them sort themselves out, but I'm with LisaBC and LeviBevi on that one. Others say to promote the older bitch to 'top dog' and give her certain privileges, including humping and dominating the younger one. Now, the older one isn't really what you'd call leadership material. She's very immature and doesn't know when to stop. So her 'playing' can easily turn into mobbing. So I'm not too happy with that approach, either.

Generally speaking, little one is quite happy to follow the older one's guidance, as long as the older one is calm. When she becomes all wound up, little one doesn't really want to be with her (understandable!).

I've been dealing with them as follows: While they're running around playing,I've left them to it. When the young one comes to me, I stop the older one from bugging her (so little one knows I sort things out for her). I don't let the older one hump her (I wouldn't have interfered if it had happened once or twice, but as I said she doesn't know when to stop). The younger bitch likes to block the older one from getting to me, but I don't allow that, either. Does that sound reasonable?

The little one is very food-orientated and nicks the older dog's bone even if she's got her own - the older one doesn't defend her bone, so there's no argument. At the moment, I return the bone to the older one, and the little one loses hers, but is that the right thing to do? I'm also doing a lot of impulse control around leaving food and waiting to be fed. And I'm starting to let one dog wait while I do a little bit of work with the other one. It's still very hard for the new dog, because she's not done that before. But she's understanding and is doing well.

I'll be very grateful for your feedback and advice - it's all new to me!

[Tracey m]

hi
i dont think people realise this is a new post being on the end of another
i cant help only own the one have owned two before but male and female
lots on here have multiple dogs and rescues so will be more expierienced on advising you
but i will say what a lovely girl in your aviator now i know why people ask me if mine is a bsd not gsd
mind you you said new dog 3 weeks ago still early days but better to check what your doing or thinking is on the right lines
before anything escalates
good luck
tracey m

[griffy]

Thanks for opinions and advice all are much appreciated, the problem has eliviated a liitle over the last few days, the prob seem to centre around the sofa but was creeping into other areas (kitchen etc) we have brought kebas crate back in and she sleeps in there of a night now next to lulu in her crate we was lettin keba sleep on a cushion on the sofa, hopefully this wiil show her it's a privelidge to b on there not a right, I am keeping a close eye on them in living room, keba is boss as little one follows her everywhere and there's never any incidents on walks other than lulu being a hyperactive maniac (lol)

[janz]

It sounds like youre doing ok. One dog may always end up being a bit of 'the boss' but it doesnt mean bully, and thats where you come in, to stop any bad behaviour. They are both young so its laying down the foundation for them now thatll be in place for a long life together, so its worth taking the time.I'd give them a bone each not too close, and teach them they can only have their own. If youngster takes the others bone, take it off saying no, and lead her back to her own bone each time. She'll learn that alls fair and she isnt missing anything..they think the grass is greener on the other side when theyre greedy

[LisaBC]

The only thing I would point out is the who is in charge and making that dog come first! I have found that my dogs are all different depending on the situation, whats important to one isnt the other so I find this way dont work for me.
I just deal with the behaviour and if one is being a bully they are timed out or made to wait till last, as food is more important to one than the other but cuddles means lots to one and this will start her off, I just dont put up with grumpy and send them away.
It depends in my house what is happening as to who is in charge! but above them all if I say right thats it they all go to bed I wouldnt allow one to take food from the other and would do as Janz has said but if the dog continued it would be crated until the other had finished.