Lizzie has started an Aggressive Behavoir with Major!!!!!!!

Lizzie has always growled at Major a little with food but now it seems to be getting really bad!!!!

I mean what is up with her?!?!?!?!?! Let me tell you the whole story.....

Lizzie has JUST started to have VERY bad aggression torward our other dog Major, Yesterday they were playing and they usaully play rough (i.e. barking, play bitting, crying, growling) but they never were fighting, and now the other day they REALLY got in to it and I think they were fighting but I went out there and told they to cut it out and they stopped but she has REALLY been on him lately!!!! I mean REALLY growling at him when I have treats out for them and am just giving them treats she will go over to him and just start growling and barking and bitting his lips!!!

Problem... SHe is getting worse with the food aggression with him and they have started to fight(just bearly but I want to correct it now before it gets worse)

What I have been doing to correct it.... when ever she goes ever to him and gets aggressive with food I go over to MAJOR and put my arms around him so she can not get to him and I love on him make NO eye contact with Lizzie and ignore her totally, then Lizzie usally cries for a few mins then will be quiet and I love on her and praise her and she is happy.


Shouls I keep doing this.....I REALLY REALLY need help, WHAT SHOULD I DO!!!!!

i dont know. sorry to hear about this though

How old is Lizzie?

Do you really think at a time like feeding time, they're desirous of hugging and gushing over them? They're already in a stressful situation with eachother and their minds are on their food. This hovering and attending to them may be adding to the frustration level. This is an area where it is possible that the one who is being hugged my snap at you. I wouldn't put my face next to a dog who has shown aggression to the other dog when the other dog is near. You might be the recipient of re-directed aggression or mistaken identity. In your case, I think you should seperate them when you're fixing their food and when they eat.

I really think you might take a more confident, assertive, matter of fact demenor around them at these times, cut out some of the attention, be calm and that might help their mental state and lower the confusion level. Too much free attention, hugging, fussing over dogs at certain times is not always productive. There is a time and place for everything, of course.

I think you're adding to the stress unnecessarily. Seperate them when they eat...different rooms. Keep high value toys away from them when they're together. If one of them shows even the intention of a confrontation, step inbetween and distract them.....re-direct them to another activity. Stop it before it starts, at the first muscle contraction (face or body). Let them know that YOU don't allow that. It's simply not going to happen. You don't have to be harsh or loud. That builds up the tension in them. Keep calm but assertive.

Don't show favoritism. Just don't allow snarky behavior. Seperate them if you have to for a while. Prevent things (objects) or activites that have had a tendency to aggrivate them. Set up their environment the best way you can. If one does make a little growl and you don't think its going to escalate, and you weren't watching before to catch whatever it was which may be setting one off, let it go. Let the dog growl one little communication. But I wouldn't let it go further than that.

With my four dogs, once in a while Jose will give a growl when he's carrying his Nyla bone around. The other dogs may not even be the slightest bit interested in it, but one may walk past him. He's a little paranoid. LOL. The other dog doesn't pay any attention to him, so in that case I let it go. So, use your best judgement.

But these are your rules that they are very capable of learning. Don't leave it up to them to hash it out or fall for this over-blown heirarchy stuff. This often leads to serious fights. These are domestic dogs, not wild dogs living on their own out in the woods. You are in charge of your dogs and your house rules. They are not.

Lizzie is 2 1/2 years old!


I get what you are saying Doberluv, but are you saying that they cannot have toys or treats TOGETHER ever again????

Also I have taken up bones and they only get them when I want to give them one and they are sitting and I KNOW that Lizzie will not be able to growl at Major b/c I give her the quiet command and I make the tone in my viose deep so I KNOW she will listen!!!

Any think else I can do??? Also the wierd thing is that we have there food bowl down for them 24/7(they have never had problems) and she is not aggressive with that!!!

Well, as the old saying goes, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of the cure." Or it's worth something. I forget the ending. LOL. But anyhow, an ounce of prevention.....If they're happy when they have toys then let them have toys together. If they have a problem getting along when toys are present, put the toys away and only let them chew on something when they're seperated. Maybe they're fine with not too exciting toys. (?)

My dogs can have things like Nyla bones (of various types)...and empty Kong toys. I don't give them high, high value things unless I'm right there. They're quite responsive to my voice so if one began to go for the other's, a simple, "Hey" would stop the dog. I'm especially careful, I guess because I have a Doberman and two Chihuahuas and my son's dog, a medium sized mutt. So, I can't take chances. And for several years having multiple dogs, this has worked for me. Someone else may have some more ideas for ya. Good luck.

Sorry I didn't address this. I think so. I'd work on managing like I mentioned. You can shape their behavior by marking baby steps in the right direction. This will take some study on clicker training. Or you hopefully can find a clicker trainer in your area to help you condition these dogs to the behavior you'd like to see.

I'll come back and tell you how I handled my son's dog who lives with me when she had a little aggression problem when I was handing out treats. She would attack my Doberman...not a full on attack, but a snappy, snappy, snappy thing. And then he nailed her. Again, not a real bite, but he retaliated. She is now quite fine and understands that in order to get a treat, she needs to be polite. So, I'll come back, but I gotta go do something first. LOL

It is only treats they fight over!!!! And even then Lizzie is the one that startes it and Major is not even looking at her and she still lets out a growl!!!

BTW- Lizzie would NEVER bite ME now she might other people if(and that is a BIG "if") she feels she or I am in danger but she would NEVER bite me!!!! Also I have always tought her not to bite me at ANY time!!!!

Also our poodle Major LOVES being hugged on and loved one so I do not think he would bite!!!!!

Thanks for the help!!!! I am going to try what you are saying!!!