2 of my dogs, for some unknown reason, started to take a dislike to eachother about 6 months ago after living together perfectly happily for 2 years. Their behaviour to eachother got progressively worse to the point where they couldn't even look at eachother without starting to fight. For the last 3 -4 months we have been keeping them as far away from eachother as possible but several times they have managed to find way to get to eachother resulting in injuries to both of them.

On Monday evening, one of them managed to charge past me and they were fighting through the dog gate, I tried to separate them and ended up getting a very deep bite on my leg for my troubles. Anyhow, after much discussion with hubby, we decided to rehome one of them and she went to live with a friend of a friend yesterday. Now all my family are saying how crazy I am as it was the dog who we still have who actually caused the damage to my leg. I have tried to explain to them that it was only because I was on her side of the gate, had I been on the other side the other one might have done exactly the same.

Another reason for choosing that particular dog to rehome is that she loves everyone and is the most laidback and relaxed dog you would ever meet where as the one we still have is very wary of strangers and gets very stressed very easily.

I'm upset enough as it is and don't want everyone getting at me about my decisions, I've done what I think is best and just wish everyone would butt out!!!

Sorry you have had to do this, but to back you up, it is best to re-home the easiest dogs, meaning the one who will adapt best, etc.

You know you have done the right thing LucyMissy so try not to take notice of what others say. x

I've done what I think is best and just wish everyone would butt out!!!

That's exactly what you have done, you kept the dog which would find it the hardest to be re-homed and to settle, you have to do what is right by both dogs and the people taking on an adult dog too, that doesn't always mean keeping the 'favourite' dog either.

You made the right choice, the choice that most of us would have made, your family will get over it eventually, just tell them you are already upset about all of this and you would like some support now so that you can all move on. What is done is done.

There is nothing crazy about your decision, it was thought out and sensible. :-)

Have had to do this myself, once bitches really take a dislike they never forget and no home can be a home when you are tiptoeing around trying to make sure there is no trigger to start the thing off - eventually just the sight of one another is enough and you have no choice. Agree with your choice of dog to re-home, no point in re-homing the one who may be difficult and possibly very unsettled.

You will be rewarded by seeing the bitch you kept coming out of her shell and relaxing and learning to enjoy life again.

Not an easy thing to do so why don't they realise this and leave you alone? Amazing how so many people think they have the right to comment.
Well done for doing the best thing for your dogs.

>> that doesn't always mean keeping the 'favourite' dog either

I think that is their problem. The dog that has been rehomed as I said is so happy go lucky and runs up to everyone for love and fuss where as the other dog is friendly but does not get overly excited and puppyfied when people come to visit, she just stays near me. I think they see that as a bad thing where as I don't. It just shows that a lot of people who claim to be doggy people actually have no idea about different breed traits / dog behaviour. I don't claim to be an expert but this incident has shown me that I understand a LOT more than some people who have double the amount of years dog ownership experience than me.

I don't even know why I'm letting it bother me, it has nothing to do with them anyway!

I could have written your post 2 years ago, down to the deep bite on the leg whilst they fought through a dog gate.

You know you've done the right thing.

M.xx

I expect if you were the other side of the gate the other one would have snapped at you as well. When dogs are scrapping they get very blinkered. They do not differentiate between a human hand or leg going in or the jaws of the other dog. Its a red mist and I really don't think they know exactly what there are sinking their teeth into.
You did the right thing, its a hard decision but the relief from the stress must be immense, for both you and the dogs. Keeping dogs apart and praying someone doesn't leave a door open is hard on the old nerves. Keep your chin up and ignore them, it will be old news soon

Remember the adage

Dogs fight to breed - Bitches fight to breathe......

You've done what's best for both your dogs, yourself and family.

Sadly some won't ever understand..but at least you do.

HUGS

I really feel for you, we had to rehome our beloved boy because of fighting :-(
We too kept the "trouble maker" as he would have found it harder to adjust to a new life, I am a prime example of how it works out when you make that hard decision, our dogs couldn't be happier!

I had to make this decision between 2 of my lovely dogs, one a boxer and one a golden retriever. I had to let the GR go ( to the GR rescue ) as they had a long waiting list and he could be rehomed the easiest as (apart from hating the boxer) he was a lovely nature. I felt the boxer would have been a little harder and I didn't want to chance him going from home to home. My GR ended with a lady vicar and she collected him from me avoiding a time in kennels between homes. He had a wonderful life afterwards.
You did exactly the right thing so please ignore anyone who says otherwise

As with several other of the posters above, I had to rehome a much-loved dog because of fighting.  I also chose to rehome the dog who was the most adaptable and who I could also absolutely guarantee would be fine with children and people.  he was also the one who was starting the fights.  The dog I kept is a bit of a wimp after 4 years of being bullied and, although he loves people, I would not be 100% happy with very young children around him.  The rehomed dog is so happy, it´s by the far the best thing I could have done for him.  A horrible decision to have to make but, as dog lovers, we really have to put the dogs´ needs first don´t we.

> I've done what I think is best

And we all know that.  :-)   So try and let it wash over you.

Lucy, I so sympathise with you. I had to rehome one of my girls a few years ago as she was fighting with her older sister. It was the hardest thing I ever had to do but knew that it was the best thing for her. I went to see her a week later an she came up to me and said, basically, oh, it's you, what do you want? and went back to her new owners. I couldn't have been happier for her. She had made her mind up that she was in a better home where she was getting one to one attention (or should I say one dog to 4 people attention ;-) )

You did the right thing for both of your dogs and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.