Has anyone any suggestions on how to deal with my 5 yr old bitch scrapping over sticks, and occasionally other toys or food. It doesn't happen every day and only with the occasional dog, generally ones that are as dominant or stick protective as her. This aggressiveness has been steadily getting worse over the last year or so. It only happens once or twice a month (only!) and there is never any noticeable injury to either dog, just a lot of swearing and mouthing although I am worried it could get worse, today it was with a Staff cross, she is not particular about the type of dog she scraps with. I can pull her off by her back end - not easy today as she had just been swimming - but that is only of use if the other owner can do the same.

Any thoughts?

Hayley

(Honey is a spayed 28kg crossbreed, pretty well built, so I can't pick her up!!!)

Hi,

Is she a particularly dominant bitch? Some dominant bitches will not share their toys with other high ranking dogs. Do you know if the other dogs are dominant/pushy dogs?

It's not something that you can easily cure, especially if it's not consistant aggression.

manda
X

Hi Manda

Thanks for replying, I know it sounds odd, but I am not sure how dominant she is. With our male dog, who she has lived with most of her life, there are no real dominance issues, and if push comes to shove, he will always win, although he is a wonderfully sweet natured dog, the most he ever has to do is growl or bark and dogs respect him. Honey is different with all dogs, she used to just have the occasion fracas with bitches that were either over pushy or extra subserviant, but she seems to be getting more dominant/stroppy with age. I can never really tell when it is going to happen, except that she will never just 'start' on a dog, there has to be a stick, toy ot treat involved and it is only when neither will back down that a fight happens, it is never one sided and so far there has not been any blood, so seems to be just swearing and slobber - at the moment anyway. She doesn't like to share a stick with any dog, but if another clearly gets it ahead of her she wouldn't to anything, likewise if a dog backs off she would be okay. It can happen with dogs or bitches, neutered or not, size unimportant.

I'm sure it wouldn't be easy to cure, but damage limitation would be good, also how to get a dog out of a fight when started and stop the other dog, so often I can get Honey off only for the other dog to keep coming.

Sorry to ramble, trying to give as much info as possible

Hayley

YOu could try teaching her to bring the stick to you when you see another dog approaching to grab it (sorry to be a big fat killjoy, no offence meant, but sticks can be very dangerous to dogs :( )

Also set up calm situations with other dogs you know well and who she knows, and give big rewards for sharing anything - even the water bowl ! :) If the dog shows signs of stroppiness give a sharp "ahah" type of noise to distract.Obviously only do this if you are entirely confidetn the situation will not get out of hand. I have taken this approach with my Terv bitch who started to get a bit excited over her toys with other dogs and it really does work, she now only faintly shows any sign of "Oy, this is MINE" ;) but it is very controllable and IMO acceptable at this level. It's dog stuff ;)

Lindsay