I have 3 dogs(all bitches).A corgi cross and 2 jtr's.The corgie x(kim) is 11yrs, the oldest jrt(pippa) is 4yrs and the baby jrt(jade) is 13months.
We have had jade 10months.She has a slight heart murmur.Everything was fine till 2 weeks ago.Jade snapped at kim but kim put her in her place and jade left her alone.Then jade started on pippa.Pip is very strong willed and gave jade as good back.I managed to split them up without any blood shed.10 mins later they were curled up in bed together.I took them to the vet for a check up and everything was fine.He suggested changing their food to James wellbeloved. The last 3 days have been an utter nightmare.They cant walk past each other without
having a go.9 times yesturday i had to pull them apart.Jade is not due her season for a few months yet and pippa has been spayed.

Please can anyone help

Unfortunately, bitches do seem to have trouble letting things go. Which is why I would never have one, and certainly never more than one. Males will argue, get in a huff and forget it. It sounds as though they have not sorted out who is where in the pack. Jade has reached maturity and Kim is getting on, leaving Pippa as Jades main rival. It may be she is trying to work her way up the pack. I would have Jade spayed for a start. That may curb her interests. Is it just Pippa and Jade fighting or all three? Why did the vet suggest the food change? Do you make it clear who is boss?

Sorry I can't be more help, it is really difficult to give advice without seeing the situation. You must be getting really worried. I would separate them completely unless supervised and keep a container of water handy in case they fight again. In the meantime, it might be an idea to consult a qualified behaviourist.

Good luck, let us know how it goes,

Claire

It is just jade and pip that fight.My vet advised me to change their food because i was feeding them on bakers complete.jrt are hyperactive
so he suggested trying them on james wellbeloved because bakers is most probably making them even more hyper due to the ingrediance in it.Pip was in her crate earlier this evening and jade walked past.Pip would not make eye contact with her but started growling and cowering.
i will ring the behavourist on monday morning and hopefully he can help me.Thank

thank you for your advice

hi just thought i would update you on the situation with with jade and pip.We had the behavourist come around today and he gave some good advice.It made me realise its not just the dogs with the the problem but us aswell.So we are all having training.Firstly he told me not to pick the dogs up because it makes them feel higher in rank.Dont let them come to you for attention,ignore them and when they are calm then go and give them a stroke.He let them out their crates and they started to get aggressive towards each other so he threw a bunch of keys on the floor hard and shouted no.They both backed off and went and laid down.They have been fine with each other all day untill this evening.I had a container with some coins in it.They were in the kitchen and they started fighting.I threw the container on the floor and shouted no and they both stopped.I know its early days but at least it seems to be working.They have been out their crates together most of the day.Well worth £25 for the behavourist.

Thanks for the update Jadey.  I'm glad what the behaviourist suggested appears to be working.  Did they mention  anything about the fact that you are dealing with two bitches who may actually find themselves unable to live together in the long term?

Did the behaviourist come to you via a vet referral, and what professional bodies were they members of?

i am brand new to this game and didnt realise bitches could be so bad - not forgetting the quarell- well good luck

intresting to hear how you came across the behaviourist?

hi yes my vet did recommend the behaviourist.He is an ex police dog trainer.I did mention to him about bitches not being able to live together and he said they can but u got more problems from bitches that are from the same litter.I guess everyone has their own and different opinions.Iam sure there is other people who have more than 1 bitch.Jade has a heart murmur and there is no way i would think about getting rid of her and ive had pip since she was 8wks old.I will try anything to give them both a chance together.

Indeed there are plenty of people who live with two bitches - I am one ;)  In general I find the closer the two are, so coming from the same liter, or being half siblings (same mother), will be the most predisposed to not being able to tolerate another bitch (it can even happen in different sex siblings), then the same breed, the similar breeds (say Labrador and Golden Retriever, or terriers.....) or similar ages - especially if both are adolescent and therefore more equal in status.  What I am trying to say is that it CAN be managed, but as mentioned in another thread, if you discourage them from exhibiting their agression and sorting out a hierachy when you are present, they make take to sorting it out when you aren't present - with possibly VERY serious consequences.

Surely its not wise to let them try and make rank between themselves to the extreme of them drawing blood.I did read the other thread that you mentioned and surely you need to intervene if it gets out of hand.The behavourist gave advice on how to stop the situation if it was getting too aggressive.As for your remark about what will happen when we are not around to control the, situation common  sense would tell you not to leave 2 dogs with that kind of problem alone together in the same room.Seperate them.

Well I have five and most breeders I know that keep one sex keep bitches, but in mixed sex households in my breed rarely can more than one male live in harmony with entire bitches.

We currently live with one entire male, who has been used at stud 3 times plus "collected" twice for AI, and two entire bitches who happen to be mother and daughter.  It's early days yet as the puppy is only 10 months but she and her Mum are wonderful friends ;)  Hopefully this will continue to be the case.  The male fortunately is very even tempered and despite being used remains mainly uninterested or if anything very playful with outside dogs.

Ideally I would like to get a dog puppy in another year or so because I enjoy the glamour of males for the show ring but must admit I'm loath to disrupt the curent status quo within the resident "pack".  Hopefully time will tell, particularly as the puppy bitch matures,  what affect if any the dynamics may suffer.

Guess who might be chewing everyone on here's ears then :P

Regards, Teri :)