Recently my two dogs, both bitches, have started to have serious fights, what can we do, they are both booked for spaying in 2 days, we understand it takes 6 weeks for hormones to diminish, HELP!!!!

Unfortunately spaying will not make any difference here -neutering only works when it is a case of male dogs. Bitches can be very difficult when they fall out, especially if they are a similar age. You need to make the distance between them clear -that has worked extremely well for me. Decide on one who is to rank higher of the two (preferably the more sensible one if there is one -the one least likely to START a fight) and always feed her first, give her attention first etc. It is the only way we can keep two of ours  (one of which IS spayed, and SHE is the trouble maker) from fighting all the time. If the trouble maker gets too much attention such as being walked on her own, or even just brushed first, she will instantly go and attack the other one.

Bitches who are dog agressive before being spayed are often even worse afterwards :(

But not always :)  My cocker could get very nowty with my terrier, although admittedly generally the week or two leading up to her season, which was totally resolved when she was spayed.

I had two bitches that absolutely hate each other, they were great for 2 years but then I just couldn't have them near each other.  One now lives with my parents and if I take the other one to visit, we have to ensure that they don't see each other, even so they get their hackles up and I know that there's no way that they could be in the same room together.

In my experience once bitches start to fight to the deat there's no way of deterring it.  Maybe myself and other people have been unlucky I don't know, but I've found males much easier to control!

I had heard that often, so when mine started having scraps I was in great fear that I would have to part with one although I do realise mine was a pretty mild case and they were not scrappy on sight of each other every time.  I do think, though, if you are facing rehoming one there is nothing to loose by spaying them.  If the aggression continues or even gets worth then, yes, you may need to rehome but you were going to have to anyway so surely it's worth a try.

The one time I had to re-home was because of two sisters who took against each other in young adulthood. Although they were kept separate from early on in the trouble, the smaller bullied hound went from being a very confident bitch to a bag of nerves and the larger one was beginning to try out her bullying tactics on others. We really tried everything, but in the end the bigger bitch went to live with her half-brother. She settled down very happily there and became devoted to her male companion and her new owners. The smaller girl completely recovered her nerve and is now our current old lady who demands all the priviledges of age from us and the other dogs.

Sometimes imo there is option but to re-home one if bitches take a real long-term spite.

i really didnt realise 2 bitches could fight i thought it was 2 males so are you just as well getting 2 males then ?

When two males fight it's usually more noise than substance.

When two females fight, they really mean it, and will never, ever forget.

There's a very true saying: Males fight for breeding rights, females fight for breathing rights.

Isabel has given you an option that I agree with guest :)

IMHE, whenever I have had bitches together, although things have got a bit grumbly at times, they have never got to the point where I have had to consider rehoming either of them. We used to have 2 bitches that really did take umbridge with each other and got to the point where they were drawing blood. It only ever happened 3 times and that was when they were sleeping together at night. We split them up and although the odd swearing match did break out, there were never any bloody repercussions.

Some males that I have encountered were far worse and did hold grudges. We currently have a situation in our family where because the 2 hooligans had a disagreement nearly 2 years ago, they can't even be in the same house, we wouldn't risk it. They both required Vet treatment.

I must have been very lucky then. I had two Golden Retriever bitches with a 7 year age difference they got on beautifully. We now have one of each. I would have got another bitch but my OH has always wanted a dog, I wouldn't be without him now. The dog that is.

I wouldn't want anyone to get the idea that two bitches, even two sisters will inevitably fight, or even that it is common. Its just that, as JG says, it is a serious and often unresolvable problem if two bitches do take a real and ongoing dislike. We have had multiple bitches living together for many years and only had a problem once.

Exactly. I've had multiple bitches over many years, and never a problem. But a friend had to rehome one of hers when they started fighting. It was either rehome or allow one of them to be killed. No choice.

That must have been awful. How on earth do you decide which one to keep.

I kept the smaller bitch who was losing the fights although the bigger one was a better breed example. :)

My friend rehomed the one who started the fights, because it seemed (and she was correct) that the bitch would be happier as an only dog, and they planned to breed.

Usually if there is a decent age gap and you haven't brought in teenage or adult bitches into an established hierachy then there is sufficient difference in the status of the bitches for a natural order to develop.  the problems that people most often have are with bitches of a too similar character, status etc.  This is more likely with same age.

A very expereinced freind having owned generations of bitches told me she only ever had problems between her bitches where she had outside incomers not boen into the family or older pups/adults coming back.  She very rarely ahd bitches of smae ages.  14 years ago she bred a litter and had one bitch come back who lived fine with ehr litter sister, but thyey ahd a very alpha mother and were rather different characters themselves.  I also think the relatice experience of the owners may have a bearing too, as to stopping things before they start.

I don't understand this problem, I was told by a long standing breeder that I should not breed my 2 bitches at the same time because there would be a problem, both bitches produced a healthy litter and both helped each other to rear their puppies this was over 6 years ago, I have not had a litter since.

I have never had a problem with any of my bitches falling out.

I have at the moment 4 bitches, 2 Labs one is 3 years old and the other 9 months old and they adore each other with no aggression at all.

I do think its the way they are reared!

By the way all bitches are not Related!

>I do think its the way they are reared!

How, exactly?

Schiplab,

I honestly would put it down to luck not rearing at all.   All of mine were unrelated.

I have had over 5 years 2 different pairs of bitches that would fight it out till the death.

All of which were 100% fine living in each others pockets till the incident that kicked it all off.

1st disaster started after one had been mated they two could never been back together. . Second started over an empty bowl when one was in season.  One nearly killed the other. I had to sadly rehome her and miss her terribly.

>I do think its the way they are reared! <

Some breeds get on better than others, nothing to do with the way they are reared or the dominance of the owner - people thinking this can  come very unstuck

My two girls hate each other and I totally blame it on the fact they had two litters following on to each other.  If I could turn the clock back and not do it I would.  We have tried them together several times and I am convinced they would kill each other if they got the chance although both of them are fine with all other dogs.  I am lucky as my house is such that they dont have to see each other and that is the way it is going to say.  To me getting rid of one of them is not a option.  I dont think either of them would be happier with someone else although my best friend is constantly asking if she can have the younger one as she is so lovely.