I have 2 speyed bitches who hate each other and cannot be in the same room togther.Has anyone ever had 2 bitches with a dislike for each other and managed to solve the problem??If so how?
Archer

I'm sorry to say that this is a problem that is very unlikely to be "solved".  To be blunt, in my opinion, you have two choices; you can either rehome one of your bitches, or manage the situation so that they never have the chance to get together.  It depends on your set up as to whether the second choice is actually manageable. 

I have the same situation (for the first time in over 22 years of owning RRs and keeping 3 - 4 bitches together at any one point) and it is not easy.  Probably the least stressful "solution" is to rehome one but only you can decide which will be best for you and the dogs.  My 2 bitches will fight, but if one is in a cage they will completely ignore each other.  We are lucky, we have plenty of room and time so no-one misses out on attention, but it is still not ideal.

Sorry that I cant be more helpful
Carina

Hi

I had two terrier bitches and they wanted to kill each other. both spayed, I had to cage one and they took it in turn to be out. Worked out well but I would never want to go through it again. I couldnt of homed either of them so we had to make the best of a difficult situation. But it meant we couldnt walk them at the same time. If we went out for the day one had to stay behind because we couldnt take them both in the car and if we did one had to stay in the car while the other was out. We did try it thinking they would be distracted by being out but no any opertunity they went for each other. They had to stay on their leads and we had to walk with a distance between us. Not a enjoyable day out.
In the house though if one was in the cage they ignored each other but I have known bitches fighting through the bars.

Hope you can get something sorted

Wendy

Hi,

Probably not what you want to hear, but going by my own experience I can't see it being solved either.
My GSD bitch and rescue Staffie cross hated each other, even though they were brought up together.  After two big fights we decided we had to just keep them apart.  I couldn't have imagined rehoming either, so we managed, but it was difficult, even having kennels. 
They were both quite dominant girls and never managed to sort out who was 'top bitch'

I never had a problem with my males, or any other bitches - just these two.

Lisa

i agree with everybody else not what you want to here
but ive been there too
you either make the best of swapping and changing them about
or you rehome one or the other
after my 2 bitches had a fight they never got on again

It is a very sad situation when this happens.

If you have had these two bitches from puppyhood, then it is almost impossible to save the situation now, as there is obviously no set status, whilst bitches grow up they play fight, they make noises, they growl and mouthe they appear to play together well, however this is not all play they are testing one another, if you should be lucky enough for one of the bitches to automatically take a back seat then two bitches can grow and live together in peace and harmony and this certainly can happen. But if they are both equal in character and strength, if one does not take a step back then they will fight for real as adults to settle the heirarchy status as they are both potential Alpha's, bitches see each other as dispensable, there can only ever be one Alpha. After the first fight if one still does not stand down then fightling will continue with some breeds this can mean serious injury and even death. 

If your two bitches have been brought together at different ages or as adults,

It may be manageable and yes, a behaviourist can help with some breeds if there are size or character differences, where you can choose a bigger, stronger bitch, (or sometimes even the bitch with the largest character, many a terrier can be an Alpha over a larger dog ;-) ) to be the Alpha and reinforce it, with feeding first, grooming first and petting first, but not with all breeds and not with bitches that are evenly matched, it is not possible to do it then.

It greatly depends on which breeds you have, there ages, characters and sizes whether you feel you could elevate one to a higher status than the other and most importantly if the other will accept a back seat.

Otherwise it is complete seperation or re-homing I'm afraid :-(

I was once told dogs fight over breeding rights, bitches over breeding rights. My heart goes out to you, but I have no solution other than keep them apart.
Thankfuly my two don't fight but the older one Sal in the underdog Tess the younger top dog. Thankfuly I think it could cause problems otherwise.
Karen

hi, ive been there too. i kept a bitch from Tykos first litter. all was well for nearly 3 years then the fights started . sadly i had to make the decision to rehome Mindy, or i would have had a dead dog. The good thing was that my daughter took Mindy , and she has a wonderful time with my 2 grandchildren, and as they only live 2 streets away, i see her all the time :)

Perfect solution there then :-)

Sadly my experiences were also they could not both be kept. :(

Jackie Drakeford once wrote that dogs will fight and forget, bitches will fight, remember and fight to the death in some cases. I do feel for you and hope these issues can be resolved.

I have heard time and time again on here,
Dogs fight over breeding rights, Bitches fight over breathing rights.
lea.

Thanks everyone
you have all just reinforced what I really already knew.We have tried keeping them apart but being a small breed and being determined to get to each other we have had a few incidences where they have fought...and they are set on killing each other.We have therefore made the heart wrenching decision to let one go.I am totally devastated.
My biggest worry is that the children may get bitten during a fight(both myself and the OH have been) and that the smaller bitch will get badly hurt/killed since she is always the one that comes off worse(yet won't back down).She has already has her face stitched after a fight and came very close to loosing an eye at the weekend.
Archer

Archer, I had to rehome one of my two EBT's bitches when they were only 4 months old. Lizzy was always attacking Molly, but not play fighting. I asked their trainer & had advise from CD & they all said rehome. I was devistated. Tears like you wouldn't beleive. I decided to rehome Lizzy as she was more confident & I thought she would adapt far better than Molly. The day Lizzy left was heart breaking for me BUT Molly was a different pup. She was free at last to eat her dinner in peace, eat her bones & have the freedom she deserved.
We must do the best for our dogs, even though it breaks our hearts. Good luck Archer.