I have three entire bitches aged 3, 11 months and 7 months. Connie, the 11 month old is the daughter of Indi, the 3 year old. She went to her new home at 8 weeks but was returned to us at 6 1/2 months old. She visited us a few times with her new owners over the 4 months they had her. Poppy, 7 month old is unrelated but we got her a few days before Connie came back. (we didn't plan to have the two pups at all, or two bitches so close in age, but it just worked out this way) Connie finished her first season a couple of weeks ago.

All the girls are very well socialised, well behaved and get on well with each other and other dogs. They have the usual play fights etc and often take things from each other with no dramas, they have never even growled at each other except in play.

Until this morning. I was in the garden with them and Indi and Connie started to 'fight'. There was no 'real' biting as far as I saw, certainly none got a hold of the other, nor any injuries. Lots of growling and snarling and they did mean it, it was more than play. I didn't see what set it off, but something must have done. It wasn't food/toys. I did give them a serious 'oi' but didn't physically try to seperate them as before I could get to them they were seperated with Indi growling at Connie and Connie demostrating what I would say was appeasing behaviour. (keeping her head low, ears back, sat but crouching) I called them back inside and all three came but Connie avoided Indi and Indi was putting her in her place, although body language only, no growling or touching.

I had expected to have to watch out for the two younger girls and maybe any sorting out of pack order amongst the three, but not at this age really. I am also aware that if bitches do start to fight it is very serious and they would need to be seperated.

The two of them are laid next to me as I type this, one either side, but laying flat and relaxed, dozing. I understand this is fairly normal doggy behaviour, but have to admit it has shaken me slightly!

As they didn't actually hurt each other and Indi seemed to come out 'top with Connie seemingly knowing her place, is it likely this was just a fairly normal 'scuffle' with Connie starting to reach maturity? Or might it be the start of something more serious that needs a very close eye kept on?

Because Connie has recently been in season she is now seen by Indi as a grown up, pretender, possible threat and she probably feels the need to put her in her place, or Connie is trying her luck to move up the Totem pole.

I would be extra careful about breaking up rough play/posturing etc over the next few weeks to give time for hormones and feathers to settle and cross my fingers that this doesn't turn into a serious dislike on one side or another.

I have often found if there is to be any slight friction among my girls it is when one has been in season or after one has reared a litter.  After a litter a bitch can be very full of her own self importance which can upset the apple cart if your not careful.

Hi jackson

as with brainless, I've found that seasons - more just before and just after rather during the season itself IME - can cause small spats between otherwise amiable bitches.  My middle one, a daughter of the eldest is very subserviant to her mum in the main and mum herself is a very calm, quiet and easy going girl.  Mum however does still rule the roost and often when she senses her daughter's season is imminent makes a point of telling her off for something which she'd otherwise ignore (barging/jumping on her for eg).

Thankfully there has never been a serious edge to any of it but the middle one will occasionally snarl/snap back at her mother while her hormones are settling back to normal - nothing has ever resulted in contact never mind injury but I stay watchful throughout seasons and for a few weeks post seasons to ensure that there are no opportunities for conflict.

regards, Teri

Thankyou, it make sense that Indi sees Connie as an adult now and so she will get away with less. I am not sure they even made contact, certainly no injuries, but they definitely meant it.

I actually always thought that if Connie challenegd Indi, then Indi would give in to her, but obviously not. Connie was very submissive with her and although they are now getting on, it is obvious (albeit with subtle signs) that she has been put in her place.

Hopefully it won't become a problem as the younger two mature, but I'll keep a close eye on them.

Thanks once again.

I'm sure it will be fine :)

Incidentally, if each had 'definitely' meant it IMO at least one of them would definitely have been injured, even if only slightly.  Dogs have very good bite inhibition with one another too - something which is not always appreciated when a very noisy spat occurs ;)

Good luck, Teri

Thankyou.

I think ididn't explain mysel fvery well! I understand if they meant to hurt one another they would have done. What I mean twas that they definitel ymeant it as a disagreement/spat or whatever, as opposed to out of control or over-zealous play.

I have 2 jack russell bitches litter sisters which are 3 and half months old, they too fight, usually play fight, but it does get agrressive. Poppy is th ebigger of the two but is quieter easy to handle. Rosie who is the smaller and the more fiesty, starts the fights - usually play fight, but can get very angry if you try and remove a bones form her, move her in her bed which she shares with poppy! She will growl and if you try it agin she will snap! I have thought long and hard about getting rosie a new home and was close to taking her to the rspca as she had tried to bite me. She does get on will with poppy and they share a lot of things happily but if poppy comes to run to me and wants a cuddle rosie starts a fight and visa versa. If I have real meat and not dog food I feed them in spearate bowls and one each end of the kitchen else rosie will snap at poppy, poppy then steps back. But normally poppy wins the real fights! Also nearly go them house trained they go on the puppy mats but cant seem to get them to ask to go out! I also have a cat who now accepts them, So nearly there. It is just the reall fights and the growlling and bites. We put them in the kitchen if they really fight and it all calms down. Probably will enrol rosie in puppy training, she is very intelligent, knows her name comes to call, will sit when food is on offer but I think she does not recognise either me or my parnter as pack leader, we did try the tech from the dog whisperer but all she did was fight back and try to bite harder. So we know she does not do mornings, entice her out with a treat and to not try and remove real meat or bones from her, we also walk them together but at a distance so that they do not start too much play fighting and enjoy the walk. we live in the country and so we are at the stage of letting them off the lead and they do not fight. Any ideas as I do want to keep both. we will not bred fromt hem so will get them done after there first season which the vet had said. Rosie is very friendly to everybody and greets them as old friends where poppy hides behind my legs and then goes and greets.

Is one of them going into phantom thats a sure fire way to cause the fur to fly in my house ;)

I would remove the mat at this stage and take them out to toilet every half hour or so stay with them watch them go and as soon as ..treat or lots of over the top praise once they realise what you want them to do it gets easier ...if you dont keep showing them they wont know!

You are taking something on two litter sisters... training one pup is difficult enough. I would seperate them occasionally through the day so that you have 1-1 with them otherwise its two against one and you wont win.

Sounds harsh but you may have to be hard to be fair to the dogs if you wish to keep them both.

a lot of it is in the tone of your voice you have to be firm, mean what you say and see it through or they will run rings around you and you may not have a future together.

It is not acceptable behavior to snap at you when you go near the bed or wherever , have a slip lead handy throw it round the neck and remove pup from wherever she is when you want her to move, remove her into another room for 5-10 minutes (as you would a child) :) ...time out... then dont speak to her for a while so she know you are not happy with her behaviour.