trublubiker

Thank you all again for your thoughtful suggestions. I've decided to block the access between the yards. Today my staffy doesn't want to stay outside when the other dog comes to visit and when they get close her ears go back and she is very defensive. They are both still hobbling a bit and both seem very reserved. I certainly don't need the stress of wondering when the next dust-up will happen or what the outcome may be. Cheers trublubiker

Thanks all for your input. I guess it's segregation again. Hope the girls understand why they can't hang out anymore. Cheers trublubiker

I guess that would be the easy way out, but as I said originally they are best mates 99% of the time and really enjoy each others company.

Thanks for your reply. I understand that, but from memory we were not doing anything that should have stirred them up. There were three of us just standing around having a smoke and really not paying any attention to the dogs. Out of the blue they were into it with the Staffy seeming to be the agressor. She only gets agro with other dogs when they show agro towards her. Her initial instinct is always to play and not to fight. Cheers

Hi My desexed bitch is now almost 2 years old and is a lovely girl. Recently some new neighbours moved in next door with their 3 year old Mastiff/Great Dane cross. She is not desexed. After getting sick of filling in the holes the girls were digging under the fence to socialise, we knocked some palings off the fence so they could come and go . All is well 99% of the time, they play fight, dig escape tunnels to run amok (we keep filling them in) and generally get on really well together. However every now and again the 'playfights' get serious and the scenario is always the same. It only happens when the neighbours and myself are together in the yard. We are very careful not to feed or pet one without doing the same for the other. The latest incident was last night, neither dog was getting any attention or favours. Out of the blue they were into each other and for about 30 seconds it was scary, particularly for me, as my Staffy is about 1/3 the size of her mate. She is a typical Staffy in as much as she won't back down and keeps boring in. This morning when I went outside I was confronted by a sick and sorry dog with a nasty 2cm gash in her shoulder. As you can imagine I was upset at her injury as she seemed to be in some pain. I put some mercurichrome on it and tonight she seems more settled. The big dog is hobbling on two legs so we have two chewed up dogs. Can anyone give me some insight into what may trigger their violent outbursts. Cheers Trublubiker