Paula3 Posted July 17, 2011 Share Posted July 17, 2011 Hi I have 2 staffy puppies (both females) who are 8 weeks old. They have been away from their Mother and litter for 3 weeks (as a result I fear they have missed one of the early stages of interaction with the litter). One of them bites my ankle very hard. As a result of the noise and growling the other one first bites this dog and then joins in biting me. They do not do this to the same degree to my husband. How do we deal with this without encouraging the second puppy as they are becoming quite aggressive with these episodes? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clyde Posted July 17, 2011 Share Posted July 17, 2011 I'm sorry to say this and I'm sure you don't want to hear it but I think 2 female Staffs at the same time is a recipe for disaster. I would give some thought to rehoming one of them asap and concentrate on the one you have, then down the track bring in another male. Two Stafford bitches are generally hard to juggle in the most experienced of homes and they have not had a good start and now you are also faced with raising them both together - very difficult for someone to raise pups in pairs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aussielover Posted July 17, 2011 Share Posted July 17, 2011 I also think 2 female staffords with the background you describe, is a risky situation. Staffords are not known for getting along well with other dogs and will absolutely not back down in a fight. I think its pretty well established that two bitches is the most risky combo. DO you think re-homing one of the puppies would be an option? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WreckitWhippet Posted July 17, 2011 Share Posted July 17, 2011 Yep, they have missed perhaps the most important time in their lives with their mother, it's the time when she disciplines them and they interact with their litter mates. They will probably both have issue with bite inhibition and it's set to get a lot worse. Clyde is right and litter mates and especially litter sisters are not for the inexperienced. Let them out individually and work with them one at a time. When I raise a Stafford litter, I wear gumboots out into the puppy yard and give them nothing to grab a hold of or to encourage the biting. They are firmly reprimanded if they bite and the interaction with me ceases. They are handled calmly and quietly. I would seriously consider rehoming one now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandra777 Posted July 17, 2011 Share Posted July 17, 2011 (edited) I'm with everyone else. Two Stafford bitches the same age from a very bad beginning - what were you thinking :eek: :eek: I would strongly recommend you rehome one now. In the mean time, separate them except for a ten to fifteen minute interval when you allow them to rough house and run together without human involvement in their game. This is likely to involve a lot of rough play and could get down right nasty at times but they will learn from each other about the difference between play and pain! They need to learn to interact with people as people instead of treating you like a toy. I suspect the one that instigates the biting is going to be a head strong little miss. IF SHE IS NOT TIMID OF NEW THINGS but is big and bold and out there then this one I would tend to be quite harsh with, even to the point of physical punishment. If she is otherwise quite wary then definitely do not get harsh with her! The instant she even looks like she wants to make her teeth and your skin come in contact you must stop it. Dog teeth and human skin must never ever be allowed to come in contact, this has to be the golden rule. Pick her up (by the scruff if need be) and put her in time out. Instantly, not squeaking or squealing or ineffective "no don't do that" from you - just instant, teeth, grab, bang, you're outta here. Don't say anything, just remove her from the scene. What does your OH do while these pups are "attacking" you? What are they like around their food with you? Edited July 17, 2011 by Sandra777 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BMAK Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 can tell you, i got my second dog wayy to early and he has fear dog aggression caused by not staying within his litter to learn how to properly socialise and learn with them, he came home to another dog and they get on fine but other bigger, dominant dogs he cannot handle in his face. not something i would care for again hope you find a solution. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paula3 Posted July 24, 2011 Author Share Posted July 24, 2011 Hi thank you all for your imput. I have taken it on board but could not bring myself to rehouse either of the puppies. As it goes I am greatly relieved that I didn't as my puppies have calmed hugely and are turning into wonderful little dogs, yes with a very large amount of work. The aggression has subsided and with the multitude of books and other information I have been researching they are coming along beautifully. Last week they attended their first session of "puppy preschool" and were suitable behaved. They can now sit on command and have boundless levels of energy. I can't wait until they have their next vaccination as we have also been practising with our leash work. Looking forward to your continued support over the next couple of years. I didn't mention at the time of my first posting that I have had Staffys as pets for most of my adult life. I guess this has provided me with some valuable background information in the handling of them which may been the difference between keeping the two or rehousing one. Again many thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sas Posted July 24, 2011 Share Posted July 24, 2011 Hi thank you all for your imput. I have taken it on board but could not bring myself to rehouse either of the puppies. As it goes I am greatly relieved that I didn't as my puppies have calmed hugely and are turning into wonderful little dogs, yes with a very large amount of work. The aggression has subsided and with the multitude of books and other information I have been researching they are coming along beautifully. Last week they attended their first session of "puppy preschool" and were suitable behaved. They can now sit on command and have boundless levels of energy. I can't wait until they have their next vaccination as we have also been practising with our leash work. Looking forward to your continued support over the next couple of years. I didn't mention at the time of my first posting that I have had Staffys as pets for most of my adult life. I guess this has provided me with some valuable background information in the handling of them which may been the difference between keeping the two or rehousing one. Again many thanks It doesn't matter if you've had the breed for 40 years, the reason for not getting littermates is the same. Good luck with them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WreckitWhippet Posted July 24, 2011 Share Posted July 24, 2011 I'm sincerely hoping that we do not see you back here in 18 months of so time, with one of them having taken to the other. It's the biggest reason why you don't get same sex litter mates. Be prepared that there is every chance that you will have to seperate these two, when they mature. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aztec Gold Posted July 25, 2011 Share Posted July 25, 2011 I'm new to dogs, but can I just ask, why is it bad to get littermates? And especially sisters? I'm intrigued!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted July 25, 2011 Share Posted July 25, 2011 why is it bad to get littermates? And especially sisters? I don't know all the reasoning .. but there is interesting information about fighting in THIS THREAD , and in THIS THREAD Some discussion about littermates in THIS THREAD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandra777 Posted July 25, 2011 Share Posted July 25, 2011 Different breeds are slightly different but as a general rule most people will have more trouble with two bitches than with two dogs. Bitches tend to hold a grudge, dogs usually only fight for specific things such as food or because there is a bitch in season, bitches will fight for the sheer hell of it (or so it seems!) and will often not develop a very stable 'pecking order'. Add in two bitches of the same age and the chances of them living amiably is much reduced. The litter mate thing is not really the issue, it's the fact that littermates are the same age But being littermates could be an issue in some cases because if one pup has a tendency to be a bit fiesty because of genetics then the chances of that pups' littermate being the same, because of genetics, is possibly higher than some random dog from a different set of parents. I have had Staffords for many years and the worst kennel fights I have had have always been between bitches, once they are enemies they are relentless and aren't called bitches for nothing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aztec Gold Posted July 25, 2011 Share Posted July 25, 2011 OOoohhh thank you both!! Lots of info for me to read Thank you!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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