Help!

[shelleythompson777]

Hello,

 

I previously had 2 dogs - 1 x 9 year old Female Staffy (Layla) and 1 x 10 year old  Female Staffy (Zara).

In October last year my partner and I recused a third dog that is a Female Staffy X - 9 months old (Milly). From the way she looks, I think she has Ridgeback or Great Dane in her but I am not sure.

At first the dominant dog (Zara) was not very nice to her and there were a few fights but that stopped after a month or so and they have all got along fine until recently.

My partner recently passed away and I have been off work for 6 weeks, I went back to work yesterday and all was ok but once i fed them in the night they got very excited and Milly and Layla got in a fight that I had to run in and grab Millys lead and put her outside for a minute to calm her down (Milly and Layla have always got along). After the fight Milly kept nuzzling her snout into Layla's face or ear or chest like she wanted to play but Layla was then scared and kept growling at her which made her do it even more. Eventually they calmed down and all went to sleep completely fine and were fine in the morning.

They are all in the house together so I was worried about them at work today and came home early at 2pm. When I got home they were all fine with each other, laying in their beds together and the occasional play but once I fed them at night the same thing happened and Milly started getting in Laylas face and Layla started growing and snapping at her again. It went on for about an hour and half and even Zara was being rough with Layla which wasn't helping. Eventually it calmed down and Layla and Milly are sharing a bed snuggled together.

 

Milly is now 15 months old and I read that when a dog comes into adolescents they may start to fight for dominance but Layla is not the dominant female so If this was the case wouldn't Milly be doing this to Zara (the dominant dog)?

There are a few things I am thinking it could be but I dont know which one/ones it is and how to stop this from escalating - 

 

1. My partner is no longer here and this is causing them stress (if this is the case would it really take 6 weeks for this to happen?)

2. They are upset because I have been around for 6 weeks and suddenly I am at work all day again (if this was the case why is this only happening after I feed them?)

3. It has suddenly become very dark and cold at night and this is causing them to play up?

4. Because my partner was the dominant owner, him not being here is making the 2 submissive dogs fight over hierarchy? 

5. Zara is on her last heat as she is 10 but she is not the one causing the issues. Could her mood be affecting the other 2 dogs behavior?

 

Please help! I don's want this to escalate and one of my older dogs get hurt because Milly is the biggest even though she is the youngest. I am also not handling the stress of this very well due to just losing my partner and I really need help.

 

p.s. Milly and Layla are desexed.

 

Thank you.

[DogsAndTheMob]

I’m so sorry for your loss.

 

i think dominance is often a simplistic explanation for complex emotional and behavioural reactions and doubly so in your situation, where the dogs and you have endured so much change so quickly. Milly may be particularly affected because of her age and developmental stage. I’d advise consulting a behaviourist who can explain what’s happening and - more importantly! - how to deal with the problem.

 

 In the interim, try to anticipate triggers and intervene before trouble occurs. You already know that mealtimes are a trigger, so it would help to separate the dogs into different rooms for their meals, and keep them there until they’ve calmed down. Anything that causes excitement - including rough play - can act as a trigger. As you can’t control this in your absence, could you separate Milly into a run while you’re out? Having three dogs together unsupervised can be risky, as a two-on-one fight can inflict a great deal of harm.

[shelleythompson777]

If they have always been left alone and have been together for 6 months now, how likely is it that a fight would break out if one has not happened while we have not been home yet?

I will try separating them during feeding and keep them apart for a while but I feel like that might make them more excited once I re-join them as a group even if they have calmed down before I do it?

Do you think getting a dog behavior specialist in would help? They are so expensive for just one session!

[Dogsfevr]

Personally I would not trust 3 bitches together where issues are starting .

At the very least the youngest member needs more enrichment for her age  so good walks,training at fun at home ,things that will amuse her brain .She is young and finding her feet ,the others are old and past the tolerating a younger pushy person .

 

Yes trainers are expensive but there also cheaper than a vet bill or the potential of something going wrong whilst your out .

No one can say what is the best path for these dogs on the net but we can certainly say the outcome could be be bad .

 

It could have to do with the loss of your partner if he was the more respected human in the pack,it could be due to the bitch in season creating hormonal tension it could simply be 3 s a crowd and needs managing 

[shelleythompson777]

Ok, thank you. You have made me feel a lot better!

I am working from home tomorrow and Friday so i will keep an eye on them and fingers crossed they settle.

 

If not I will separate them during the day and get a trainer in. I will keep you updated

[Kirislin]

Can you feed them separately to avoid the trigger?

[shelleythompson777]

They dont do it in the morning so I dont think food is the trigger, I think it is when it gets dark and the food gives them a boost of energy?

[Guest crazydoglady99]

Am not sure why you are so convinced it's not food or Zara being on heat that isn't the trigger?

 

Either way, you've been given some very sensible advice ie- separate them, and don't leave them unsupervised. Period.

It's up to you if you take it!

 

I would never ever trust 2 staffy bitches unsupervised, let alone 3! But that's just based on my experience.

 

Good luck!!

 

Edit to say - I don't mean to sound nasty. I'm just a little perplexed as to what else the issue could be.

Edited May 2, 2018 by crazydoglady99

[juice]

I fear this is going to end badly unless you get professional help . You may well come home to a dead dog at this rate if you don’t heed the clues they are giving you . 

[Pjrt]

Besides what everyone else has said, please consider what it’s done, and will continue to do, to the mental stability and general happiness of the lives of animals forced to coexist, who may not particularly like each other. 

How would we feel forced to live in a confined space with someone giving off bad emotional vibes towards us, and physically harming us. Please consider the emotional needs of the dogs, at arms length from your own emotions. 

 

[Rebanne]

if this is happening because one is in season please be aware that Zara will continue to come into season for as long as she lives. They don't just stop at a certain age. They may be longer apart or silent or different in some way but they will continue

[karen15]

If the youngster is trying to climb up the ranks, they won't challenge the head dog. They'll start down the ranks, in this case with dog #2.