Everything had been going along so wonderfully. The two dogs were playing, sitting on the ottoman together, etc. Well, the Snausages hit the fan.
Admittedly, the fight was my fault. I wasn’t even thinking about the fact that Annie is new here when I put the bowl of food down between the two dogs. Well, within seconds, somebody touched somebody’s snout, and it was a full on dog fight. Annie, who is about ten pounds bigger than Pub, pinned him on the floor. I screamed and yelled (cries to which nobody came running, by the way - good thing I wasn’t being mugged), and finally was able to pry her off of him.
My husband walked into the room just as I was opening the basement door to send Annie downstairs. He took her down to her crate, and I ran over to check on Pub, who was shaking like a little leaf. With Bill, he was always the dominant dog. Clearly, that is no longer the case. Within a few seconds, we noticed blood on the floor and on my hands. Pub had a tear in the skin of his neck, and it looked bad. I called the vet and he told me to bring him immediately.
I had to leave him for a few hours while he was sedated and stapled. The end result is a sweet, terrified dog with five staples in his neck. He is taking pain medication and an antibiotic. We left Annie in the crate all night, except to go outside, and we put food and water in the crate and made sure she knew she was on the bad dog list.
I was really shaken up by the whole incident. The vet was shocked. He met Annie last week for a check-up, and he thinks that rather than aggression, it was just a typical, run-of-the-mill dog fight for dominance over food. I tend to think he is correct, but I am still nervous. He told me that I must establish dominance, and fast. I have never been good at that, and frankly, I am not sure I know how to do it. I don’t want this to happen ever again.
Annie is back upstairs now, and she is lying at my feet while Pub sleeps on the couch next to me. They have interacted, but I have been trying to keep things as calm as possible. They seem fine together now, but I am so scared that it will happen again. The food is put away, so that shouldn’t be an issue.
Any advice would be wonderful. I have never had to show dominance or train a dog to respect me as the pack leader. Also,I don’t spank or use shock collars, so that won’t work.
Thanks in advance for any advice.
5 responses so far ↓
Patty // Friday, March 28, 2008 at
Hi Eve,
I know I talk to much on your blog - but I love reading it! Emmitt dominated Buster (our rotty) when it came to food. He would lay in the kitchen guarding both bowls. They got in quite a few nasty fights over food and bones (which I had stopped giving them). Emmitt dominated the two other dogs. Now that Emmitt has passed, our little 16lb. cairn terrier dominates our 140lb. rotty. She’s nasty when it comes to food - if he goes near her bowl she freaks. What you went through is probably an isolated incident. Poor Pub : ( hope he feels better. I don’t use shock collars or ever have hit any of my dogs - but somehow, they know who’s boss, I just speak to them firmly and they seem to get it. Good luck and for some reason dogs work it out between themselves - one always seems to take the dominant role - just as long as they don’t dominate you.
wvbocere // Saturday, March 29, 2008 at
Hey Patty!
I love that you come and talk to me! I was hoping for some reassurance. Pub and Annie have been getting along just fine the last two days, but I have not had food down. When Annie goes down to her crate for bed, I put food in with her, and that is when Pub eats, too-upstairs. Whatever works. They seem to be fine otherwise.
Still no prospects for a new home. I really wish we could find someone to give her a nice home, but every day it will be harder. I guess it will work out the way it is supposed to.
Mercedes // Friday, April 18, 2008 at
When I had Patch and Chloe, we had to feed them with separate bowls. That is one thing Patch stands up for-his food-hehe. We would also have to shoo her on while he finished eating. She ws such a pig she would finish and try to get his food. Maybe try the two bowls-one for each.
Sooooo sorry I haven’t been over here lately. I feel so bad. I hope all is well over here. BTW~Patch has Erhlichiosis (spelling?)-a tick disease. Right now he just lays around and does nothing much but lick his sores. We have to make him get up to go out…unless some good junk food is open in the kitchen-lol.
*waving to Patty…and wishing everyone else well*
Hugs Eve!
Mad with bark love!
WOOF!
Mere
Dawn // Thursday, May 15, 2008 at
I’m not a dog owner, but Annie is absolutely beautiful!!
Since the problem seems to be over food, I would just go with separate food dishes. That might solve the problem right there, especially if they are getting along otherwise.
If they are anything like cats, they *will* work it out amongst themselves (hopefully, with no more blood shed).
The doggie diapers are too cute, by the way!
wvbocere // Thursday, May 15, 2008 at
Thanks Dawn!
My vet told me the same thing-that they will work it out on their own. They seem to be fine on the food front, but they had a minor spat over window space yesterday. Dogs will be dogs, I suppose!
Glad you liked the diapers! Thank goodness we never have to do that again!
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