We have 4 dogs in the backyard all males, none neutered. The oldest and by
far the largest dog keeps getting into fights with the other dogs (mainly
the pekapoo-spitz). Maybe it's the pack leader thing or too much
testosterone in one yard. The 13 yr. old has some chow blood and I am
wondering if this makes him more aggressive. The pek-spitz is so full of
spunk he doesn't know when shutting up and leaving the area is good. I have
had three injuries, bleeding but not requiring the vet, two for the chow
and one for the pek. We have another smaller dog in the yard who attacks
the old dogs backside while he is fighting with the pek and a puppy who just
tries to stay out of the way and barks. At his age I do not want to have my
old male neutered.

Does anyone have a suggestion on how to stop these fights while keeping all
4 dogs??

"Dixie Sugar (from Mississippi)" wrote in message
...
We have 4 dogs in the backyard all males, none neutered. The oldest and
by
far the largest dog keeps getting into fights with the other dogs (mainly
the pekapoo-spitz). Maybe it's the pack leader thing or too much
testosterone in one yard. The 13 yr. old has some chow blood and I am
wondering if this makes him more aggressive. The pek-spitz is so full of
spunk he doesn't know when shutting up and leaving the area is good. I
have
had three injuries, bleeding but not requiring the vet, two for the chow
and one for the pek. We have another smaller dog in the yard who attacks
the old dogs backside while he is fighting with the pek and a puppy who
just
tries to stay out of the way and barks. At his age I do not want to have
my
old male neutered.

Does anyone have a suggestion on how to stop these fights while keeping
all
4 dogs??


You're throwing three young intact dogs in a yard with an old, also intact,
Chow mix, and you're surprised that they are fighting to the point of
drawing blood?

My suggestion is to separate them immediately to spare the old guy, and
keep them separated until you get the young ones neutered , ASAP.

WTF is wrong with you?

In rec.pets.dogs.behavior "Dixie Sugar \(from Mississippi\)" wrote:
We have 4 dogs in the backyard all males, none neutered. The oldest and by
far the largest dog keeps getting into fights with the other dogs (mainly
the pekapoo-spitz). Maybe it's the pack leader thing or too much
testosterone in one yard.

Fights are due to unresolved leadership.

The 13 yr. old has some chow blood and I am
wondering if this makes him more aggressive.

More aggressive than what? Than the smaller dog who refuses to backdown
even after getting bitten? The older dog's "transgression" is being (a)
bigger and (b) older and (c) not having the heart to kill the smaller rude
punks. That last one is liable to change if someone doesn't keep the
young punks out of his face for him.

The pek-spitz is so full of
spunk he doesn't know when shutting up and leaving the area is good. I have
had three injuries, bleeding but not requiring the vet, two for the chow
and one for the pek.

Get that pek away from the larger dog. Separate the dogs by means of
doors and kennels.

We have another smaller dog in the yard who attacks
the old dogs backside while he is fighting with the pek

Inside, in a separate room. Outside in a kennel. It sucks to be old,
under harrassment and then have it suggested that you are the aggressive
one.

and a puppy who just
tries to stay out of the way and barks.

Count on that changing as the pup reaches maturity.

At his age I do not want to have my
old male neutered.

So protect him from your other dogs that have never learned polite dog
behavior.

Does anyone have a suggestion on how to stop these fights while keeping all
4 dogs??

Separate them. Neutering won't change a nasty temperament but it will
ensure postively it won't get passed on. Neutering won't change rude dog
behavior but it will often reduce the reactivity of the other dogs.

There are a couple books around on managing multiple dog situations. A
big part of the prescription is for the human to be the leader of the
pack. An important ingredient of that prescription is for the dogs to
spend a significant (4+ hours) portion of every day in the presence of
their human pack leader learning and practicing acceptable social skills.
Dogs, like people, learn their social behavior primarily by example. If
they have no good example, and no opportunity to learn and practice, they
won't develop good social skills. Breed and breeding also play their
part.

The human part developing communication skills and requiring the dogs to
behave in specified ways to develop self control and attention to the
leader is also important.

--
Diane Blackman
There is no moral victory in proclaiming to abhor violence
while preaching with violent words.
http://dog-play.com/ http://dogplayshops.com/

On Tue, 14 Mar 2006 05:59:47 GMT, "dejablues" wrote:

...WTF is wrong with you?

OUTSTANDING! I'd have used different wording, but that was my very First question!


Whatever it takes.