Need Help...The Fighting has Reached an all Time High

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

The fighting has increased and I just don’t know what to do.  I am 2,000 miles away from home and my two doodles and I feel completely helpless and worried.  I am looking for any suggestions.  I apologize for the length of this post. 

 

Here is a little background:

We had Cubbie for about 3 years when we adopted Ollie in 2011.  From day one, we struggled with issues between the 2 dogs.  We trained Ollie separately (Cubbie already had his CGC) and we also took both dogs to a training class together.  Ollie now has his CGC, so both dogs have been through a decent amount of training.  We worked with our trainer and finally got to a point where we weren’t constantly worried about a fight breaking out.  We were able to go 1-2 months between incidents, which was actually a big improvement, when suddenly things started getting worse.

 

In August I got a new job that requires us to move 2,000 miles away.  My DH has to stay back in Indiana for the remainder of the year (he is a teacher) while I move to WA.  In the month before I moved, I was super stressed and very busy trying to get the house ready to sell and say all my good-byes.  That is when things started to get a little worse with the dogs.  They seemed to get more easily aggravated with each other but I just assumed that they were reacting to my high stress levels.

 

Once I left for WA, DH didn’t have any issues for the first 2.5 weeks.  Everything seemed like it was back to normal.  Then I came home for a 2 day stay before departing for the doodle cruise.  The first night I was home I was sitting on the couch holding Ollie and when Cubbie simply walked past, Ollie growled at him.  So I put Ollie in another room to prevent the situation from escalating.  Once I let Ollie back out, he went and laid down on the kitchen floor, but Cubbie just stood there staring at him and you could tell that the tension was rising again.  So they were back in separate rooms.  The whole time I was gone on the cruise, the dogs were mostly ok. 

 

I returned from the cruise on Saturday afternoon.  Saturday evening we had a HUGE fight.  My husband and I were sitting on the couch watching tv.  Ollie was chewing on a bone and then the next thing we know they were attacking each other.  We didn’t see what happened so we don’t know who/what started it.  They were rolling around, teeth flashing, growling, and snarling.  Cubbie had Ollie pinned and was tearing at his ear.  Ollie was screaming (or the doggie equivalent).  I used an air horn until it ran out and that didn’t stop them.  I threw a pillow at them and still nothing.  I finally grabbed Cubbie by the back legs and lifted up and tried to pull him off Ollie.   When I finally pulled them apart, I stood there holding Cubbie up at chest level to keep them away from each other.  Ollie jumped up to try to get Cubbie and got my arm instead.  That was over a week ago and I still have a rather large bruise on my arm.  We kept them apart the rest of the night and then most of Sunday too.  The only time they were together on Sunday was when we took them both on a long walk while we had a showing on the house.

 

Yesterday DH had to separate them again because they were getting tense with each other.  But tonight was the worst.  DH called me at work and said “if we don’t do something about these dogs they are going to kill each other.”  Needless to say, I wasn’t really able to focus on work for the rest of the day.  Apparently Ollie had been laying on the couch and Cubbie was standing near the couch.  Nothing had been going on.  No toys were involved.  All of a sudden, Cubbie jumped up and started to attack Ollie.  DH said that Ollie tried to get away twice but Cubbie just kept going after him.  I am not sure what all DH tried, but he said that eventually he was able to get Cubbie off Ollie by swatting him with a pillow to get them to stop long enough to step between them and then used the pillow to herd Cubbie into another room.  I told him to keep them separate for the rest of the night, to take them out to potty individually, and make them sleep in separate rooms instead of the bedroom with him.  He is going to let them out in the morning individually and then put them in separate rooms to feed them breakfast and then leave in separate rooms when he goes to work.  My parents are going to go over in the middle of the day to let each dog out separately.  I am so stressed out; I just don’t know what to do. 

 

At first I thought they just might be feeding off my stress, but I’m not there now.  We moved their beds into storage and put up most of their toys so our house doesn’t look as “doggie” when potential home buyers come in for a showing.  There are strange people leaving strange smells in our home.  I was gone, then I came home, then I was gone, then I came home, then I was gone.  Are they just stressed out and confused?  DH and my brother will be driving the dogs out to WA starting on 10/25 where I will be living with them in temporary housing (a 1 or 2 bedroom apartment) until our house is done in December?  Am I going to make it?  I will take any advice or suggestions that anyone can possibly offer.

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Ha ha, I wish Daisy saw either one of us as the leader...DH and I are constantly saying, NO that is not what you say, you say this, while Daisy sits there and head tilts us both like we are a couple of idiots.

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

hope DH never finds out that i posted that  :)

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I know what you mean.....my DH finds it difficult to be a leader with the dogs too....makes it difficult.  They should not be in the bed with him while all this is going on....that's asking for trouble.  Also, staring is a bad sign and you really can't allow it.  I would firmly verbally correct....no happy voice.  Redirecting them with obedience commands is great.

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

it seems like when i use a stern voice while they are on the verge of a fight and try to step between them before anything happens it only makes it worse.  Maybe i'm doing it wrong.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

If you can catch it at the "staring" stage that's great.  I would verbally correct and try to refocus them on you....if they look away from each other and redirect their attention, that's time for a reward and the "happy voice". If they are fixating try saying "Ollie (or Cubbie) LOOK.  If they do (so they've broken the stare) then I'd say "lets get a treat and move them with you towards where you keep the treats.   Murphy also starts with a "fixated" look.  If I can get him to look away and focus on something else I can usually avoid the incident.  Trying to stay calm at this point is so hard...but it's so key. 

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

Oh Amy I'm so sorry you are going thru this :(   I have no advise to offer because I have never been faced with this situation.  In my opinion I think it is due to the stress of all that is going on in your life.  There is light at the end of the tunnel... you will be in your new home soon and everyone will settle into your old routine and so will the doodles.  Is there something that you think triggers this?  It seems like you can see it start to escilate and seperate them but then at times it just blows between them.   I would definately  consult with a behaviorist and get their input and hopefully they can help. I hope everything work out for you soon !

[Janie, Jackson and Jilly]

I am so sorry this is going on and can only imagine the stress this puts on top of everything else. What great advise here, hoping you find the answer!

[Robyn, Greg and Snickers]

Amy we have a similar situation as we are getting ready to move cross country, and although we only have the one Dood, his stress level is at all time high.  I am a huge believer in the Dog Whisperer's philosophy that our canine companions can feel our energy and I am sure your energy and your husband's energy are right now on 10 stress as well.  We have resorted to taking Snicks to daycare at least 3 times a week just so he can get out of the chaos of the house. This week we are having some work done on the house as a result of the buyer inspection and we decided that boarding him for a few days where he can play with his friends and be out of the dust, away from the strange workers would actually be more relaxing than being here with us.

 I am not an expert but I think Cubbie is taking out his frustration on Ollie because he is an easy target.  Maybe if your DH and you when you visit could spend some one on one time with each of them-playing ball or doing the "normal" things you did before and you would see some improvement. I don't have a solution for you but we have just tried to make an effort with Snicks to spend some quality time with him during this process. He too lost his original crate and is now sleeping in a smaller pop up one that can be broken down easily.  I do wish you the best of luck, this moving thing is so stressful on us as people but the Doods just don't understand and I wish for a few minutes we could explain it them in their language! 

On another note, where are you moving in WA? We are moving to Coeur D'Alene ID near Spokane WA.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Amy -- I think you are going to be spelling the name of the town your live in forever! 

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

I feel bad that Snickers is stressed by your move, but it is comforting to know that your dog is experiencing a similiar reaction.  I was starting to feel like I was doing something wrong and beginning to wish that I had never taken this job. 

We are moving to Bothell, WA.  It is out near Seattle.  So i'm on the other end of the state.  :)

[Robyn, Greg and Snickers]

I think they just like routine and our lives and I am sure yours have been less than routine recently, good luck with your move!

[Julie, Boomer, Milo & Casey]

Amy, there is a doodle group on meetup.com and we meet monthly at Magnuson dogpark in Seattle.  First Saturday of every month at 11am.   There are usually 30+ doodles in attendance.  Would love to meet some time.