Pickles and Jake becoming aggressive toward each other

[jenn D]

Ever since the move pickles and Jake have started to be unfriendly to each other. Jake use to always hump pickles and pickles never cared. I always tried to stop the humping when I saw it. Anyway, today they got into a pretty bad fight over an antler in the den. Brisby and Mac stayed out of it. Brisby and Mac also seem to be the dominant dogs. Both seem to lead the pack but are what I would call benevolent leaders, they really don't overly exert their leadership but they aren't challenged. Mac defers to Brisby. The order has always been Brisby, Mac, Jake, pickles. Ages are 4, 6, 3 and 2 (same order as dogs). All neutered. Never had problem with toys or chews before.

I think Jake has an eye infection and I've got him scheduled for a vet appt so maybe that's it. But they got into it bad and were scratching at each other and I got caught in the cross fire stoping it and got scratched accidentally on my abdomen. Not deep but bleeding and it's sore. I got them to stop but I'm worried about my pack. It's been 3 month since the move. Routines are still not normal.

Thoughts? I love my boys and they've always gotten along. I feel pickles is getting a bit more pushy. 2 60 lb dogs fighting is a lot of weight and I'm glad the kids weren't here.

[Stella]

The move has probably disrupted them and Pickles may be pushing to move up in the pack order, so to speak. I have two doodles that have fought on and off ever since they have been together (seven years now) - a couple bad enough for stitches and vet bills. I instigated Nothing in Life is Free with my younger dog, who was often the instigator, and made it very clear to both dogs that I was the boss. They do not have anything that could be considered high value without me being there to supervise, I manage mealtimes so that no one feels the need to guard their food, I also have to watch when passing through doorways or on the stairs that noone is barging past anyone else - including not past me, and my younger one is not allowed to guard me - he gets sent to lie on his bed if he tries. It has been a long road and they still grumble at each other, but it has now been over two years since they had a serious fight.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I think this is great advice. My first thought was also that Pickles was trying to move up in the pack order. The NILIF program is very effective. 

[Ginny Nightingale]

Keep a spray bottle handy--sometimes just picking it up stops the fight--if not spray gently from a distance--it is amazing how it distracts them.

[jenn D]

Hi guys. Thanks so much for the advice. I appreciate it. My side is sore from those scratches! So I'm wondering should I continue to have them all out at the same time or should I start doing individual re-training with Jake and pickles? I'm thinking they are also getting jealous of people attention because my husband is still working in albuquerque during the week so Jake is missing his human until the weekend. During the week Jake is pushing to get more of me time but will not cut in front of Brisby or Mac.

[jenn D]

Oh and the stairways cause issues here. Time to teach them all to wait until I call each one to go. Mac and Brisby always wait until I tell them but Jake and pickles bust up and down the stairs and often get ticked at each other,

[Stella]

Stairs and doorways or narrow areas - me first, then the older dog, then the younger dog - always. No playing in the house, at all. Typically we play outside with games that I control - fetch where each dog has his own toy to retrieve, I alternate throwing for each dog at a time, they have to wait their turn - harder for you with four dogs! The very rarely play / roughhouse with each other, and it used to escalate to a fight which is why I immediately interrupted whenever they started. Now I let them play a little, but always interrupt before things go further, both dogs have to stay on their feet, no wrestling where one is on the ground, allow a little tag but have to be really careful. Again, I am in control of when they play and for how long.

For a while I would leash Chase to me so I could always watch him and monitor his behaviour. He would earn 'free' time by being respectful of my other dog.

My friend has three dogs and their younger, adolescent (intact) ACD male is terrorizing their older females. They have two dogs out at a time and one crated. If the have all three out, the male is muzzled. This way he gets to practice his manners and learn good behaviour without them worrying about their females getting injured.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I think your move has changed things and you need to start over. I am sorry for that.   I would pick up whatever toys or treats that Pickles and Jake consider high value and keep the spray bottle handy. I would also separate them when you aren't there - just for now.  When we added Clancy to our pack, our lab mix and Ned made it clear that they were more dominant than he was and there was no challenging.  Clancy and our Springer, Gordie, took a few months to really settle in as to who was where in the hierarchy.  They became very close eventually and when Gordie suddenly died, Clancy went through the house crying for him.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I think this is all great advice.  The humping is often a sign that one is trying to dominate the other, so it's great that you stop it.  Right now the most important thing is that you reaffirm your leadership role, and the NILIF approach should help to do that.  Nothing belongs to them....everything belongs to you.  My guys can't have antlers but they each have a nylabone.  I give each of them their bone when I'm there to supervise, and then I put them away after they've had some time to chew.  That just reinforces that the bones are mine and I am "allowing them" to have them but on my terms.  It took all of the competition over the bones away.  Good luck....I really think this is temporary.