Lucy fighting with Bailey

[Barrett]

This has just started happening this week and Lucy is starting it. She will take every toy away from Bailey and guard it from her. She gets jealous if I try and give Bailey attention. She barks at Bailey if she is on the couch. I don't let either of them on the couch but Bailey can jump up there and Lucy isn't big enough yet. Bailey usually gets up there to get away from her. The fights are serious and just 5 minutes ago she actually drew blood on Bailey's neck over a toy. I had to pull Lucy off by picking her up by the scruff of her neck so she wouldn't bite me too and I put her outside. ( I plan on leaving her out there by herself for a half hour.) Bailey fights back when it happens. 10 minutes after I break up the fight and let them out of timeout they are best friends and playing all over the house like nothing happened. They still sleep together and hang out together all day, the fights happen out of the blue.

I have been doing NILIF with both of them from the day Lucy came to live with us. I did NILIF with Bailey since she was a pup too. I practice obedience many times a day with both of them and Lucy is in Advanced obedience classes right now and is doing great. They both listen to me perfectly and are very well behaved. I give them equal attention and equal amounts of work to do each day.


I know that they are probably fighting for dominance and this is most likely normal but I HATE it and it makes me want to cry. Do I pick up every toy in the house and not allow them to play unless it is earned? The fights always happen over toys. How do I get them through this???????





Barrett

[elegy]

yes. pick up every toy in the house. if they can't have toys without fighting, then they don't get toys. give each dog A toy and only let them have it as long as they're actively using it, and don't give it for free. and don't let one dog take the other dog's toy. you need to supervise them.

you are allowing things to progress far enough to turn into fights when you let lucy take things and guard them. lucy is not the boss. she does not own the toys. YOU are the boss. YOU own the toys.

i deal with this crap in my own house. it can be dealt with and after it's initially dealt with and the dogs learn the rules better, things can be relaxed some.

the book Mine! A Guide to Resource Guarding in Dogs by jean donaldson might be helpful also.

[Barrett]

As soon as I see her take the toy I get it and give it back to Bailey and tell her No. Then I take her toy and play with it with her to get her interested in it again and praise her for chewing on it. There were a few toys they squabbled over often and I just threw them away. Every toy I buy them is the same for each dog. I haven't taken all the toys away before but I will do that now. The fight last night was out of the blue, no warning. Bailey was playing with a toy and nosed it under the couch. Lucy came from across the room and attacked Bailey. I think she thought Bailey found something good under the couch and wanted it. She didn't even know what was under there.

[IceyBlueSibes]

We had to deal with a similar situation with Denali when we first brought her home. Although I think most of her issue had to do with not being socialized with other dogs for a while. So she didn't exactly know how to share her other toys. She was about 3 months at the time. She would guard her cage too. But every time she took the toy out of their mouth, we would take the toy and put it up. No more toy for a while. Then we'd put it back down, and they'd play with it again. As soon as Denali started to learn the concept of "No!" and that the other two were higher than her, she left it alone. We just wouldn't let them have the toy, if they fussed over it.

Now, not too long ago, we brought a few toys home for all four of the crew. Well, Denali likes to do this again towards Lilly, which I can understand is because Denali is trying to tell Lilly she's bigger than she is. Well one day, they both went after the same toy, and Lilly got defensive, and they got into it. No blood drawn, but a squabble. So no more toys, Denali was put in her cage to calm down as she started the fight.

We actually let them work things out amongst themselves, as Denali and Lilly are competing for that bottom rank. We do step in when things get way too nasty, or it is too persistent (snagging toys away, growling etc). Which I'm sure some may not agree with, but as long as they aren't physically hurting each other, and aren't showing these signs towards a human, we let them work it out.

[flyndog]

Ah, those trying adolescent years. Have you threatened to take away the car keys?

[Barrett]

I try to let them work things out on their own but it is hard. I don't want them to fight. They used to be inseperable and now they get jealous of each other. If one gets something the other MUST have it too. Lucy is the bully and takes toys away from Bailey. Bailey usually just lets her do it and gives me a pitiful look like "Do something Momma!".
I took all the toys away and I gave them the exact same toy when we have play time. When they start to get bored and wander off I pick up the toys when they aren't looking and we do some training or go for a walk. So far this last two days have been great and they are back to loving each other. I'll see how this goes until Lucy grows up a little. She is almost 7 months old so I hope I only have to do this for a few months. I have to say, it has been nice to walk through the house in the middle of the night and not have to shuffle my feet for fear of stepping on a nylabone or squeeky toy. I don't have to walk through the house with a laundry basket picking up toys before I vacuum everyday either. I could get used to this but my spoiled little pups might have other things to say. Oh if dogs could speak english I am sure my ears would be burning right now! LOL