I am so exhausted from this weekend (and this past week).
Long story short, since I moved back in with my folks, my dogs and their dog do not get along. At all. So much so, that every time we have tried to introduce Autumn to their dog, they fight REALLY badly. We’ve resorted to keeping them separated at all times, in different rooms of the house.
So the other night, someone (we found out later it was my dad) accidentally left one of the doors open, Autumn saw the other dog, and POUNCED. Dog fight ensued. I heard the awful sounds from across the house and literally ran from my room to the kitchen, where they were fighting. My dad had one dog, my mom had the other, I was trying to hold back my other dog from joining the fight…and somewhere in the ruckus, my dad got bitten by one of the dogs. My mom did too, though not nearly as badly. They went to the ER and my dad came home several stitches later (and pretty pissed off with me and my dog, by the way).
Turns out that my parents handled the dog fight all wrong–you’re not supposed to grab them by their collars or put your hands anywhere NEAR the dogs’ heads, since you’re likely to be bitten, as they were. What I know now is that you’re supposed to dump water on the dogs to startle them and/or grasp them by their hind legs and pull them away from each other. Well, I know that now.
So my parents are super paranoid now about my dogs, they’re calling Autumn the “bad dog” and have pretty much marked her as the devil. 
She’s a sweet dog, I swear she is. Just for some reason, she doesn’t like their dog.
On top of all that, yesterday she decided to fight with my other dog, Orion. My parents have a peach tree in the backyard and sometimes peaches fall from the tree. Apparently one of the dogs got a fruit and started eating it, the other one saw and wanted it, and…you guessed it…ANOTHER dog fight. So my parents, who are already on edge because of the incident the other night, freaked out and sprayed them with the hose to break them up (which worked). Neither of them (my parents or the dogs) were really hurt. The dogs both had very small scratches on them, but that’s it. But my parents have lost patience with them and consequently, me, since they’re my dogs.
Logically, I know that dogs require a lot of work and they can be a real handful. I also know that Autumn is about 2 1/2 years old right now and she’s trying to challenge Orion for dominance in our “pack.” My parents don’t get this. They see her as a problem, dangerous even, despite the fact that she has NEVER attacked a person in her life. I don’t know if she fights with their dog strictly as another dominance issue, but she has never endangered a *person.* That’s when I would be concerned. I understand that dogs fight between themselves because, well, they’re animals and that’s how they assert themselves with each other. But with two fights in one week, my dad said I should just give Autumn away to the SPCA.
I’m not going to do that. I’m not going to give her away or even worse, have her put to sleep unless she physically harmed one of us or another person. And she has never shown signs of aggression (other than barking and being kind of annoying) toward any *person.* Now, I’m really hoping and praying that she doesn’t get into contact with my parents’ dog again, because that was just bad. Blood drawn, though mainly through scratches. But still. I’ve heard that “dogs will work it out between themselves,” but um…I’d rather not watch them kill each other, thanks.
As for Autumn and Orion, the only time they’ve ever fought since I’ve been raising them (and that’s since they were puppies) is when they’re fighting over an object. A rawhide bone, a toy, and in yesterday’s case, food. Other than that, they’re fine with each other. Perfectly normal, they get along, they play, just don’t let them have something to fight each other over.
I’m just wondering also if some bigger issue is going on where Autumn is reaching the age where she’s becoming more aggressive just as a matter of her personality. If this continues, is there some kind of medication the vet can prescribe her to mellow her out? Kind of a Ritalin for dogs type of thing? Because if so, that’s what I’ll resort to before giving up and just getting rid of her, though I’m sure my dad would love that. 
He is so cold-hearted, he doesn’t realize that my dogs have been with me through everything that’s gone on in my life in the past few months, when my parents were miles away and my dogs were all I had! They really are like my babies. So unless Autumn bites someone’s head off (that sounds really bad, but you know what I mean), I’m not just getting rid of her. She’s my baby.
In the meantime, I guess I need to call a vet tomorrow and see if there is anything I can do to control her. I don’t know if she is still trying to adjust to a new environment since the move, plus attempting dominance over my other dog and my parents’ dog or what, but this has got to stop sometime soon. If I come home from work one day to find that Autumn isn’t here because my dad called Animal Control on her, we’re going to have MAJOR PROBLEMS. So I need to do whatever I can to help her, but what?
I am so drained by all of this.
eeeek! That sounds awful. I haven’t lived with a dog for a long time, so I don’t have much advice. You should post this at the L&V boards though, a lot of folks over there are animal people (especially L & V!) and they might have some info.
Have you ever watched the Dog Whisperer? The ideas presented seem to be valid. Although I don’t personally own a dog, I have used the techniques when meeting new dogs, and it seems to go well.
I was thinking about the Dog Whisperer too! I apply some of his theories to annoying co-workers… and well, they work, haha.
Have you tried putting leashes on these dogs and with your parents, just walking the dogs together? I’ve done that when my dog and my uncle’s dog were not getting along very well. It established that there was a pack and that they were members of a pack.
Also, I’m not sure how frequently the dogs get walked but it sounds like it may have a little to do with too much energy, not enough routine.
I really hope your dad doesn’t give your dog away without giving her a chance. *hug
I’ve been through this and it isn’t fun. One thing I’ll mention, though. All the dogs need to know who the pack leader is…whether it’s you, or your parents. Your dogs are in a new environment and I think Autumn may be trying to be the leader and succeeding. I agree about the dog whisperer. He really knows how to gently correct inappropriate dog behavior and it works quickly.
Good luck.
Another thought…. my dog Sam was aggressive toward other dogs and then I got him fixed. Now he’s super mellow toward other dogs? Is Autumn fixed? Are your parents dogs fixed? I wholly agree that dogs tend to fight to maintain or obtain dominance. It’s just their nature. But learning some tricks to keep the fighting down would be worth exploring. Good luck!!!
that sounds awful!!
i grew up in a house with four dogs, so we went through some issues over the years as well, but in the end they all ended up loving each other.
have you thought about a trainer or obedience school? that can really help with aggressive tendencies.
good luck, i can’t imagine how awful you must feel right now!
I’m glad that you, your parents and pups are all okay (except for the minor injuries). I used to work for Tidewater K-9 Academy, (www.tidewaterk9.com) a local training/boarding facility. They will do a free eval, behavior mods, and training. Any one of those could help you integrate your dogs and your parents. Good luck!
I’ve never seen The Dog Whisperer…from the sound of it, though, that’s exactly what Autumn needs! I just took Tasha’s advice and emailed Tidewater K-9 about pricing for training–thanks!
Unfortunately, there is just something about my parents’ dog that she just does NOT like. She only fights with Orion if there is food or a toy involved, but my parents’ dog…yikes. Run and hide is the only thing to do, really. Hopefully I can get all this straightened out!
Thanks, everyone
Dogs can take Prozac. Talk to the vet.
glad that you are looking into the training. The walking everyone together is a good thing too. It totally sounds like a fight for dominance, new dog trying to establish in old dogs territory.
Very glad that you figured out how to “handle” a fight as well. Hang in there lady!
Jen: seriously? I’ll keep that in mind, thanks!
Kathryn: I’m trying to hang in there, but it gets tough sometimes! Totally worth it, though…:)