Kingdom of Pets

Posted by swampyann
Jan 30, 2011

Hi everyone

Been a while since I have visited. I will refresh your memory: I have a brother and a sister (whom have been fixed) Border Collie and Blue Heeler mix? They are 17 months old now (teenagers). Sarah is the alpha dog. She is becoming aggressive towards Jagger over almost everything now.

How should I address this? Do I ignore or do I tell Sarah NO and shun her?

Open for any suggestions

Thank you

Posted by MaxHollyNoah
Jan 30, 2011

Hi swampyann,

I am glad you are back in the forum. It's been almost a year, isn't it?

I understand your dogs are outside dogs and you did have the same problem with Sarah bullying Jagger a year ago. Like cornering him, and stealing his food, etc.

Let us know how you have been working on those issues. Have you been correcting her behaviors?

One thing I want to suggest in addition to correcting Sarah's aggressions toward Jagger, is to provide one-on-one time with each of your dogs. Take only one dog at a time for walks, shoppings, inside the house, training classes etc. to build stronger relationship with each one of them.

I still don't like the idea of Sarah being so bully against Jagger even though she is more dominant. I would shun her everytime I see her acting like that. Does Jagger seem happy to be around Sarah most of the time, or is he just tolerating the whole thing?

Let us know how Sarah's behaviors got worse the last 12 months.

Posted by swampyann
Feb 1, 2011

Thank you for being there again for me MaxHollyNoah,

Sarah has gotten worse on her jealously towards me. When Jagger comes for affection from me, Sarah is there pushing him out with a growl. I tell her no and keep giving Jagger attention. When she quits and goes away I finish loving Jag and then go to Sarah and give her some. I thought maybe I should ignore Jag and give Sarah hers first (because she is the alpha dog) and then call Jag. What happens is Jag sees her getting attention and comes over and the growling starts. No win situation.

How would you handle this?

The eating situation is still the same. I sit between the two dogs to keep Sarah away from Jag. Now she is waiting till Jag is through eating before she even starts. Makes for a long meal.

I have not been giving one on one walks or time with each one sperately. I will start doing that. One other ? when they are playing sometimes it gets into a fight. I can break it up with a NO so far.

Posted by MaxHollyNoah
Feb 1, 2011

Hi swampyann,

What I would like to see is that you have one dog at each side and they both somehow tolerate the situation but it may take some more steps.

How about teaching them taking turns?

Prepare a lot of small pieces of treats. Have both dogs in front of you and give each dog one treat alternately. Then, throw a treat over one dog's shoulder as soon as he/she gives you an eye contact. If the other one trys to get to the treat, stop him/her. Let them know that they will receive equal amount of attention/treats but they need to wait nicely for their turn.

When they get better, throw a ball for one of them and have the other one wait. When the one brings a ball, give him/her a treat, and give the one waiting nicely a treat too for being so patient.

I know it sounds impossible but if you implement this rule of taking turns in your daily life, they will learn it. The key is that they should realize that they don't need to fight over anything, they will both get granted as long as they are calm and patient.

Good luck

Posted by KOPCaroline
Feb 1, 2011

Hey swampyann,

I agree with MHN. While you should keep up with Sarah alpha status, feeding her first, etc, you should be sure that both dogs get equal and seperate attention times. Individual walks and play times are great ways to ensure both dogs know they are equally important and of course loved, without having to compete against the house hierarchy.

It is a good idea to correct Sarah for bullying Jagger unecessarily, ie when she growls at him for seeking pats. A stern "no", and removing her from the area can help if she wont respond to just verbal correction.

Instead of sitting between the two at dinner time (what a hassle for you!), try feeding them in seperate areas - one on the front porch, one on the back, or in two seperate rooms. Blocking access to each other at dinnertime instead of constantly watching over them while they eat is a much better solution, because after a while of coming up against closed doors when she goes for Jaggers food, Sarah will get the idea that she cant get at it and stop trying. You sitting between them still gives her visual stimulation for Jaggers food, and thus it is always a possibility that she can get it.

Let us know how they go with the jealousy. It will take a bit of time to correct ultimately, but it is solveable, just have patience and remember to keep to routines with seperate attention!

Posted by swampyann
Feb 3, 2011

MHN I will work on teaching the taking turns (kids)

KOP I do need to concentrate on more one on one. They have always done everything together with me. It would be nice to be able to give one loving or playing without the other one competing for the attention.

As far as the eating situation, I will try the out of site.

You guys are the best!

Thank you Swampyann

Posted by swampyann
Feb 7, 2011

Update on eating

Feed Sarah by front door first, then Jagger by back door.

I put Sarah's food down and take Jagger around to the other side. Sarah follows me. I put Jagger's food down and he follows me back to Sarah's. We go back and forth.

When I finally get them to eat I go in the house and watch. Well Sarah will eat for a while then go around the corner to look at Jagger and he cowers and quites eating.

I go back out and get them lined out and go back in the house. Do you think this will work in time or do you have any other suggestions?

Posted by MaxHollyNoah
Feb 7, 2011

Hi swampyann,

I got a kick out of your update! It is so funny (sorry, it is not for you).

I guess Sarah and Jagger's eating habit has become more like a ritual for them so they are not comfortable with the new way of being fed. They are also puzzled.

How long have you tried feeding them separately? To me, it sounds easier to feed them together and sitting in the middle, than going back and forth between the two feeding places.

How about doing this then?

Feed Sarah only while you and Jagger watch her (I hope she will start eating without Jagger being offered his food). When she is done, bring Jagger's food out and let him eat while you keep Sara away by grabbing her collar and make her sit and stay (I hope Jagger will eat in front of Sarah, though).

If this method doesn't work, here is an alternative:

Have both sit in front of you with empty dishes in front of them. Put 1/4 cup of dry food in each of the dishes at the same time, say "Wait" and release. (Hope each will eat his/her own food). Repeat this and see if they only mind his/her own food when it comes in small portions. If 1/4 cup is too much, maybe you can start with a few kibbles.

Let us know how it goes

Posted by swampyann
Feb 9, 2011

MHN,

I too thought they were confused. I am going to keep trying the out of sight for a while longer as I have not done this for very long. If this doesn't work I will try your other suggestions.

Thank you (will keep you posted)

Posted by KOPCaroline
Feb 9, 2011

Hey swampyann,

Is there a way to enclose each dog in a room with their bowl, so that they can't follow you out? You can still be on the other side of the door, listening for any problems, but I would tend to think if you leave a dog in a room with food, they won't take long to figure out what the best course of action is

You can try just enclosing one in a room and working with the other on either:

1. not trying to get at the other bowl of food, or pay attention to the other (albeit enclosed) bowl of food, or

2. work on confidence at the food bowl, with Jagger especially. Keeping his confidence up when he's alone is a great way to help ease the tension in the house as he figures out he is a big boy too!

I hope you see progress. A bit of hesitancy at a new routine is expected, especially when you've been feeding them one way for a long time. Give them commands to stay with their food bowl (even a sit command) if you can't enclose them in a room at first. If theyre trained to wait for the next command before moving from a sit, stay, it gives you time to put the other bowl down then return to the first dog and tell them to eat (repeating with the second dog).

Good luck, keep us updated!

Jealously - Help