I have two minature poodles. Charlie is 10 and Sam 8. Up until 2 yrs ago they have been best of mates with Charlie clearly being the alpha male and Sam happy to be the more submissive. As they have aged Charlie seems to have gotten very snappy and on one of his caution growls to Sam he actually bit him and hurt him. From that day onwards Sam has bitten back and things have been getting progressivley worse. They are getting into more and more fights with sometimes a toy or food being the reason but on some days Sam only has to brush past Charlie and he starts a fight. One of my favourite past times was to watch them play but they have me so on edge now that I won't let them as I am scared that a fight will begin. I have read a little on the dog whisperer whom suggests that Charlie may be getting the thought of fighting from me as it is what I constantly worry about but I do not know how to stop myself from worrying. They have me in tears consistently as it is a horrible thing to watch. I have had Charlie checked by a vet to make sure that there is nothing physically wrong with him. I would appreciate any help in this matter as it is a major stress in our lives. Petra
If you've already spoken to a vet about the problem, I'm sure he mentioned that age alone can make dogs more cranky - with things like arthritis and just general wear-and-tear making them less inclined to play and carry on as they used to, even with known dog friends. It is very stressful to have two dogs who used to be great together suddenly need constant monitoring in case a fight breaks out.
Have you spoken to your vet about a Dog Appeasing Pheromone plug in or spray for your home? Its a natural remedy for anxious dogs that can help them calm down, and it may be worth a try.
Also, try taking them on bonding outings so they are not only interacting at home. A car ride, a walk through a park on leads, etc are good activities that provide distractions for both dogs, while usually making them happy. Outings like this can help reform a bond of at least tolerance between dogs.
