By:
Filters
What's new
Mastiff Forum

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

  • Welcome back!

    We decided to spruce things up and fix some things under the hood. If you notice any issues, feel free to contact us as we're sure there are a few things here or there that we might have missed in our upgrade.

I need help!!!!

OdinBB

OdinBB

Well-Known Member
My dogs have been getting along until recently, this past friday they got into it for the first time. It was just a lot of vocals until yesterday. Odin got a hold of Chief and hurt him pretty bad, I am not sure why the fights started but out of nowhere Chief just started growling at Odin and Odin didn't take to it well at all. Now I am stuck with the decision of who stays and who goes. I have had Chief the longest but I think he would do better with getting rehomed, he is a 3 year old bichon frise and there is a little white dog rescue that would be able to assist. I didn't want to give either one up but after last night I know now if I do not do something Odin will kill Chief. There is a rescue that will take Odin too but I don't trust that he will get placed because of his size and if he does I don't trust he will get taken care of. Has anyone been faced with a decision like this? All I know is I need to do something soon.
 
M

musicdeb

Well-Known Member
What happened? Was there a toy/treat in the area? Can you explain the circumstances? Have you thought of training them?

Sometimes 2 males will just not like each other. I had an unaltered male border collie/cocker spaniel mix and an unaltered male Siberian Husky. The husky came into the family as a puppy, as they are all were. The BC/CS was alpha male with my unaltered male GSD/Chow. The husky as he got older would try to take the alpha away from the BC/CS and they would fight. I neutered the husky and it helped but they would sometimes tango.

Are they both unaltered?
 
OdinBB

OdinBB

Well-Known Member
Yes they are both unaltered, Chief is at the vet now getting stitched up and neutered. No there was not a toy or food involved, Odin went by Chief and Chief started growling at Odin and he just lunged at Chief. Now the vet is saying that I should neuter Odin too. I'm not sure what to do, I love both dogs but I don't want to risk Chief's life.
 
M

musicdeb

Well-Known Member
How old is Odin again? Like I said, I neutered the husky and it helped a little but they would still tango. I learned to keep them separated as much as I could and knew their body language so I could tell when they were getting ready to tango.

Both dogs lived together until the BC/CS died at age 13 years, the husky died 3 years later at 13 years.
 
OdinBB

OdinBB

Well-Known Member
Odin is 7 months and Chief is 3 years, I'm not sure how much Odin weighs but two months ago he was 83 lbs and Chief is just under 20 lbs. I can't risk them two having issues.
 
M

musicdeb

Well-Known Member
I recommend sending DMikeM a PM since he has 2 Boerbels with 2 other males. He might be able to help you. Sounds like you've made up your mind about rehoming one of them but chat with Mike first.
 
OdinBB

OdinBB

Well-Known Member
I will send him a PM, my mind isn't set on placing one of them but I am scarred for my peepers (Chief). I don't want Him to get hurt.
 
OdinBB

OdinBB

Well-Known Member
Yeah it is horrible, I really thought Odin was going to kill Chief. Thank you for your quick replies, it helped knowing that someone went through something similar. I hope I can keep them both but after last night I don't know if I should risk them together.
 
QY10

QY10

Well-Known Member
My two girls fought a lot and it was a terrifying experience each time.

A fight started because of food, so they ate separately.

A fight started over toys, so we took away the toys unless they were one on one with us.

A fight started over a treat, so they only got treats in their crates.

Then the fights started happening while one was simply walking by the other one. The fights got to the point where they couldn't be out at the same time. Thalia and Cache are both family members (Thalia is my dog and Cache is my boyfriend's dog). Both of us refuse to get rid of our dogs.

We worked with dog trainers and nothing stopped them from fighting.

It got to the point where if one was in their crate and the other walked by, a fight would still break out and they'd be trying to fight through the metal crate bars.

So, we turned to the crate and rotate method and WE LOVE IT. Thalia and Cache rotate time out of the crate with us. Cache is in her crate resting for 2-3 hours while Thalia is out. During that time, I work with Thalia on her obedience, we run in the back yard, we play ball, we cuddle on the couch etc... By the time it's her turn to go into the crate, she's pooped and ready for a nap anyways! Thalia goes in, Cache comes out and we do the same with Cache. The girls rotate nights getting to sleep in bed with us (Last night was Cache's night, so tonight Thalia will sleep in bed). They both eat separately in their crates.

It took us a little while to get used to, but oh my god, the peace of mind is incredible. I thought it would be mean to be forcing the dogs to stay in their crates, but they honestly have such a busy time out of their crate, that they just take naps in their crates and it's no different from them snoozing on the couch.

I think my example might be a bit on the extreme side in terms of the intensity and frequency of the fights that our girls got into, but the crate and rotate method might be a viable option if you want to keep both your pups?
 
Hector

Hector

Well-Known Member
My two males fight, but they aren't really serious. In your case, it's serious especially with a small dog that can easily get hurt by a big one. I hope something works out for you.
 
OdinBB

OdinBB

Well-Known Member
I would love to be able to keep both pups, I love them both. I am going to pick Chief up tonight from the vet and see how it goes, I don't think I will ever trust them two together again. We did fix Chief so we will see if that helps at all. I will keep everyone updated.
 
DMikeM

DMikeM

Well-Known Member
Boerboal are dominant dogs and Odin is at a spot in his life that he feels he no longer has to crap from anyone. Chief is the current dog in charge and may be trying to tell Odin this. Unless YOU put Odin in his place below Chief they will fight it out until one submits to the other or dies. I have always showed Odi (10 months intact male) that Dozer (13.5 yr altered male) is the boss. He gets fed first, treats first and even out the door first. Odi has snapped at Dozer for getting close to Odi's food and I had to correct him for it and I gave that food to Dozer right in front of Odi. Once Dozer was happy that the food was his he left it, then I gave it to Odi. Odi now lets Dozer sample food right out of his dish without even moving aside, he just lifts his head and lets him take a bite. Then Dozer will leave him alone.

There are always signs that 2 dogs are going to have a problem, sometimes it's only seconds before a fight other times it's just a hard look for a few minutes. If you don't step in then you are going to have a pack alpha leadership contest. As for getting Odin neutered, tell the vet to go kick rocks. It won't change a damn thing. Chief has already developed a personality and a temperament, and I have never heard of a Boerboel becoming docile after being neutered, but have read about several becoming temperamental afterwards. If Odin has a hard temperament then you need to become a very strong leader or you will need to get rid of one of your males. No hitting, that makes it worse. Get him in OB & socialization training right way, he needs structure and needs to meet other dogs outside of his element. But needs to Obedience training most of all, so that you can control him.
 
Penelope's Mom

Penelope's Mom

Well-Known Member
When my two males fought (EM and boxer) we had to adopt a crate and rotate schedule.They could NEVER be in the same room at the same time because if they so much as saw each other, the shit would hit the fan. They had a couple of serious fights when they hit their teenage years even though they were best buddies until that point.
 
DMikeM

DMikeM

Well-Known Member
My 2 Rott/Chow mixes can be around each other most times, but when there is an odd stimulus they go into a displaced aggression mode and go after each other. Neither dog will submit to the other so it just errupts into a battle to the death. They are kept in seperate yards when I am not home but when I am home they get along (tolerate each other).

This is a few years ago but this is what it looks like just seconds before 2 males are going to kill each other.
If I had not stepped in and taken that rock away from them it would have been a serious battle.
DSCF0020ROCK.jpg
Same day
PDRM0609.jpg
 
Hector

Hector

Well-Known Member
I think it takes about 30 or 60? days, I can't remember, for the hormones to work themselves out after neutering.
 
AZ Boerboel

AZ Boerboel

Well-Known Member
THat's really rough, sorry you're having to deal with that. With one being that small you really only have two choices. Re-home one of them, or keep one crated while the other is out. Otherwise simply due to size your little one is going to end up dead or seriously maimed. I have experience in the latter.
I have been through 4 bad fights since late december between my BB and my female pug. They are now always separated with one being in a crate while the other is out. It's a pain in the … but it's the only option I have if I want to keep the female pug.

The first fight was when Lucia was chewing on a lamb neck out back. Our female pug dropped her bone, went over and pulled the lamb neck out of Lucia's mouth and lucia snapped at her. her Canine tooth went in between our pugs eye and lower eyelid, and the lower tooth went through our pugs lower jaw area. It was really fast and happened as I was running towards them to grab the little idiot dog. The pug got lucky and didn't lose the eye that time.

The second fight our pug attacked Lucia in the kitchen. No food involved and actually left marks and a scar on lucias leg. Lucia hesitated a lot before having enough of being bitten and fought back. She got hold of her right as I got around the kitchen counter. Thankfully that was a short fight. Pug ended up with several stitches and staples.

The third fight happened in the middle of the night. Lucia jumped up on the bed and landed on the pug. She attacked lucia for stepping on her and my wife's hand got in the way at just the right/wrong time.

The last time our pug lost her right eye. No idea what started that one as I wasn't home and my wife had to break it up. I still have no idea how she did it as it is extremely difficult with how strong a boerboel is when they mean business.

Each fight got progressively worse. Now it just isn't worth the risk taking the chance of them being out at the same time. Our Boerboel is very calm, and our pug is a psychotic, spastic, beautiful little moron dog that survives on cuteness alone. Our Female pug is the only dog our BB has a problem with. She loves our male pug and gets along great with every well mannered dog she has met.

Good luck with whatever you end up doing. It's hard giving up a dog, but sometimes it is for the best.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.