Jack Russell same sex aggression

Question
QUESTION: Have 2 and 3 years old JRTs, female, spayed.  They are now fighting which is a serious matter...blood, etc.  Older dog is 22 pounds, younger dog is 11 pounds - not a shorty but just small.  I have met a dog trainer who says she can help us...and does not apparently believe in the advice we have received from books, websites and breeders, which is JRTs of the same sex, especially females, are an accident waiting to happen.  THey do not fight when they are alone in the backyard.  It happens when we are among them.  The older one gives the younger one "the look" and the younger one growls and stiffens because she is scared (my viewpoint.)  They are difficult to pull apart and my husband and I have both been injured trying to stop a fight.  They do not allow us the pleasure of having them both in, lying before the fire, falling asleep, or going together in the truck for an outdoor venture.  It's just terrible and it's getting worse.  I know we are doing something wrong...my question is...can this dog trainer fix this or should we give one away and start from scratch?  The older one scares me.  She is sweet to us, but she has this behavior when she sees other animals and/or humans she doesn't know, where she gets down low and begins "creeping" ... does this make any sense?  Any help would be greatly appreciated.  Bettye

ANSWER: Honestly, "bitch wars" are just about the worst type of problem you can have in your home. IF you are able to train them well enough to cut off the behavior when they are at the stare/growl/stiffen stage and IF they only fight in your presence, you may be able to manage the situation. Many of the terrier breeds have a tendency to be same-sex aggressive, and while males will fight for status, females generally fight to get rid of the other dog. In a natural situation, the weaker dog would have the option of leaving, but we surround our dogs with fences and walls, and insist that they have to live with a dog who may wish to kill them. It's stressful for the humans involved, and even more stressful for the dogs. You can listen to the trainer and if his/her advice seems sound (NOT punishing the dogs which can make the situation worse, but positively trying to change their emotions over the situation) you can give a try. You can do some counter-conditioning with the dogs on leash, giving clicks and treats for presence with each other. This can be a very successful technique for dealing with dogs in a public situation, or if the dogs aren't trying to kill each other, but in your home, requires a whole lot of proactive work and supervision. It can be hard to stay on top of things every minute of the day. Additionally, training often helps in the short run, but when things seem to be going better, it's really easy to let down your vigilance, and let the training slide. In which case, the problem often resurfaces. I'd not leave the dogs alone together, even if they haven't fought without a human present, as these things tend to escalate. If something should set them off when you aren't there, you could easily come home to a dead dog. If you HAVE to break up a fight, try to keep your hands away from the end with teeth. There is a product called "Direct Shield" available from Cleanrun.com which is pretty effective at breaking up a fight and is not toxic. Or a handful of black pepper may work (hard to hold on and sneeze at the same time) My personal opinion is that everyone in the household - including the dogs would be happier if one was rehomed. What you describe about the female creeping could be fear, or it could be predatory drift. Hard to tell without seeing it. Of course, in a situation where the dogs don't really have a chance to recover from stressful situations (because the enemy - in their mind - is always present) can exhibit all sorts of strange behavior, which may improve if the stress of the other dog is removed. Sandy Case BFA MEd CPDT www.positivelycanine.com

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QUESTION: Is either dog a BETTER candidate than the other to be introduced to and get along with another dog?  In other words, we would prefer 2 dogs for companionship, play time, etc., but would hate to get rid of one dog only to find that she will not tolerate another dog.  I know I am asking a lot...thanks for your assistance.

Answer
Hard to say without meeting them. Do either of them play with other dogs? My gut reaction is that probably the smaller dog (who is not the aggressor) might be easier to introduce to other dogs. But it also sounds like she may have fewer issues, which would make her easier to rehome. For your next dog, I would for sure get a male, and probably a larger, more laid back non-terrier. Sandy