female dog aggression

Question
I have 3 female dogs ages 8 (eskimo) 5 (15 lb overgrown maltese) and 3 (pomeranian). I probably shouldn't have gotten 3 females, but I have them, and now here I am. I am having issues with constant aggression from my maltese. The eskimo and the pomeranian get along, the maltese and the eskimo mostly get along, but there is serious fighting and aggression between the maltese and pomeranian to the point that they must always be kept separate. I don't want to get rid of any of them, but I can't take this behavior much longer. It is the maltese that usually instigates, but the pomeranian does not hesitate to fight back or to start a barking match when they are separated by a gate. I have recently heard of prong collars, but she seems to get more aggressive when something hurts her, so I don't know how effective that would be. I am open to all suggestion.

Answer
Hi Andrea,

Your instinct regarding prong collars is correct. Steer clear, it will only make things worse.

The big problem is that females do not battle for status. They are who they are from the day they are born and they retain that status even as they age.

As stressful as it is for you it is even more so for them Imagine living a life of constant fighting.

You don't identify specific triggers, but isolating them and reducing the stress surrounding them would help a bit, but realistically you may be looking at permanent sequestering or re-homing.

If you can, have someone come out and assess in person. Try www.ccpdt.com