Pet Information > ASK Experts > Dogs > Dog Breeds > German Shepherds > my dogs

my dogs

19 17:43:39

Question
YOU MISUNDERSTOOD ME.. I HAVE 2 9MONTH OLD FEMALES, ONE IS IN HEAT. SHES ALWAYS GROWLING AT THE OTHER ONE. THEY HAVE GOT INTO TERRIBLE FIGHTS,DREW BLOOD. NEXT MINUTE THEIR LICKING EACH OTHER. I AM SCARED FOR PRINCESS, QUEENIE IS NOT LETTING HER EAT OR BE PRTTED BY US. THET HAVE A HUGE PIN, OLD CORN STALL,THEY RUN ALL,DAY,I PUT THEM IN YHE PIN AT NIGHT SO COYOTES DONT HURT THEM.I HAVE FOUR KIDS HERE SMALLEST 1. THEY ARE GENTLE WITH THEM. I WANT TO TRAIN BOTH DOGS.
-------------------------------------------
The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
i have two german shepards thet are sisters. one ,the bigger one wont let her sister eat or be petted by us. she is alwats boss. they got into terrible fight. i hiought they were going to kill each other. they share a big pin. what do i do to train queenie to de nice to princess?
-----Answer-----
If you are keeping 2 intact females outside in a pen with little stimulation, expect trouble.  Get them spayed.  Don't tell me you are going to breed them.  You haven't even made a start on learning what you would need to to do so responsibly.

Having a good pack structure reduces such problems.  The dogs see all the
people and dogs in the household as a pack with each having their own rank in
the pack and a top dog.  Life is much easier if the 2 legged pack members
outrank the 4 legged ones.  You can learn to play the role of top dog by
reading some books or going to a good obedience class. A good obedience class
or book is about you being top dog, not about rewarding standard commands with
a treat. Start at http://www.dogsbestfriend.com/

Answer
Being in heat leads to all kinds of behavior problems.  You may need to keep them separated until the one is finished being in heat.  Certainly don't let her run in that condition.  She could bring out the female coyotes even in the day time to kill her, get bred by who knows what and infected, get kill din traffic seeking a male, etc.  

I would spay the other now before she comes in season.  Most vets don't like to spay females in heat.  Otherwise, you may be going through the same or worse as soon as the first finishes up.