German Shepherd Fighting with Staffy.

Question
Please Help us. We have 6 House Dogs. 3, German Shepherds, 1 staffy, 1 chow and a Border Collie. The Main problem is when The Male Shepherd and the (Neutered male)Staffy See each other they get into a major fight and all the family members have to dive in to try spit them. It is Really bad and they try to kill each other. We are desperate for advice on how to stop them attacking each other or how to seperate them in a fight. We love our Dogs and each has their own special part in the family. We do not want to put them to sleep.

We've Been playing "musical Dogs"for the past few years (where you lock one in the room and let the other one out, then lock the other one in the room and let the other one out) We've been successful in this for a few months, but then by accident they see each other and we have the major fight on our hands.

This fight takes our whole family's strength to split the dogs and we are afraid that one day we wont be able to. This New Years day the dogs got at each other again, the Shepherd locked his jaw and we found it a miracle that we were able to EVENTUALLY split them. Water doesn't help.

Please Help me.

Answer
Hi Suzanne

Your so correct, it will end up with death as I had a female that attacked my Boston Male fixed Terrier and killed him.  She was totally nuts from Germany.

Keep mace spray on hand and spray into the dogs eyes that fights.  This immediately will stop them for they cannot see, it will not hurt them.  Also, a water hose helps.  Also, keep a bottle of vinegar on hand and spray into the fighting dogs eyes to split them up.

These are just things to do to stop a fight, also pulling ones tail hard towards you will split them up. Now, you must start to not let dogs fight.  Whomever is starting the fights needs some major disapline.You have what we call:  A Pack of Dogs.  When running a pack, they need a leader.  Packs of dogs always look up to the leader for guidance.  You must now be the Leader and Boss.

Keep the above items on hand and start to keep a major eye on the two that fights, when they start, end it and let the starter know your no longer going to tolerate fighting.  Pay no attention and ignore this dog all day or a few days.  Scold it badly with a loud firm voice.  Take hold of the dogs hair on each side of its face or below the ears and shake him hard.  Back and forth and rattle his head some.  While doing this scold him badly.  Be FIRM!!

Otherwise, you might have to place one up for adoption for once they make a pattern of fighting its hard to stop.  They have gotten away with it now and dogs have habits and hatered like humans.  The two dogs hate each other.  Put a good collar that fits each and lead.  Have somebody strong lead each one on a walk.  Keep some distance, but if they try anything, stop, put into the SIT command and shake their heads like I said above and scream at the one growling.

This is the way I personally would try and handle this.  I do not know of anyother way than to keep them seperate, kennel one in a pre fab kennel.  Costs about $219 at Lowes.  Keeping so many indoors now is going to be a real task to keep peace.  If they continue after all I have told you, please place one up for adoption for I would hate to hear one kills the other.  Then you would have to put the dogs to sleep for being fighting dogs.  This is very sad.

Try to get into control of this mess by being firm and in total control of all your dogs.  Keep the mace in your hand always, walk them together and one wrong move, let him have it. Look into the dogs eyes and scold badly, mean it.

If you need anything further, let me know.  And, let me know how any of this works for you.

Kind Regards
Pat
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