Having 2 females

Question
QUESTION: I have a 7 year old female Terrier.  She lived with my other two females until they died of old age.  I decided to adopt a dog from the shelter and the trainer there suggested that I get another female since my Terrier was used to females.  So, I adopted a female Corgi-X.  Everything was going well until a couple weeks ago when they got into a terrible fight.  The Corgi got the worst of it having to go to the ER vet. My question is now what do I do?  I am told that they will always fight.  Should I find the Corgi a new home?  Is there some training I can do to help things at home. Currently, I am keeping the seperate but I can see where that is not a good life for either of them.  Thanks,

ANSWER: Janet -

I feel for you... and have to say that the shelter gave you lousy advice.  Two dogs of the same gender is often a problem with terriers of any type (though you don't say what kind she is).  

My best guess, without watching their body language, is that it has to do with status within the family, and the terrier thinking the corgi was getting too big for her britches.  She was lower in the pack to your older dogs, so once they were gone, she wants to dominate. I do suspect this will be an ongoing problem.

The problem will be figuring out what the triggers are, and trying to curtail it.  If it was something specific - a toy, a treat, getting on furniture, you could develop a way to work around it, but if it's just plain old arguing, you won't be able to see it coming.

I can't tell you what to do, but I can give you some ammunition for managing your terrier in the meantime (since it sounds like she was the aggressor).  You must strip both of them of all priviledges - no toys, no treats, no hugs, no getting on furniture - Nothing.

Then I would suggest the program at this link.  It replaces behaviors which are acceptable - specifically sitting - instead of bad behaviors that we usually put up with - rushing out the door, not listening, even giving the other dog the "hairy eyeball".

http://www.cairnrescue.com/docs/NILIF.pdf

here's also some helpful body language hints for you

http://www.diamondsintheruff.com/diagrams.html

I don't hold out a lot of hope for the situation. If you really want to try to resolve it, you may want to invest in a behaviorist who can come to the house and observe the interactions first hand.

In the meantime, keep yourself safe !  We can easily get hurt trying to break up fights (I speak from experience).

Good Luck !

-Beth

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks, Beth. I have one more question.  The trigger that started this fight was ME!  They had been playing together when the Terrier (she's a wired hair terrier) jumped on the couch next to me. The corgi was on the floor looking like she wanted to get up there. I encouraged her to and gave her lots of attention, but as soon as the terrier got down from the couch (this happened in about 2 mins)the dogs started fighting.  So, how do I manage it if I am the trigger?  Thanks so much for your help.  I know what I have to do now, but am looking for a way to live with the situation until the corgi finds a home.

Thanks,

Janet

Answer
Janet -

Thanks for telling me she is a wired haired fox because they are indeed one of the fiestier terrier breeds (along with cairns, jack russells, borders, etc).

You need to not let either one of them up on the furniture until all the kinks are worked out of their relationship. If it's going to settle down, it will be within 2-3 months of the new addition....

Once they are totally comfortable with each other, you will have to either give them attention equally but separately....

I sure hope this works out.

-Beth