bitches fighting

Question
Hi Autumn,i have a patterdale terrier bitch and a lakeland terrier bitch they both got on well but last year the lakeland had a litter of pups to our male patterdale now the two bitches fight quite regulary and its not just a wee scrap they are killing one another blood every where and faces all cut to bits.Its very scary when they start but even if they are not fighting i am so nervous when they are in the garden its like im just waiting on it happening.My self and my husband decided one of the bitches will have to go as we have two children who play in the garden and the male dog has started to get involved when they start fighting.When we tried to seperate them the male dog was trying to bite my husbands foot its murder.Now my husband thinks if he gets the bitch who had the litter speyed the fighting will stop but i dont think it will make the slightest bit of differnce PLEASE could you give us your advice as my nerves are shattered and cant take anymore fighting.thank you andrea.

Answer
The best thing to do now is keep the seperated. Having a litter of pups brings out an array of emotions and instincts in mother dogs. She is still on the defense mode, trying to protect her baby, and her hormornes arnt exactly prepared to handly company yet. You can get her spayed which will put her back at normal, or you can wait a few more weeks or a month or so untill all her hormone levels are back to normal. However, there is a chance from here on in when she goes into heat that fighting could occure. For some reasom or other, the secondary bitch is making your mother bitch feel threatened, so you have to keep them seperated. Dont assume its ok to put them together for a while, give them both a break, and when they do get in fights, you two need to seperate them immediately ands how them that you and your husband are the alpha males. I really dont feel that its neccessary to give away your dog. If you can manage to get her spayed soon that will certainly help. And you can alwasy call your vet for advice. Hope all is well!


Miss Petxpert