I have read your bio & will read and rate your response fairly within 3 days.

Question
We have two female dogs. First, we got our Blue Heeler/Beagle mix as a puppy. A few months later we got a 2 year old Beagle mix as well. They got along great, played very well and never hurt each other. They would cuddle up when they slept and never fought. Our vet was uncertain if the adult dog had been spayed or not, she wasn't and went into heat, but there was no behavior change and our puppy just left her alone until her cycle ended. A month later our puppy went into heat. She has been in her cycle for nine days and we have had to keep them separated because when together our puppy becomes aggressive. They have not hurt each other but even when kept ten feet away and separated by furniture and in crates they go crazy. How can we reintroduce them and control this behavior? We have plans to get both dogs spayed but haven't been able afford both procedures yet.  

Answer
Updated second response, Saturday 6 November, 2010:

Hello Again, Claire,

I received your ratings of  my response and am very puzzled that you rated me so low in politeness.  Would you mind pointing out where you feel I was quite so (rating of 4 out of 10) impolite in my response?  I would really like to know, since I can't see anywhere where I may have been misconstrued as impolite by an intelligent person.  You agreed to rate my response fairly, and I don't feel you did so.  I am going to request that your rating be removed.

Your unfair, low rating has resulted in me regretting that I spent my time and knowledge, which are valuable and for which paying customers pay a high cost for dog training and behaviour services by any means, but especially in this economy, in responding to your question.  I did so after a long day, not putting it off until the next day because I feel a responsibility towards my questioners and in helping dogs and was particularly concerned about the situation you described.  You have made me wish that I instead rejected your question, which, honestly, I had an inclination to do based on some red flags that I saw in the tone of your question when I read it.  More than your unfair rating, I regret that I didn't listen to my better instincts.  I have never, in four years of volunteering for AllExperts, received such a low score, particularly on "politeness."  In this regard, you have just won the number one place.

Best regards,
Madeline
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Original response, Friday, 5 November, 2010:

Hi Claire,

Thank you for agreeing to my virtual contract to read and rate my response fairly within three days.

Aside from your younger bitch going in to heat, was there any other event that precipitated the fighting between your two females?  You don't cite current ages, but I'm guessing the "puppy" is somewhere between six and eight months of age.  Would that be correct?

If I were to assume that the aggression between the two has to do with hormone levels due to your younger bitch's being in heat, then assume too that a heat can last for up to about three weeks.  During that time, I would not suggest attempting to reintroduce them at all.  Keep them separated so that they're not triggered in to reacting to each other, since such behaviour between them can become a habit even when hormone levels return to normal post-heat.  

In the meantime, I would suggest you purchase a booklet such as "Mine," by Jean Donaldson, and follow the protocols for reintroducing dogs to each other and having them create a positive association with the other's presence.  As the booklet suggests, go slowly, don't rush things, and when the two seem to be getting along better don't become overly confident and go from "0 - 100" and assume that just because they get along for 15 minutes and are calm, even affectionate with one another, that they can be left alone together.  Don't push things - if what you can get between them is five minutes of not only tolerance, but pleasant interaction, then the next day be happy with 10 minutes; the day after that, with 20; and, so on.  Realize that it might take a couple of months or longer to get them back on good footing (or, paw-ing <smile>) with each other.

Consult your vet about spaying your younger bitch.  Most vets will suggest that you wait at least a couple of months after a heat to spay, but you should get her spayed.  Don't be afraid to shop around - different vets may charge different prices.  If there are local shelters near you, a vet on staff may charge a greatly reduced price for spaying.  Some charge as little as $100 for low-cost spay and neuter as a service to the community.  Urban shelters generally are able to charge a little less because they do more in volume, so shop around for spay-neuter prices at urban shelters.

Realize, too, that spaying your younger bitch may not resolve the problem.  It may be a good idea to hire a dog training and behaviour professional (trainer with a teaching certification issued by the state, or dog trainer with professional or formal college credentials) to help you out with your dogs.

The worst case scenario *could* be that either the two need to be separated for the rest of their lives, or that the "puppy" be kept on leash at all times under your supervision when in the presence of your older heeler-beagle mix in order for her behaviour to be better controlled (since you state she's the instigator of the aggression between the two).  Again, that may be your worst case scenario, and while it sounds impossible, I know families who have gone to this extent in order to keep their dogs together rather than having to re-home one.  After a few months, people report that supervising their dogs in this manner becomes less effort and "second nature" to them.

Historically, two bitches get along least well as opposed to a male and a female, or two males.  However, as mentioned, there are things you can do to facilitate harmonly between the two.

I hope you were not offended by my use of the word "bitch" or "bitches" in reference to your two females.  The term is correct and common use amongst dog professionals when referring to female canines and distinguishing them from males.  When referring to males, the common and correct term is "dog" or "dogs."

Again, your reading my bio and agreeing to the Virtual Contract in it is much appreciated.  I hope my suggestions may help in some way.  If you can, I'd love to hear an update down the road and knowing how your two are doing in, say, three months.

Best regards,
Madeline Friedman, M.A.