[thcguy12]

My dog (10 years old) growls everytime my girlfriends dog walks by. A few times it has turn into fights where my dog was on top and drew blood. Lately if my dog attacks now the other dog gets the best of her and bites her and won't let go - usually on the neck. We have to break it up -- very scary, very aggressive. Got bit last night trying. We've had to kick them and punch them before to get them apart....really scary. Nothing else would work.

My girlfriend thinks when my dog growls don't jump up to split them up, don't call one over to distract them......she thinks they need to work it out and those things would make it worse. I disagree and think something must be done. I can't deal with more of these fights -- I know it's my dog starting them and don't know what to do.

First question: What is the best way to stop an escalating aggression situation? Yell, snap, jump up, call there name, get between them, clicker, etc?

It's not over toys, food, people, etc --- just every time the other dog walks by my dog my dog growls -- sometimes it turns into nothing....every once in a while it turns into a scary fight.

(P.S. My dog is 10 years old and lived with me the whole time. Never used to be aggressive. The other dog is newer but been living with us for 3 years now)

WHAT DO I DO?

[lange]

10 y.o. is pretty old for a dog. If this behavior is new, you need to take her to the vet. New aggressive or agitated behavior can be caused by ill health, whether something in her body is off and causing issues or she is hurting from something which in turn is making her easily temperamental. Either way for now, I would treat it as such and not behavioral. Do not let them fight it out! It's not fair to the older dog right now.

Is the younger of the dogs usually coming around the older one when the growling/issues happen? The older one may be needing her space and the younger one not listening.. Please take her to the vet and have them verify whether she is hurting or ill. Meanwhile keep the 2 separated until you figure out whether it is a medical or behavioral problems you're dealing with.

If you must have them together, leash the younger dog to you or your gf in case the younger one is not giving the older one her space. You can then correct the younger one and walk her away when she acts pushy.

Don't stop the growling either..,,,Growling is language. It's only a way of warning, not of attack! If the older one growls to warn the younger one to leave her alone and the younger one keeps pushing her boundaries, it is actually the younger one misbehaving...
I hope that makes sense!

Come back and let us know what the vet finds. Best wishes!!

[thcguy12]

I already know that my dog was diagnosed with arthritis in one back leg. She limps now (unless she is happy then she can run at full spring). That could have something to do with it.