[natichic]

I am having an issue with my new pup
First off my situation I have 5 dogs
1. 10 year old rat fiest male
2&3 2 year old boston terrier/pit mixes sisters from same liter females
4. 1 year old mixed something (was a stray) female
5. 6 month old blue nose pit male

My problem is i have had the second and third dog since they were 2 months old and when they would go outside they would like run to see who was fastest to get to the fence to bark at the dog and they would sound like they was fighting (which they never did)
Then came along dog number 4, she would also run with them and all would fight to see who could get to fence first and bark
Well i got the blue nose pit and he does the same thing
So if there is a dog out next door and i let my dogs out they all fight and growl to see who can bark first. Well the pup has became the aggressor and lunges at all of them if they attempt to bark at the next door neighbors dog, the 2 sisters back off and go on about their business but the mixed female fights him back and they get into real heated fights. What is causing this and what can I do?
Thanks for any advise I would hate to get rid of them

[piratekitty]

Sounds like you have all Terrier breeds of assorts. I have two different Terrier breeds, And there is some things that I cant do with the both of them or it will cause a fight. so I just dont go there with them . You may not be able to let those two out together. Or you could leash one and work with it distracting the dog and rewarding good behavior, and trade off with each dog.
Sometimes its with a toy or special treat toy that I might get a rare fight break out but Im aware of it so I look for the sign it might happen and I distract the dog thats being the dominate one, and things stay calm.
With that many dogs out together it might be hard to do by yourself.

[lange]

True. If you're not around when they are out then there's not much you can do. You can have them go out at separate times like piratekitty said. I think part of the problem is that their both of similar age and likely similar temperament as well. They can be trying to find their place in your home and both obviously vying for that higher position between them.

If they are having serious fights you should be correcting the over excitement you see before it escalates. I would start by not allowing them to guard the fence. Otherwise it'll always be a potential for conflict. If they were not having serious fights and only small squabbles, with nothing serious between them, then I'd let them work it out.

[Lunareclipse]

You could put a kennel run in your back yard and put them in there when they need to go out so they can't go and guard the back fence. If human kids got into a fight, they lose privileges. I do the same with my dogs. They don't fight, but if they do something wrong, they are grounded until their behavior improves. Maybe you can try a kennel run so they don't have the privilege of running the whole yard.