I am a little worried now, advice please?

I just finished reading a thread on this forum about two bitches fighting.

https://staffy-bull-terrier.niceboard.com/staffordshire-bull-terrier-chat-f1/two-bitches-fighting-t1207.htm

I have two 8 week old little girls, they are siblings (pics can be found in the photo section). I am now extremely worried that I have made a grave mistake bringing them both home

They have been with us for two weeks now and we are all definitely and absolutely in love with them both. The thought of re-homing one is heartbreaking, but I want to do what is best for them. Because I come from a small town it would be difficult to find one a great home. Our local dog shelter is full of staffy's and staffy x's due to misleading stereotypes on these wonderful dogs.

Is there any possible way we can make this work? They will be desexed prior to their first season, I spoke to my vet last week and he informed me that they could be done when they reach 6 months of age. Will this help with any aggression towards each other?

Oh dear, I could almost cry

the desexed will help that their age and aslong you make sure they know what right and wrong.

Aww don't worry plenty of people keep 2 dogs together. Just make sure they know who's boss, you have to be number 1 in the pack.

Im not gonna lie its going to be VERY hard work in in the same boat as u and have 14 month and 6 month old old lads. It will harder for you again as u have litter mates and they are nototiously hard work together anyway but as long as u have strict rules and they no who is boss etc then u can do it. I would say though that when they get a bit older u would be wise to separate ALL the time when u are not around as things can kick off in a split second over very little! They will also need to be spayed!
Good luck u will be fine x

As said above, spaying should help if its done while they're still young, and as long as they know 100% that you are the boss, you should be ok cos they wont start fighting for pack leader status if they already know you are pack leader. As blaze said, they have to be separated if you leave them alone when they're older. A tiny little squabble over a toy or a bit of food could lead to a fatal fight between them. As said on here, staffies do not back down in a fight. They have to be physically stopped by humans or they will fight til one of them is dead. But as said, if you are their leader, and they are separated when they are alone - separate crates maybe - you'll be fine.

also let them have there own space dont keep them couped up togetter gettin in each others way which can escalade. but as said before set the ground rules now so they know who pack leader

blaze666 wrote: I would say though that when they get a bit older u would be wise to separate ALL the time when u are not around as things can kick off in a split second over very little! They will also need to be spayed!
Good luck u will be fine x

Always seperate staffies when you are not around! The slightest squabble can become a full scale fight if you are not there to keep the peace! Be firm & consistent, make sure you are the boss & you'll be fine. Crate train them & make sure that each knows its' own crate & does not go in to the other's. That way they will have somewhere to go for 'time out' if they want. It will also be useful for you to have 'time out' when you feel like tearing your hair out & banging their heads together!!

Re: the spaying, it would be better to wait until after their 1st season as they will need the hormones to become more 'feminine' and less likely to fight. I know it's a pain, but it will be better in the long run. I'm not convinced that spaying reduces female agression but it will save you from double trouble evry time they come on heat!

Thank you all so much! your feedback really makes me feel a lot better. I sat here for most of today going back and forth and for the life of me could not chose which one to re-home.

What is the best way to assert myself as pack leader? Any tips on this would be greatly appreciated. Any do's and don'ts I should be aware of when asserting myself?

Always make your dogs wait while you put their food down - don't let them crowd you or rush straight in. Never let them do something one day, but then tell them off for the same thing another. Train them - sit, down, stay, heal, come etc. If the play gets too rough (and it will) you must step straight in between them & say "Nooooo!" in a deep voice, if necessary hold them apart. If they still won't stop, it's crate time for 5 minutes (just take them quietly but firmly to their crates & shut the door - don't shout or tell them off because you want them to like their crates & use them to calm down, not as punishment).

Here's the bit most people don't do (me included!)......don't let your dog on the furniture, especially as you have two of them & one could get jealous of the other being there. Don't let your dogs on the bed - same reason.

I'm sure there are things I've forgotten, but others here will fill in the gaps!

Caryll wrote:Crate train them & make sure that each knows its' own crate & does not go in to the other's. That way they will have somewhere to go for 'time out' if they want. It will also be useful for you to have 'time out' when you feel like tearing your hair out & banging their heads together!!

Re: the spaying, it would be better to wait until after their 1st season as they will need the hormones to become more 'feminine' and less likely to fight. I know it's a pain, but it will be better in the long run. I'm not convinced that spaying reduces female agression but it will save you from double trouble evry time they come on heat!

I didn't think of separate beds to be honest. Currently they have a large padded soft bed that they share and I can certainly see now where this could cause problems.

I will visit our local pet store in the very near future to have a look at some crates.

Thats a great tip on the hormones, thank you!.

First and foremost, food. You always eat before the dogs, as does any other humans in the household. The pups should be made to sit quietly away from you while you are eating and NO begging allowed. Secondly, always go in/out of doorways/gateways before the pups. Always be calm and assertive when speaking to them. Never shout, get flustered or angry, this just makes you unreliable in their eyes and they wont respect you. If you tell them to do something, make sure they do it. Dont get into the habit of telling them to do something and letting them off if they dont. Dont let them onto your bed, furniture unless they know that they are to get off as soon as you tell them too. Just be calm, consistent and patient at all times with them.

Told you someone would think of something else!!!

There is so many things you can do. On top of what Caryll has said. You can also do the following
1) Make sure your dogs eat after the family as in the wild the pack leader always eats first

2) When walking through doorways/up or down stairs you go before the dogs and they don't rush past you.

3) When walking your dogs make them walk behind you. Again the pack leader always walks at the front and the pack follows them.

4) Don't play tug of war games with your dogs unless you are able to win most of the time.

5) Don't let your dog lie on top of you unless they have been invited to do so.

There are loads of tiny things like this that help to inpower you as a pack leader. Hope I've been helpful

And be calm and assertive, nice one Shontelle. How did I forget about that one.....very important

Currently we take them to another room whilst we have our dinner, so should we allow them to stay in the same room as us to 'learn'?

They are currently fed side-by-side, I have a feeling that they should be fed away from each other or is it best to continue feeding them together?

I am so glad I found this site!

I would feed them away from each other if possible & make sure that one doesn't eat faster & then try to steal the other's!

As to whether they are in the same room as you when you eat, that's up to you. I prefer to teach my dogs to lay down while I'm eating & generally to put their head down as well (Dempsey hasn't got that yet, but he is thick!). For a while it'll seem like chaos as you constantly have to tell them down, and you'll have to get up & put them in the down, but they will get it it, especially if you are teaching them the 'down' command anyway!

Caryll wrote:I would feed them away from each other if possible & make sure that one doesn't eat faster & then try to steal the other's!

As to whether they are in the same room as you when you eat, that's up to you. I prefer to teach my dogs to lay down while I'm eating & generally to put their head down as well (Dempsey hasn't got that yet, but he is thick!). For a while it'll seem like chaos as you constantly have to tell them down, and you'll have to get up & put them in the down, but they will get it it, especially if you are teaching them the 'down' command anyway!

Thanks Caryll, off to grab a new bowl tomorrow

I think I like your idea of teaching them how to behave when we are eating. We have some family members who visit with younger children and they often have a snack, I don't want them misbehaving by trying to beg for a treat off one of my little nieces or nephews. I also don't like the idea of putting them away into another room when they visit should they have food, I would much rather them to socialize

Yes, they must understand how to act when there's food around, cause when you're out with them, a child might have an ice cream or something in their hand, and the last thing you want is your pup grabbing the ice cream, possibly a little finger with it, and people screaming vicious dog!!

the worse thing about the beggin is when you get the visiters you allso have to give them ground rules what not to do its the same when you start taking them out and your trying to teach them not to jump up and nip then you get strangers incuraging them to do both things.

on them issues dont be affraid to tell them not to do it.
dont know howmany people iv upset by doin that lol
but at the end of the day there your pet your rules

You really all have made me feel so much better. To be completely honest with you all I know I'm going to have to 'train' myself as well as I am a bit of a softy.

I have noticed that they do listen to me, which is great. When their play gets a little rough I tell them NO! in a stern voice and they do stop to look at me.

I already have them sitting when I tell them to, thanks to the wonders of little chicken treats! I am absolutely amazed at how smart these dogs are, they never cease to amaze me.

jodietas wrote:You really all have made me feel so much better. To be completely honest with you all I know I'm going to have to 'train' myself as well as I am a bit of a softy.

I have noticed that they do listen to me, which is great. When their play gets a little rough I tell them NO! in a stern voice and they do stop to look at me.

I already have them sitting when I tell them to, thanks to the wonders of little chicken treats! I am absolutely amazed at how smart these dogs are, they never cease to amaze me.

Good for you! They really are an intelligent breed, but rather stubborn which is why you have to be firm with them (but fair).

If you get any problems, though, let us know because there will usually be someone here who has 'been there, done that' & can offer advice. Sometimes it just helps to chat things over & know you're not the only one!

We all sit up to the table in the kichen when we eat....i allow my boys in the room but they have to sit or lie about 2 metres away from the table it took ages to train them to stay there but well worth it now and my dinner was cold for about 4 weeks lol. I told them to sit and stay and everytime they got up a sharp ah ah and put them back where they were supposed to be i think on average at the start i had to repeat it about 15 times every meal but they got there in the end, now when we all sit down to the table they just lie in the correct stop without even having to be told. We also never let the dogs up on the main living area sofas, to start with the reasoning was because ive got a 6 and 2 year old and i wanted them to be able to sit in peace but actually its helped hugely with the dominance thing i cant explain why lol i just feel it has!
I will tell u though training is really hard when youve got two dogs so a lot of things ive trained them separatley on ie) sit stay drop down otherwise it gets a bit chaotic! Just a tip there lol
My crate is literally the best thing i ever bought kaos loves his and feels really safe there and it also gives him some time out. I would defo get them one each and get as big as u have the space for but while theyre little section it off as if its to big it wont be cosy for them and they may start messing in it.
x

I've nothing to add to the advice given - it's all covered as I'd expect from these guys.

The only thing I'll say is don't beat yourself up over it and enjoy them. Just follow the advice given and get the ground rules down (and cemented).

What you have to remember that no one is saying they WILL take a major issue with each other - (they could end up the best of friends) but just that it's not the best combination for guaranteeing they will get along.

The good news is that by putting in this extra work now you will be increasing the chance of them living together happily!

yes i wouldnt beat urself up about it either my boss at work got two staffys from the same litter as mine there two now they have always been ok they have had the odd squabble over a bone but which dog doesnt she always says it was the best thing ever having two of them because they are so close also she has a male collie and male labrador and they all get on well. you shouldnt make any rash decisions just enjoy them im sure they will be fine with the right training