MY 2 BITCHES STARTED FIGHTING!!! HELP!!

Hi. I have 3 staffies. 2 females (approx 4 & 7) and 1 male (approx 3). The other day my 2 females, who have until then got on famously, eating, playing etc, started to fight over food. It was instigated by the younger bitch and was serious until I managed to separate them with a hose after after quite some time. The older female, who is rather a placid dog, fought back but was injured. I've kept them separated until yesterday when we let the 3 of them out for a run, as they always have. The younger dog again ran straight over to the older bitch (who wanted to play and greet her) and started mouthing and growling until my husband grabbed her and locked her up. The younger bitch was going to have another go!!

What do I do? Is this behaviour going to continue? Any advice please as I have 2 young children and don't want them around a dog I can't trust.

How awful for you, I know how scary it can be when dogs fight

I'm sorry I have no experience in this type of thing, I only have one dog.. Rest assured you have come to the right plce and there are a lot of people who will be able to give you advice on this matter.. I'm sure one of them will be on soon and will be able to help you.

do you feed them all together or seperately. Maybe it would be a good idea to feed the troublemaker seperately for a while and see if the behaviour improves. Keep us updated. Did the injured dog get any medical attention etc?

Thanks for your responses. I have always fed my 3 dogs together without any problems except for this one occasion and yes, I took my older bitch to the vet for treatment for her puncture wounds to one of her front legs and she's healed now. I am starting to wonder though, as I think the troublemaker could be in pup. Could this be the reason for her sudden change in character? Do bitches do this? Both have been in pup before and
I've never had an issue like this before.

Hi & welcome to the forum.

Raet wrote:I think the troublemaker could be in pup. Could this be the reason for her sudden change in character?

I take it the younger bitch has been mated? If so, it could be the cause as every pregnancy will be different.

My main concern is that generally, once two Staffords (especially bitches) start to fight, they won't stop. Can you keep them apart (not locked up or confined) until after the pups have been weened & then try to introduce them again, but under controlled conditions?

Yes, they were both on heat at the exact same time but looking at the younger one, I'd say she is definately in pup. I can keep them apart to the best of my ability till after the puppies have gone to their new homes but certainly won't be doing it unless my husband is around. You say "especially bitches"? Why is this? Is this normal behaviour in households with more than one bitch?

It wasn't a planned mating, then?

It's fairly common in bitches. Once they have fought, they hold a grudge. That's not to say it will always happen, or even that your two won't get on in the future, but you may have to plan ahead just in case.

Bitches can act out of character when in heat or in pup. I wouldn't leave them alone together when you are out. I would be careful until the pups have been homed.

Thanks so much for your suggestions. I'm almost certain the younger bitch is in pup so will keep them separated until the little ones have gone.

how old is the younger one?

I fed all my three (2 bitches and a dog) until the younger one was about 1 or 2 and then the proverbial hit the fan. After that they had to be watched when they were fed or the younger bitch would cause riot (but it was the older bitch protecting her food from the greedy one!!)

I would suggest feeding separate like everyone else here and trying not to make a big fuss or they will feel your fear.

Also if the bitch is in pup she will be needing more food so make sure she is getting enough. she will also be hormonal and probably uncomfortable, so alone time will do her good.

Raet wrote:Yes, they were both on heat at the exact same time but looking at the younger one, I'd say she is definately in pup. I can keep them apart to the best of my ability till after the puppies have gone to their new homes but certainly won't be doing it unless my husband is around. You say "especially bitches"? Why is this? Is this normal behaviour in households with more than one bitch?

yes, bitches will fight more so than males. in a pack the leader is always a bitch, so unless one bitch is very very submissive (which lets face it, staffies are not) they will fight.

Raet wrote:Thanks so much for your suggestions. I'm almost certain the younger bitch is in pup so will keep them separated until the little ones have gone.

Surely you must know if she's in pup - you must have been present at the mating?

Raet wrote:Thanks so much for your suggestions. I'm almost certain the younger bitch is in pup so will keep them separated until the little ones have gone.

sorry lots of posts, i cant use multi quote cause im thick.



also, why had the younger one not been to the vet to make sure shes in pup? or is it very early days?

We have four bitches, and they can get on it just takes some thought and a lot of hard work. We have a JRT x who is 19 years old and almost completely blind, a 7 year old stafford bitch, her daughter a 4 year old stafford bitch, and Kali-mis who is the daughter of the 4 year old at 17weeks.

First off you need to be so perceptive to their body language and the constantly changing feelings and positions in the pack. At the moment I would recommend feeding them seperately, and don't give them any reason to fight over anything. If you are going to play with them they must all have one toy, if they have a treat they must all have one. You as the owner have to be really careful, you know now that they will fight with one another its your job to make sure they don't have a reason to.

I think it is very likely that the younger bitch is feeling grumpy because of her pregnancy, their hormones are all over the place and they do generally change a bit. I think it is quite important for you to sort out the two bitch's differences now because when the pups arrive it will be even harder. I would load your dogs up into the car and take them somewhere exciting for a really good run/walk together. Have someone else come with you and hold one of the offenders, set off at a brisk walk (dont let them get eye contact, sniff etc) and get the moving forward together as a group, after a while if the body language is all ok then I would let them all off together. Let them all have a really good run and a sniff about. The environment and distractions should stop them getting into the zone where they want to scrap.

I wouldn't push your luck at first, when you get home seperate them again and repeat this every day for a week or so. Next step is to get them both in your garden on leads and start getting them used to one another again in a different situation. Get your other half to get a handful of treats and take one yourself. Work on getting one to sit and watch while the other dog is walked round in big loops, gradually decreasing in size to get closer to the other bitch. Take it in turns to do that. Next add in a couple of sit and stays with the dogs close to one another, keep varying these three activities and within a couple of weeks they should forgot they ever argued and go back to needing and wanting each other.

Good luck, let me know if any of that doesn't make sense or if u need any more help x

I think the longer u keep them seperated especially if its for another 16 weeks til pups are gone the harder your job will be afterwards. I don't mean let them spend much time together at home and certainly not off-lead or unsupervised but I think they should still see and be doing things with one another to keep that sense of them being a family/pack.