Dog Behavior Article

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Sibling Dog Fighting Program

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Figure out which really is the dominant dog.

Start treating the dominant dog as dominant and assist the true dominant dog in keeping in-check the submissive dog that might be challenging it. This is done by greeting, feeding, petting, playing, acknowledging, and letting in and out the dominant dog first.
Discipline the submissive dog for trying to horn in on the dominant dog through non-corporal startle techniques. Use a non-noise startle, like a powerful blast of water, since you do not want to punish one dog for the other's offense.
Only give the dogs attention when they're together; never when they're separate. When you do give the dogs attention, the dominant dog gets it first.
Do daily reconditioning exercises: one family member with one dog on one side of the yard on leash (and anti-pull device if needed) and the other dog with another family member on the opposite side of the yard. Each dog does 10 sits, 10 lie downs, and a five-minute stay. Use the positive-reinforcement methods of obedience outlined in Chapter 4.
Gradually, bring the dogs closer and closer during these sessions until after a two- to four-week period (still on leash), they are side by side doing their lie downs, sits and so on. Any growling, lunging, aggressive squaring off, or breaking their stays, results in a startle-redirect-reward reprimand.
After this has been achieved, start adding a 15-minute "cooling-down" session following the yard exercises. This should be inside the home on the same couch with one person with one dog at one end of the couch and another person with the other dog at the far end of the couch. Gradually, bring them closer and closer until (still on leash) they are working through their commands side by side without any provocation.
At the six- to eight-week mark, start doing these yard and in-home exercises off leash. Remained armed with startle devices in case they do fight and you have to intervene.
At this point, add a daily 15-30 minute heeling walk, with both dogs, with the dominant dog six to 10 feet ahead. If at any point the submissive dog tries to get ahead, discipline it by suddenly cutting it off, circling around and ending up in a sit stay, or by startling it with a water blast.
Rub a towel or old shirt on dominant dog (getting its scent on it) and put it where the submissive dog sleeps and eats. Do the same with the other dog. This helps establish a positive association for each dog with the other dog's scent.
Separate the dogs when you leave the home. When you can't give BOTH dogs attention, neither gets any.
Both dogs need to sleep with their human pack leaders each night. At bedtime, the dominant dog goes up first, on leash, and is tethered or crated at the side of the bed. The submissive dog is then brought up on leash, and also tethered or crated. Never tether a dog and leave it alone; it can panic, choke and die. Only tether under constant supervision so you can untangle the dog if it gets wrapped in the leash.
In the morning, the dominant dog is led out of the room first on leash and situated where it can eat in a separate area from the submissive dog.
Avoid greeting, playing, or doing sustained petting of the dogs in tight spaces such as hallways, car entrances and the like. These are the likely "hot spots" where the dogs will begin fighting.
If any fights break out, Yell "Off!," and blast with the water or air horn or ultra sound device. If the dogs fail to respond, GRAB THE MORE AGGRESSIVE DOG'S REAR LEGS OR TAIL AND LIFT UP, suspending the dog and removing its center of gravity while rapidly moving back. DO NOT REACH FOR THE HEAD AREA OR GRAB COLLARS; you'll more than likely be bitten.
Never have either dog on the same physical plane or level as you; it will reduce your dominance position in the pack. The dogs will respect you less and will ignore you if you command them to stop provoking each other or to stop fighting.
Never respond to either dog's initiation for attention. This is also a subtle way to reduce your dominance position, thereby dangerously raising the dog's position to greater authority.

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