Queston for dog lovers/trainers here.

[cwydro]

Two beautiful large dogs abandoned on my property. Youngsters around 6 to 9 months.

One solid black, the other with a bit of Rott-looking coloring. They appear to be litter mates. They are both around 70 pounds and gorgeous. I've always had big dogs.

I ignored them, hoping they would go home. They did not.

Both males and I had them neutered. They seem terrified of cars, any male voices (TV or radio), and anytime I pick up a stick-like object. So I'm pretty sure they've been abused. At any rate, they have a home and lots of love now.

I always seem to end up with this type dog. Ones that have been so terrified by some other human. I hate that.

Every dog I've owned has found me, and there have always been two. I've had a lot of dogs and always in pairs.

But the worry here is that these two somehow start to fight for no reason. Quite scarily. They showed up together, and most times they get along, but I've learned to watch for the "stink eye" that one gives the other before the fight begins.

Suggestions?

[shenmue]

1. Squeaky toys?

[cwydro]

6. Oddly, they seem terrified of squeaky toys.

No idea what someone did to these dogs, but they've certainly been traumatized.

[roody]

2. Is it bloodless?

Teach them "leave it." When they are doing wrong, tell them to leave it.

[cwydro]

5. We've been using that to keep them from the chickens lol,

but good idea.

[roody]

7. If they are not really hurting each other,

it is some kind of social interaction.

[cwydro]

8. Well, one of them ended up with a bloody ear.

I want them to get along.

I really wonder what happened to them as pups. This is a really rural area...hunting dogs etc.

The one that seems to want dominance has a real Rottweiler look to him. Both are mostly black and look like labs.

Jack has the Rott look and also the hound ass lol...if you know what I mean. Or maybe it is a Rott ass. Just a funny tan coloring around his tail area...like a diamond.

Shadow is pure black and an absolute love bug. Jack is obviously jealous, so we try to lavish attention on him as much as we can.

[roody]

9. Not good. They need some serious obedience training.

I have a half rottie, half shepherd. He and my other big mutt play loud and rough, but never any blood.

[cwydro]

10. Yeah, I agree.

I think they were treated very badly as pups and youngsters. I think fighting was encouraged.

We keep them apart mostly, but together in the same area.

Lots of loving has cured many past critters I've had.

Somehow, I always end up with two dogs. My Teakie died in 2010...a stray (again abused) that I found wandering on the beach in Key West, starved and so thirsty poor thing. She was terrified of noises, men, hoses (very difficult to bathe her) and various other odd things. She grew into a confident, smart ass, happy dog...and she lived to 15. Broke my heart when she died.

Jordan came along when I still had Teak. Jordan I found chained in a yard where I knew no one lived. I went in and found she was literally COVERED in ticks. Seriously, no way to say that other than that. It was awful. I didn't want another dog and I called SPCA. They came and got her. Poor wee thing about 4 months old. I started to visit her at the pound.

Yeah, you can guess the rest. I brought her home. I buried her two years ago at 14. I miss her too. So when these two showed up...I was like...oh wow...two dogs again. I'd forgotten however, that Jordan and Teakie fought too.

They turned into such great wonderful dogs (always were) that I guess I forget that there was a long learning curve involved there..

I just want them to be happy like my last doggies. These are the first males I've ever had, so I'm not sure if that factors into it.

My previous two before Teak and Jordan were named Raftery and Magee. I found Raftery abandoned at a dumpster in the mountains of NC. She was pregnant and Magee was her pup. They also lived to a ripe old age.

Dang, it hurts when you lose them though. No matter how long they live.

[OnyxCollie]

3. Could be littermate syndrome,

where the two will be battling for dominance (you will be regarded as the lowest in the order, and that's bad.)

Try working with them independently to build a bond. You'll need to be a take-charge, hegemonic leader, so they can rely on you to make quick decisions that will keep them safe.

Just as there is always a reason for why states fight wars, there's always a reason for why dogs get into fights. The challenge is to figure out what it is.

[cwydro]

4. I figured it was a dominance thing.

Last edited Mon Mar 2, 2015, 06:08 PM - Edit history (1)

One of them starts to play fight, then the other takes it to the next level.