Aggression towards other dogs in the house! Help!

[Melina74]

•  We actually have 4 dogs. No we aren't hoarders...lol. 
  
  I started with my pit bull Hank, who is now 9. He has mast cell cancer but is hanging in there. He had surgery to remove the tumor we saw, but when they opened him up, there was way more and they couldn't get them all, they could barely close him as it was because they took so much skin. At this time we are just treating him with benadryl and zantac and he is pretty much his normal self, just a bit slower. 
  
  Then, when Hank was about 6, we got Bree (who is the reason for this email) she is a Jack Russell aka modern day velociraptor. We call her the ninja. She is sweet as pie, but definitely wants to be the boss. We slowly introduced Hank and Bree, and they were are totally fine together. They play a bit rough, but mostly it's play.
  
  Then, a few months ago, the woman who owns the kennel we board at called. She is a excellent lab breeder. We had always planned to get one of her labs, but after Hank passed. She said that she had one of her labs returned, he's 2.5 years, because the family got divorced and neither parent could take the dog to their new apartment cause he's huge. He is perfect weight for his frame, he's very tall, but his perfect weight is 105! He has epilepsy and has daily meds to control it. She felt since we took such good care of Hank and Bree, and did a good job integrating them, that Phoenix would be a good fit. So we took him in. He seemed to get along with both dogs, though him and Hank still have some issues to work out, as long as they are outside together and not in the house, they play beautifully.
  
  And finally...after the earthquake here in VA, the boy we took in..yes, we take in people too, his mother's house was hit particularly bad, and she had a blue pit puppy that she could no longer care for because her home was so damaged. So, we took her too. Mostly because she is a grey carbon copy of my pibble Hank, who I can't stand to lose. Her name is Blue. She is the sweetest, smartest dog I have ever encountered. Very submissive and easy going. A perfect pit bull mascot if there ever was one.
  
  So...Bree (the JRT) was fine with all the dogs. Especially Blue, the puppy. Then out of nowhere, last week she has become very aggressive with all the dogs, but mostly to to the puppy. I mean to the point of a vicious , biting attack, in which I have borne the brunt trying to separate them. The puppy doesn't much fight back, But she squirms, and Bree is so fast, it's almost impossible to grab her and pull her away without getting bit. I know she isn't intentionally biting ME, but her level of aggression to the other dogs now is off the charts. I have been bit twice now in a period of 2 weeks. I don't what to do, they used to eat together, now I feed them separately, I make sure they have personal, alone time with family, but I can no longer allow them to be together without her attacking out of nowhere. It's become a real issue. Bree is sweet as pie when she is 'only dog' running around, and I don't want to lose her. But we have kids, and if the kids happen to be around when she attacks, I am afraid they could get caught in the crossfire. I can't afford some big fancy behavioral modification person, not there there seems to be any of them around where I live anyway. I don't know what to do. If we surrender her, she may get euthanized. Rescues won't take her because of the aggression. I love her, she's my ninja dog who once took down a hawk that tried to scoop her up! (Her indian name is Bree Hawkchaser! ) Can you give any advice, or ask some people who might have some ideas? Thanks so much, sorry for the long message.
  

[NancSBRN]

It seems like you had a lot of chance in a short amount of time and Females are often more territorial then males. I have had to totally seperate two of our girl they are sister because flat out they will never get along. If her main issue is the puppy you can work with her and see if you can remidey that I would keep her on a leash at all times and the puppy as well if your spouse will help with this just get each on the other side of the room and watch TV and try to relax. And try to teach her to focus on you when you say her name.

This is a hard behavior to break once it has started. It will take a long time if it works at all. Are you going to be giving the puppy back to the orginal owner Once they get things sorted out. Do you have crates you use. Keeping one on a crate while the other is out when there is only you to break up a fight and you cannot have help working with them together is you best Option.  We have mulitple dogs in our home and there is always someone outdoors or in a crate.

[Melina74]

Yes, we try to rotate who is out of the crate, in the hosue and outside.  We never have more than 2 out of crates in the house together.  The puppy will be with us to stay.  She wans't originally, the boys were supposed to take care of her then when they moved out she would go with them.  But they are teenage boys, and they sucked a caring for a dog full time.  So, she's become my baby.  I dunno.  Maybe the female JRT senses that I love the puppy to death and feels jealous?  I have managed to have them both in the house with me this afternoon, and with close monitoring and lots of attention to the JRT things have been ok.  I guess we will just have to have separate areas for them to play outside.  Every dog except the oldest, Hank, has a crate.  He doesn't need one.  He's king of the castle, and sleeps on his bed at the foot of our bed.  Since he is sick, he mostly sleeps anyway, and the crate stress his him out oddly enough.  So the puppy uses his old crate.

Thanks for your advice.  I was hoping keeping them separate wouldn't be the action to take, but maybe keeping the separate and together in very small doses, that in time they will be ok again.

[marshsmom]

Have you ever heard of NILIF?  You should google it.  Is Bree spayed?  I know others will disagree, but IMO spaying can make a difference.Do you ever take them walking together on leash?  This can create a good bonding experience for the dogs.  Sometimes in the end some dogs simply won't get along, but even then if you can work towards having them ignore each other you can still live in peace.  It's a tough situation, good luck!

[marshsmom]

I wanted to add, when breaking them up, it's better to grab the hind leags and lift the legs off the ground, then turn away from the other dog.  This technique can help prevent you from being bit, and the lifting the dog throws him off balance and diverts his attention away from the fight.  I just brought home a new foster and one of my other fosters is none too thrilled.  I've broken them up 3 times now using this technique.  Thankfully I have an application on one so she may be going to her new home soon. After the last fight, we are "crate and rotate" until one or the other is gone.

[Melina74]

Thanks!  I will look it up!  I haven't walked these two together, since they always got along fine.  But I guess I should start.  Yes, Bree is spayed, the puppy is not yet though.  Do you think that makes a difference?  I mean, I plan to spay her, all my dogs are spayed or neutered, but until I do, will it make a difference?

Quoting marshsmom:

Have you ever heard of NILIF?  You should google it.  Is Bree spayed?  I know others will disagree, but IMO spaying can make a difference.Do you ever take them walking together on leash?  This can create a good bonding experience for the dogs.  Sometimes in the end some dogs simply won't get along, but even then if you can work towards having them ignore each other you can still live in peace.  It's a tough situation, good luck!

[marshsmom]

If Bree is the instigator then I would say it probably doesn't matter that the pup is not spayed.  Sometimes the hormones can cause certain behaviors, for example I have a foster who is not yet spayed due to puppies.  She was always well behaved at adoption events until about a week before she started her heat cycle, suddenly she became a "bitch", lol. 

Quoting Melina74:

Thanks!  I will look it up!  I haven't walked these two together, since they always got along fine.  But I guess I should start.  Yes, Bree is spayed, the puppy is not yet though.  Do you think that makes a difference?  I mean, I plan to spay her, all my dogs are spayed or neutered, but until I do, will it make a difference?

Quoting marshsmom:

Have you ever heard of NILIF?  You should google it.  Is Bree spayed?  I know others will disagree, but IMO spaying can make a difference.Do you ever take them walking together on leash?  This can create a good bonding experience for the dogs.  Sometimes in the end some dogs simply won't get along, but even then if you can work towards having them ignore each other you can still live in peace.  It's a tough situation, good luck!

[Melina74]

Ahh...ok..well..I will work on keeping them separated but allowing brief periods to be together when I monitor them.  I am hoping this is just a 'phase' and once Bree feels more secure again, she will be ok.  

Quoting marshsmom:

If Bree is the instigator then I would say it probably doesn't matter that the pup is not spayed.  Sometimes the hormones can cause certain behaviors, for example I have a foster who is not yet spayed due to puppies.  She was always well behaved at adoption events until about a week before she started her heat cycle, suddenly she became a "bitch", lol. 

Quoting Melina74:

Thanks!  I will look it up!  I haven't walked these two together, since they always got along fine.  But I guess I should start.  Yes, Bree is spayed, the puppy is not yet though.  Do you think that makes a difference?  I mean, I plan to spay her, all my dogs are spayed or neutered, but until I do, will it make a difference?

Quoting marshsmom:

Have you ever heard of NILIF?  You should google it.  Is Bree spayed?  I know others will disagree, but IMO spaying can make a difference.Do you ever take them walking together on leash?  This can create a good bonding experience for the dogs.  Sometimes in the end some dogs simply won't get along, but even then if you can work towards having them ignore each other you can still live in peace.  It's a tough situation, good luck!

[NancSBRN]

I agree that maybe she is Jealous to make sure she get enough attention, with one of the dog I had to tell them Lexi's Turn for attention and that make sure he understood he would get his. This was not about fighting just jealousy.

I have had intact dogs fight, and  Spay and Neuter dogs fight. When you have more then one dog you can have  disagreements and unless they get to the point where they totally hate each other, you can often have them together.  Some of our dogs are only together when both Lee and I are home, then they know that it won't do them any good to  start anything.

I agree picking up the back legs is the best way to stop it. If you alone it is harder but it can be done even if you have to loop a leash around one's rear end and tether them to something so they don't continue to go after the dog you have contained.

Leerburg Kennels has great articles on how to break up a dog fight.

[Melina74]

Thank you! I will check out the articles on stopping the fight.  So far so good, been making sure each girly dog has private attention and attention when they are together.  I have been praising the JRT when she is good, and making a loud noise when she starts in on the puppy.  That has been deterring her.  She puts her ears down and runs off all guilty-like.  

I love dogs.  They can be a pain, they can be exhausting, but man, the love and loyalty they give in return makes it soooo worth it.  I tell my oldest Pitbull Hank that he's "the most faithful man in my life cause he will never let me down." But shhh.  Don't tell my Dad, my fiance or my son that.  ;-) 

Quoting NancSBRN:

I agree that maybe she is Jealous to make sure she get enough attention, with one of the dog I had to tell them Lexi's Turn for attention and that make sure he understood he would get his. This was not about fighting just jealousy.

I have had intact dogs fight, and  Spay and Neuter dogs fight. When you have more then one dog you can have  disagreements and unless they get to the point where they totally hate each other, you can often have them together.  Some of our dogs are only together when both Lee and I are home, then they know that it won't do them any good to  start anything.

I agree picking up the back legs is the best way to stop it. If you alone it is harder but it can be done even if you have to loop a leash around one's rear end and tether them to something so they don't continue to go after the dog you have contained.

Leerburg Kennels has great articles on how to break up a dog fight.

[KyliesMom5]

Have you had bree checked by the vet? Run bloodwork? That is the first step I would take because there are some diseases that can cause a dog to become aggressive. Has anything changed in your home recently that might be causing stress for her? How old is she? Where is Virginia are you because I do know some good behaviorists in Virginia that are affordable.