Re: My Jacks have started fighting each other.

In Reply to: My Jacks have started fighting each other.
Posted by:  Kurt Dotson
Posted on:  July 30, 2001 at 01:46:39

: I have a female (3yrs) and a male (2yrs). The female has always been the dominate one, and just in the last week has started fighting the male when he approaches me for attention. He used to back down from her, but now they get into full blown fights 3 to 4 times per night. This has really started to escalate. Any suggestions?

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Hi Kurt,

As you are experiencing this breed can also have aggression with opposite sex dogs. Terriers are a fiesty lot and this sometimes does happen when you have two dogs battling it out over dominance.

First you need to establish that you are the leader and then you have to get these dogs under control. If a fight ensues have something around that will draw attention. Bang some pots and pans if you have to. Some people have used bull horns or those boat horns. You have to separate them and you don't want to get your hands in there. If your bitch is having issues with the male cozying up to you then give them separate attention time. Crate one while you spend time with the other.

You don't mention whether these dogs are still intact. If they are I would suggest spaying/neutering at least one if not both. This might cut down on some of the aggression.

Remember though if you have the dogs altered, the hormones will still be in their systems for months afterwards, until those hormones dissipate you need to deal with them as still intact dogs.

Unfortunately in some cases, this type of aggression towards each other is never overcome and the dogs will have to be kept separately.