Big Paws Only Dog Forums

Sammie and Bailey have always wanted to assert their dominance, but they have REALLY started fighting a lot lately. to the point were they are getting hurt. my vet bills are stacking up, and i really will not get rid of one of them. i need advice. they are best friends, but they both want to be top dogs. they are both male, but neurtered. bailey is older and he was here first. Sammie usually starts the fights, but i don't think they ever come to a conclusion. it is usually over food, so i separated them when they ate (duh!) then they fought over me, so i tried to see who was more dominant, and who was winning fights, (so i could feed him first, scratch him first etc.)but it was a constant battle. it is weird, because they are best friends, they throw hissy fits when they aren't together, but the fights are about 1 every 2 weeks. and i can't figure out what trigers them! in the house they are fine, but outside, it is war. neither will accept the fact that the other is "better" so they fight more. i don't want to separate them, and i won't/can't find either dog a new home, but i am at a loss. i am gonna ask my mom, and my friends/doggie class teachers, but i thought i would ask y'all too. Sammie tore his ear (or should i say Bailey tore Sammies ear) and i can't figure out for the life of me how to dress it. he also has a hole in his leg from Bailey that won't heal, and i tried to wrap it, but it is either too tight, or loose enough he can get it off. i might try a E-collar. sorry if i am rabbling, but i can't think strait. Bailey seems to win less fights, but comes out of it better (). he has 1 scar over his eye that is barely noticable, from a long time ago. he has really thick coarse hair, and i think it helps. sam is fluffy, and soft, so it can't protect him much. Sammie is 5 in april (i think) and Bailey is 6 or seven in august (). i am so confused right now, i can't even count. they are sleeping away right now, and passing gas every now and then . they sleep separetly, Bailey in a crate, and sam loose in the house. might that have anything to do with it? i cannot add another dog to this caos, particularly a girl, they would fight over her, right? i dunno...i am gonna be sick if i don't try to sleep. i can't slepp thinking about this though....
please try to help, even if you are just guessing. i need help from people who have dealt with agression between dogs before. i thought i had this over with when i "tamed" Sammie. he was dog agressive. bail is the only one he doesa this with. it seems pretty equal-not one dog or the others fault.

Leah

i am so bored, and i need entertainment! if anyone is on, and wants to talk, go to chat!!!

Leah

this is a beautiful pyr for adoption in Las Vegas New Mexico. click on link to find out more. can help with transport if anyone is interested.

Leah

i can't figure it out, it is so hard tofigure out! i can't figure out how to post a pic as my avatar, or as text. i will try again (with suggestions i hope) tomarrow, i am on someone elses computer right now, and don't have the pictures.

Leah

come join me, i am bored!

well, i went to a show sat. and sun., and i had to leave the boys in the run while i was gone so they didn't destroy anything. i came home saturday, and both the dogs are out of the run. i suspected my step-dad let them out, then closed the gate so they couldn't get to their water (my step-dad is a idiot). but i asked him, and suprisingly, he did nothing...that means they dug out. GREAT!!! So, i go to get the wheelburrow and fill the hole, but i discover i can't find my shovel! well, i found it under a bush, with the handle chewed off!!!! i must say i scolded the dogs when i found it, and they were very sorry. so, i get another shovel out of the shed and begin to fill the hole. i am bent over looking at the hole, and Sammie comes up behind me and jumps on my butt, knocking me over into the mud. so, i went and put them in their beds and go back to work. my idea was to dig a hole going along under the fence, lay cement blocks under, then fill it w/ mud/dirt. well, i definitly had a moment when i wondered if god actually MENT for me to be a girl, but then i realized i was missing Isaac AND Tyra, and the moment was over! Well, the idea was a dud, and Sunday i came home to dogs loose in the yard. BUT of course they had to dig separate holes, so mommy can have twice the fun of filling them in!!! sometimes it really scares me that these are advanced obedience dogs. Bailey has his CD and Sammie is working on his CDX. aren't i lucky?!?!?! (note sarcastic tone). LOL, why do we do this anyway? we put up with all the embarassment and other CRAP dogs give us, and in return, they pretty much sell us their soul for a couple cookies....ok, it's not sounding so bad! i really do love having dogs, but it's times like these when you just wanna smack 'em!!! i would never...

anyway, does anybody know how to train them not to do this? i am an advanced trainer (or so i've been called) but i really don't know what to do! i have never had to deal with this before! EVER!!! these guys really have me beat.

i feel really bad, because they were probably really bored, and had no one to entertain them. i probly should have sent them to my friends house, but her dog is just getting over KC, and Sammie has a eye infection...so that wasn't an option. Sammie is a newf/aussie OR BC cross, so he really has to have something to do all the time or he gets destructive. no wonder i am his 3rd home (and last). Bailey just follows his lil' brothers lead, cause he really looks up to him. (except he can't, cause he's taller...) i really need to find some way of entertaining them while i'm not home. on a VERY tight budget as well.... do y'all have any ideas on that subject?

All the people that know me but not my dogs would never believe i would own such impossible dogs! i am such a you-won't-get-away-with-anything kind of mommy. 

Soo...did anyone else have an "interesting" weekend???

Leah and the MONSTERS

P.S. this really sucks, cause i just got rid of the jumping the fence and the digging in the garbage!!!