I suspect they're sorting out the pack order, that's all I can think of, but it was REALLY BAD. Heino was whining like a baby and Jessie had him really bad (the other two red lads helped her as well - grabbing his ears and neck). She bit a hole in his little thigh, and blood was streaming out of his left front paw. He could'nt walk at all and was severely traumatised and I gave him Rimadyl. It just suddenly happend last night and we had a bad night after that. I had to pick Heino up and take him to bed, and just as we settled in, Jessie just grabbed him again at his neck. He yelped terribly. Then I grabbed Jessie's collar and pulled her off Heino, I got bitten in the process and growled at, and I closed her in the bathroom for an hour. She's really showing aggression that was never there before. All through the rest of the night, she was all over him, licking him, and he was just trying to get away, but could hardly move from pain. Everyone was in unrest, even Tommie and Simson. They seemed to be much calmer this morning and I'm now at work and can't wait to get home. I'm worried sick about them.
oh no Lauri - how scary. Its so hard when you don't know exactly what is going on in their heads....sending rays in full force that the pack is in good order when you get home. Smoochies to Heino that he is feeling better. Please let us know !
Please Find out their current condition and let us know....If this is still going on you are going to have to lay down the law and make them get along even if that means pinning one to the floor and growling in their face to remind them you are alpha and they will lose.
Their pack order are as follows:
Jessie (alpha)
Heino
Tommie
Simson (lowdog)
Laurie,
All all the dogs crated while you are at work?
Jen
OH Lauri...how awful you must be beside yourself! Have they ever squabbled before, or is this brand new? If it's brand new it seems they are a little old to just now be starting to hassle over pack order? Usually that happens from a younger age (at least by what I've seen with friends who have multiple dogs....my friend who rescues pit bulls see major tussles happen typically around 14-16 months old when they start to really mature). Poor Heino!! I'm sure he had no idea what was happening. Do you have them separated when you are not home? I wouldn't leave them out loose alone when you are not home...especially when he has fresh wounds like this. And especially since the red boys had jumped in to the fray as well. I don't want to scare you more but recently a friend of mine here with 2 wire doxies and a few schipperkes lost one of her schipperkes to the doxies attacking it and she had never had a problem before. This also happened to a friend with a few yorkies. I think the pack mentality kicks in when something gets started. But if you keep them separated you also should be very watchful when they are first reintroduced when you come home because often a squabble can start at that point too. But I'd really keep them separated when you are not there, at least for a while.
I am so sorry this happened, hopefully it was an isolated incidence and it won't happen again!