My 2 dogs just had a fight

[dottieautie]

I have an 9 year old collie who’s fear reactive (barking but never contact) and gets anxious but otherwise well trained and very loving. She’s never been in an actual fight.

In the new year my MIL gave us one of her dog’s puppies (surprise litter very placid good natured mum and dad) a lovely retriever, easily trained and beautiful nature.

Older dog absolutely loved the puppy and became oddly maternal and we were all relieved how well they got on. They’ve been best of friends since the pup came to live with us.

Puppy is now 6.5 months and tonight they got in a proper snarling fight. They’re both big dogs so I had to pull them apart and hold them until one calmed enough to walk away. There was no way I could have let go and there was no one to help me.

The older dog got a fright and while there were no wounds she did limp for a while and the puppy clearly was the stronger dog. I’ve never seen him show any sign of aggression and I’ve no idea what started it (no toys or food nearby) but I’m concerned that this is the start of him trying to be dominant or them having more fights.

He’s due to get debollocked (the proper word has totally left my brain tonight) in a month or so and I’m hoping that might help.

What can I try to do to ensure this doesn’t become a regular thing? I have kids and I don’t want them getting in the way and being hurt or frightened by it.

Both dogs are now avoiding each other and firmly in the huff.

Is there anything I can do to stop this happening again or anything I can do to stop them if it does happen again that doesn’t involve 5ft nothing me trying to hold the two of them apart?

Is the older dog on pain meds for her arthritis? They can get very grumpy and intolerant when in pain so this needs to be sorted asap if not already,

In 8 years that is the only time our ddog has 'gone' for another ofour ddogs. I really have put it out of my mind.... When ddog had her surgery it was that ddog that never left her side. Very bonded..

My older dog once went for my young male probably around this sort of age. It ended in a loud handbag style argument that ended as quickly as it started with neither hurt and it’s never happened again (touch wood) I presumed it was the older male telling off the pup and the new teenager saying absolutely not. Did either of yours have any injuries?

Have there been no warnings at all? No grumbling around eachother, one walking away when another approaches, avoidance?

Having an entire male and an entire female won’t be helping at all. The hormones will be raging in him at this point and escalating matters. I wouldn’t neuter any male at this age if you can help it but I can’t see keeping him entire is an option in your home.

Either way I would seek professional advice from a behaviourist registered with the ABTC (the only awarding body worth its salt IMO) and go from there. It’s not worth the risk to either dog to just wait and see.

As OPs have said, the puppy licence to be rough with older dogs has run out. And I would not be considering castration at such a young age. Dogs need to be mentally and physically mature. A dog the size of a golden retriever should be left until around two years old.

Please don't take advice from random people on the internet, lots of it is out of date & sometimes out right dangerous.
Find a qualified, force free behaviourist and take advice from them, including on the neutering of your pup, just because it's 'fine' according to your vet doesn't mean it is & you can't undo it once it's done! (Vets generally have a very basic knowledge of complex behaviour)
I had a similar incident with my dogs when they where around the same age as yours & thanks to the advice of a great behaviourist they are now friends again with no real issues.

That is very young to be neutering a Retriever.
The younger one is going into the teen months and is probably being a bit of an arse and older one was telling him off. If there were no injuries it was probably mostly noise.
That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be cautious about how they interact and keep an eye on them

Much sympathy, fighting dogs are horrible. I agree with @EdithStourton here:

In retrospect, it was only her putting him thoroughly in his place. IME since, mature bitches do not take kindly to lairy adolescent males getting above themselves - our older bitch regularly has sharp words with rude young males who belt up to her and get in her face, though she desists the second they back off.

But Lordy I’d be very surprised and a bit worried about a 6.5 month old male that went back at an older bitch to the extent they needed separating, very unusual.

Lots of training, brainwork for bonding and vigilance needed to prevent such a thing recurring, as it’s only going to get worse as he goes through adolescence proper, and your old girl should not be put in the position of having to fight off a heavy maturing male.