My two dogs have started fighting regularly

[jugof]

It started around 6 months ago

They are both working cocker spaniels - age 8 and 6. They have lived together harmoniously since 6 year old was 8 weeks old.

its 90% of the time triggered by an object.

Theyve never hurt each other or drawn blood but it sounds and looks dreadful and very aggressive.

the younger one cries and won’t leave the other alone immediately afterwards and she shakes for a few minutes.

they go spells of a few weeks of nothing and then it will happen again.

im going to contact a behaviourist but wondered if anyone else has encountered fighting amongst their dogs.

it seemed to coincide with my husband moving away to work and is away for weeks at a time.

isn’t remedied by extra walks - they’ve had lots of walks the last few days but has happened again tonight (over a dog bowl that one of them carried with them after they ate

It is always the same one starting it?

Have you had them checked over by a vet? A change in behaviour can often be a sign of pain.

Make sure the behaviourist is registered with ABTC, APBC or PACT registered.

Male or female? Intact or neutered? Dogs in the same pack usually fight over sex.

Sounds like rescourse guarding a common issue with spaniels, with the change of your dp moving away for work probably triggering it

My bitch rescourse guards treats and her food bowl in the house and the fights are a pain so we remove anything she guards, special toys or food bowl when not eating to stop the fights.
Thankfully she's fine if not inside the house and my dog is the soppyest thing so holds no resentment for getting his ear nipped.

Start with removing all the objects fights are starting over and then schedule a vet visit to rule out anything else as soon as you are able to.