Dog aggression between my 2 dogs

[Leanneralph112]

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I have a 6 year old mix breed lurcher x spaniel variety and a 18 month old jack Russell.

They have always got on and still do 90% of the time.

My jack Russell seems to have got very possessive over the crate where he goes when we leave the house. This has onky started In the last 3 months or so. At first I thought it was all down to my jack Russell being growly. But have recently noticed my other dog staring out if the corner of her eyes at him, almost in a scared way then the Russell starts growling runs to the crate amd my lurcher attacks him normally whilst backed in to a corner.

This is causing my jack Russell too urinate everywhere as he is clearly scared. I am also 8 months pregnant and am concerned itsy hormoans that have triggered this new behaviour. I have recently bought an adaptor plug in to.try and calm things down.

But also my jack Russell has had a skin issue with his eyes ears and chin, it cleared up due to vet medication. Not sure if it's all linked I'm with anxiety. Can any one please help. Am now.getting nervous about the baby now as if this carries on it won't be safe.

Although right now they are both sleeping on the same bed. It's all so confusing.

Please help

 

[gypsysmum2]

It does sound as if your Jack Russell is anxious around your lurcher. All the behaviour, and health issues, you describe can be caused by anxiety. Your pregnancy may will have been the tipping point between the two dogs.

What sort of diet are they on? How much exercise are they getting at the moment? Some foods are like rocket fuel. Check out "All About Dog Food" website. Both breeds, ideally, could do with two hours exercise each day.

You are right to be concerned about the arrival of the baby. Both dogs will find it very stressful and as they are not completely relaxed now things could get worse. That is not to say they would attack the baby but their behaviour around each other could get worse and you do not need that stress.

Because of your situation I would recommend that you call upon the services of a Qualified Pet Behaviour Therapist from either COAPE or APBC. It is most likely that there is dispute over territory here. Your lurcher regards a piece of territory, or other valued resource, as hers and drives the JRT away. She is being rather forceful about it but then, if the JRT is not responding to her eye contact and other body language signals she feels she must follow through.

In the meantime try to give them plenty to do that keeps them separate. The JRT, in particular, needs time in a quiet area so that he can relax without being eyeballed by your lurcher. Your lurcher, too, needs to relax without being growled at.

Please make sure any help you call upon comes from one of the organisations mentioned. The last thing you need is someone making things worse by advocating outdated methods.

 

[lurcherman]

It's always them bloody Russell's that start it hahaha.

 

[Leanneralph112]

They both happily walk together every morning for a 30 min lead walk, then they have 2 mile walk off the lead at our local field. They both play happily with my dad's grey hound.

They both came up to bed with me this morning when.my partner went to work. But as soon as I woke up my jrt let out a little growl that he could see my lurcher.

So I had to put my jrt back in his crate.

I have never liked crates we k ly bought it because this time last year my lurcher had a broken leg and had to have one. Of then became jrts, because he is a little sod and trashes everything or escapes the garden as. He thinks he is a cat lol.

According too my partner they rarely ever fight if I am out it seems to be my presence. Hence why I bought one of the adaptil plug in that let out ferimoans.

I will.have a look in to these bahavour specialists as it's now causing me too much stress as.i am too heavily pregnant to break them up now. And I don't want to leave jrt in a cage forever as that will just make him worse.

Thanks

 

[gypsysmum2]

Crates are fine if they are treated like lovely dens rather than punishment cells. If your JRT regards his as a punishment cell then see if you can change it for a fabric one and make it nice and cosy for him. Put it somewhere quiet and out of the way and plug the Adaptil in nearby.

To lower your stress levels you could try to keep them away from each other in the house.

Are both dogs entire? Most JRT's are fully mature by 18 months but it may be that he is coming up to maturity and they are sorting out a pecking order.

 

[Leanneralph112]

Currently his crate is in the corner of the living room as we are undergoing refurbishment in our other down stairs room but it does have blankets over it and so he has privacy.

Strangley since I put up the post they had their scuffle that night and their hasn't been anything since. It seems ti be keeping my lurcher away from his crate while their is food around they are OK. Hopefully their last scuffle sorted it out.

My jrt was neutered as soon as he was old enough but my lurcher has not been spay.

Am monitoring them closely and crossing my fingers their pecking order has been resolved

 

[gypsysmum2]

Food can be a big issue between some dogs. It might be wise to never have food around when both of them are present.

Fingers crossed for you.