Help Needed With Fighting Whippets

[clairerichard]

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I have two male whippets - 1 who is 3 and neutered and 1 who is 2 and currently with hormone implant. I don't really know whats happened between them but things definately aren't right. George (the older one) got lost a couple of weeks ago (we eventually found him at 1.30 am), since then they have had two serious fights. One which my husband split up and got bitten on the leg in return and one last night in which George has recieved bites to his back and tummy. You can feel the tension between them and I don't know what to do. Both are brilliant dogs individually but they just don't seem compatable. It really concerns me that they are going to seriously hurt each other or my children (aged 4 and 9)....has anyone got any advice?

 

[Hula]

Has this only happened since the hormone implant ?

 

[clairerichard]

Archie has seemed slightly more dominant since the hormone (which went in just before Christmas) - not aggressively- just putting his head above George etc. Anyway it has really been the last couple of weeks and it seems to be George starting it and Archie finishing it....we're at our wits end!

 

[eve]

Hi

If hormone implants in dogs take effect the same way they do in humans, then it takes about 3 months for them to become effective. George is probably used to being top dog as he is older and it sounds like he feels Archie is trying to take his slot. This would probably happen in the natural way of things without the implant at some point. What is the implant for ? Are you intending to breed from Archie in the future? Neutering may be your only route but sometimes that does not make any difference.

Keep them seperate for a few days or at least as much as possible. feed them apart and try to stop Archie putting his head over George. He is starting it by doing this and trying to dominate George. Have a good water pistol or bucket of water handy to help break up fights. As you say it is a worry with young children in the house and not nice for them to see. Do not forget that dog bites can fester really badly. Your husband should have up to date Tetnus shots and any bites should be cleanned really well and watch for infection (same applies to dogs)

Sounds like neutering may be your way to go ........ (that can take 3 months to be effective!)

 

[clairerichard]

Hi we had the implant because we were unsure of how Archie would react to being castrated - he is a naturally more anxious then George ever was. We had looked into castration and many said that it could really send anxious dogs the wrong way - hence the implant. We have just spoken to the vet and he seems to put it down to spring fever and the implant wearing off (6month implant in since start of Dec). I am off to buy another cushion so we can spend some time enforcing 'no settee' and try and put them in their place. Fingers crossed !

 

[eve]

Hi we had the implant because we were unsure of how Archie would react to being castrated - he is a naturally more anxious then George ever was. We had looked into castration and many said that it could really send anxious dogs the wrong way - hence the implant. We have just spoken to the vet and he seems to put it down to spring fever and the implant wearing off (6month implant in since start of Dec). I am off to buy another cushion so we can spend some time enforcing 'no settee' and try and put them in their place. Fingers crossed !

Buy a waterpistol too :thumbsup: At the first sign of the head over the neck, use it before things get out of hand. A bit more amusing for the children to watch than the alternative.

Toddy is a nervous dog, he was when he came to us at 7 months. He HAD to be neutered (at 13 months) because of prostrate gland problems. He is still quite nervous esp with large dogs but the neutering has not made him any worse.

Hope things settle down

 

[clairerichard]

Thanks for the advice - will try it!