[bumber]

Good info! Still someone please help me with what to do with my 2 shitzu dogs.They qre 7yrs old from the same breed. All of the sudden they are turning on each other. They'll start off barking at a squirel and then BOOM they're on top of each other. I am having to remove one of their eyeballs because of this and I am at my wits end. I love "my girls" but I can't handle this turning on each other

[SunSiberians]

Do they only attack each other when they're trying to attack something else, like a squirel? If so this may be because they're extremely excited and have no release so they turn on each other to express their frustration. Unfortunately I can't think of anything that may help - but I'm sure there will be others here with advice.
I hope you can work it out, that's really aweful that one of your babes has to go into surgery! Best of luck.

[Lorina]

Are they both spayed? Is the behavior new? Is one more the aggressor than the other?

At 7, they're technically considered seniors, so some age-related changes may be taking place, and medical issues could manifest themselves as behavioral issues. Have they had full bloodwork panels done recently?

[poodleholic]

With redirected aggression, you will need to separate them when they're outside.

I would also advise a visit to the vet with bloodwork, esp. thyroid.

Sorry about your poor little girl's eye injury. Hope she has a speedy recovery.

[Jen D]

I feel that there is in most cases one dog more dominant over the other and it sounds like the least dominant one is now challenging the other. Have you ever noticed one being more dominant? One of my dogs has just one eye and I think it adds character. I hope all goes well for her!

[Harbor]

I would definately make sure both of the dogs are spayed, this may decrease the behavior. The fact that both are females and of the same age doesn't help the situation, but there is nothing you can do about that. When the dogs get in a fight, it is important not to seperate them. Maintain the pack mentality by keeping them together- if you do not do this, the problem at the time will not resolve. Also, while they are both together, repremand them both- regardless of who started it or who did what damage. If one dog sees the other one being dominated via corrections, she will view the dog as the omega. If both are corrected, they will see each other as equal and that the behavior results in an unpleasant consequence and will be a good deterant for either one to provoke a fight.

[poodleholic]

When the dogs get in a fight, it is important not to seperate them. Maintain the pack mentality by keeping them together- if you do not do this, the problem at the time will not resolve.

Actually, the opposite is true. You should separate them, and keep them separated whenever they're outside (since this is where and when they fight). Each time they fight, this behavior is being reinforced, and the more difficult it will be to stop/change. It's important to prevent them from ever fighting again. One dog already needs eye surgery; it would be irresponsible to subject them to additional injury by letting them go at it in an effort to "resolve the problem" between them by themselves. It's our responsibility to intervene in order to keep them safe.

Since this is new behavior, there could be a medical problem causing or contributing to the behavior (low thyroid, pain from an injury or arthritis, etc.). A vet check is in order. In the meantime, let them outside separately to prevent them from fighting.