Expert: Anne Springer, B.S., Dip., CAPCT - 7/17/2010

Question
I have 2 Aussie healer mixes that we adopted,they were dropped on the side of the road in the same neck of town but there about 2 ta 3 months apart ..Rogue the oldest (female) Just turned 6 months  and Tebow(male) the youngest just turned 4 month...we also have a full blood English bulldog named bambam 6 months old (male) . .my problem is this,my healers have there own personalitys but in retrospect they are spot on when it comes to actions and attitudes .BamBam is happy go lucky go with the flow feed me love me and let me sleep and I will never give you a problem kinda dog..Rogue and bam bam were the best of friends till we brought the puppy tebow  home...now my female shepherd mix is constantly beating up on my bulldog to the point of blood shed..I have a dog run cemented on the side of the house with to kennels minus the mesh doors..I also have a big back yard that they have full access to. .a sheet of plywood separates the yard from the run with a lockable dog door..after a good brawl between the two I seperate till battle wounds heal then I reunite the two and it seems like it gets worse...! What gives why is she being aggressive twords a friend she grew up with..and why did it start with the presents of another Aussie healer..?the poor bulldog seems to mind his pees and qqqs and just keeps getting laid in too...what can I do....?

Answer
Without seeing this, I have no idea which dog is really starting the problem, because it isn't always the one you think is the aggressor.  However, it is unfair to keep putting two dogs together when there is blood shed - separate them permanently if they continue to do this - otherwise you may eventually pay a hefty vet bill.  All you are doing by putting them together, hoping against hope that they will get along, is teaching them to fight.  You need the help of a good behavior professional to sort this out, and you need to get one fast while they are still puppies and this can possibly be corrected.  Even though these are puppies, this does not bode well for when they are socially mature and get really serious.