Expert: Jannie Balliett - 12/8/2008

Question
Hi
We have a year and half old, girl Boxer named Bailey, and we also have a 11 year old girl Staffordshire Terrier named Jewels. Bailey has been fighting with Jewels. This just started Thanksgiving week and she has started 3 more fights since then. The first one the dogs and I were in the living room, I was going though a treat box and Bailey started fighting. Second time we were in the kitchen cooking dinner and she started it again, tonight I could tell Bailey was going to fight again, at one point I could see it her eyes while being in the dining room, I grabbed her by her collar and said No, you don't and put her in the kitchen and put up a baby gate so she couldn't come back into the room. Later, about an hour or so I let her back in, I could still see it in her eyes so I thought maybe if I play with her she wouldn't think about it and grabbed her rope and played, she jumped on the couch, I noticed my shoe was untied so I sat next to her, she went around me and jumped down and started fighting with Jewels, who was just standing there doing nothing. Again I grabbed her and put her in the kitchen. Right now she is laying on one couch staring at Jewels, while Jewels is on the other couch across the room.. We have taken her to puppy glasses when she was about 10 months old. She also has a problem with barking, say for example my husband will be sitting on the couch watching TV and she will go up to him and start barking, pretty much in his face, grab his shirt around the wrist and pull it. She also jumps on people when you come in the door.
Thank you for your help
Sue

Answer
She needed training long before this, and obviously puppy classes wasn't the answer.

Fighting with Jewels is not only a jealousy thing, but a food-treat thing.

There is an obvious jealously and alpha thing going on and Bailey wants to be the alpha and is challenging Bailey over the position.

You must supervise them together. Try putting a leash on Bailey for awhile, and each time she becomes aggressive, and/or barks at your husband and tugs his shirt, etc.pick up the leash, tug her away, and verbally reprimand her with a stern voice, using simple command phrases.

Continue this until she settles down and starts to obey, and offer her a special treat for her reward with verbal praise and affection, patting and rubbing her.

This should show improvement within a few weeks if you are consistent.