Help!

[lshermeyer]

This evening when I was leashing my kids for their walk, Jake jumped on Coal and started a fight. Not a playful "let's rassle" fight, but an "I'm gonna rip your ears off"fight. I had to spray them with the hose to get them to let go. When Jake ran behind the doghouse to get away from the water, I had to grab Coal to keep him from following. How can we keep them from fighting so violently?:help:


Lisa

[dutchman]

It's really hard to give advice without having observed what may have gone on at that time or earlier in the day. One suggestion for seperating fighting dachshunds. Their tails can make good handles but you need to be ready to turn loose if your dogs were to turn on you. I think in the almost two years I've had Frank and Tanner I've only had to seperate tham 2-4 times and every time it was over a chewie they both wanted. My boys tend to cool off immedately once seperated it's just that old dachshund refusing to give up attitude that got them into trouble in the first place. So far no fights involving Dexter.

Which of you dogs is the alpha? Do you respect their pack order. Not recognizing or not respecting the pack order has been know to cause more than one serious fight.

I'm lucky a combinatiuon of shy and laid back boys so few fights. Tanner remains at the bottom of the pack Dexter and Frank are trying to figure out who is alpha dog. I am alphs for the house.

Good luck,

Tom and the boys

[lshermeyer]

From watching their behavior, I think Jake and Coal haven't really determined who ranks higher, but whoever it is, they are only in third place. Sissy is "Top Dog" and she does remind the others of that every now and then. But she's content to sit on her pedistal and dispense justice as she sees fit (usually if someone disturbs her rest or tries to butt in front of her at the outside dish). Coco is "second in command" mostly because she is the most insistant for attention. Coco is usually the first one out of the kennel when we are bringing them in for the evening. She literally jumps into the arms of whoever gets there first. Jake and Coal are tied for third, and Pepper and Thor are fifth and sixth, (only because they tend to take longer to warm up to new faces). I think I rank last because they never listen to me unless I bribe them with something.