Dog Fight

Ive been reading around and searching for the last few hours to see what i can find out but i decided to just make a post and get feedback from people. Here is the story, me and my g/f just moved into a house together, she has a 2 year old female mut, black lab,german shepard,border collie mix named oreo and i have my 1 year old male staffy tyson. Well last night i ran to mcdonalds to get us food, we were sitting on the couch eating and the dogs were sitting around us on each side of the table, well my dog tyson lunged under the table and grabbed her dog by the head and pulled her under the table and out the other side, violently through her to the ground and then her dog latched onto my dogs throat right before i pulled them apart. Both dogs were fine nether one was hurt. But my question is this, tyson has never showed any kinda aggression what so ever he has never barked, growled or showed any kinda meanness in his whole life and usually gets bullied around by other dogs, i cant stress enough how big of a baby this dog is. Is this kinda behavior to be expected because he is getting older and coming into his own and maturing? The other dog has been bulling him and growling at him since we moved in and he always was submissive to her even though he is the MUCH bigger and stronger dog. I think maybe the fact that there was food around combined with him being sick of the other dog pushing him around maybe just set him off? Im just looking for some answers i dont wish to get bashed please i just wanna know whether this is something that is normal so i can take the proper precautions and separate the dogs now or what i need to do. thanks in advance!

 

You pretty much answered your own question. Your dog is maturing and the food became a trigger. If Oreo has been the alpha in their relationship then Tyson might be trying to take that position from her. You need to manage their lives by crating and rotating so this doesnt happen again. Next time it could be way worse.

 

about what age do they mature? and what all changes when they mature?

 

Some pups have to be separated at 8 weeks, some don't turn on until 3 or more (both are rare enough circumstances) usually 10 months + with some being even less in a given line.

 

yeah i think you answered the question yourself. a mix between maturation and food aggression probably

 

So when they "turn on" that's basicly them not taking anymore shit from any dog?

 

Turning on is just an expression used for a dog that decides he wants to fight. You can't stop it but you can prevent it. Someone said crate and rotate, that's a good way but even that has faults. Complacency is the biggest thing to avoid with these dogs.

 

Hmm... ok will it just be around food or can it be any time.

 

any time man you have to remember what these dogs were bred for centuries to do and just because its a staffy don't let it fool u its not even close to impossible to deal with it but as previously said complacency kills stay on your toes and reassure to your dogs that u control the food not either one of them its gonna take work but the biggest thing is learn the signs and prevent before it happens

 

Anytime, any place, anywhere. It could have been food but do you really want to take the chance and find out it wasn't the food?

 

Its all changed now. Take every ones advice. It'll only get worse.

 

In this instance, it was probably resource guarding combined with a territorial response. It could occur over food, affection, toys, space while passing each other in the hall, etc. etc. etc.

HOWEVER, the others are correct in that you have a dog that has the genetics for the will to win, so these types of battles can be deadly. NEVER leave them unsupervised together; run it like a prison. If you go to the bathroom, crate one or take one in the bathroom with you. If you are petting one dog, make sure to push the other away if they try to approach, you have to be AHEAD of the behavior and if you can't, then never have them out together.

Just the other dog making the wrong eye contact or whining can generate a melee. One of the vet techs at a local vet's office had her dogs (1 of them a pitbull) out together for 3 years, unsupervised, with no problem and suddenly came home to a dead dog. Dogs are never 'friends', they are competetors that may tolerate each other some of the time but NEVER all of the time, regardless of breed (I have the vet bills to prove that, unfortunately, just for turning my back for a second). Don't treat them equally. Feed the dominant one first, let it out first, reward it first etc. This will help tone it down, but not eliminate the risk if you have a momentary lapse because none of us are perfect. Don't humanize any interaction you observe with them.

Oh, and keep a couple of breaking sticks around the house, if you don't already do that.

 

By the sound of it, its a food issue, thats why when i eat i dont let the dogs in the same room...

 

ok guys i appriciate all the info and help, its so weird though its like his whole mind has changed he is the same dog towards me and my g/f but around the other dog he just dont want any part of her he growls, gives her these death stairs and twitches his lips at her. We have already taken her dog back to her parents house we both decided it was the best thing to do for now, i just wanted to make sure it wasnt just a freak accident and he was having a bad day. I still cant belive how differnt he is tho that fast.

 

Well Beanx, you and your girlfriend made the right decision. Best of luck to you and just remember, the best friend your dog has is you and your girlfriend.

 

keep an eye out all the time with your dog when ever another dog is around, don't get comfortable if he doesn't display the actions you are talking about. sometimes the action will go unnoticed unless you are on your toes and paying attention to your dog.

we had a puppy get dropped off in our yard (6-8 months old) and we tried to keep it. first week went ok, then I caught our dog looking sneaky and the next thing I knew he was all over the pup. pup got sent to a coworkers of my wife. our dog accepts a female lab from down the road, however we still keep them away from each other just in case.

 

I personally do not like Dog's fight and totally against of this.I like the dog as pet but i will again resist fight of dogs.Your opinion might be different but i again say that i am against of this.

 

Why crate after 1 incident??

Its important to keep them separate when you are not around. Best to be with 2 people when they are together and carry a breaking stick.

Give it another try imo and try to correct the dogs when you see signs that could turn out wrong. Does the mut growl to your staffie, correct.. And try to prevent by putting the toys and food away. If it attacks again without a warning i would 2nd think trying it again.

I have 2 dogs and i know if i let them play for more then 2 minutes my couch will be in the kitchen and someone is gonna get bitten. One is just 7 months. What i do is from the moment 1 is bothering the other or tries to play i cut it off. I have no toys on the ground, they both eat separate in crates and when i have visit, i crate one cause their exciment and jalousy could turn into fighting. You have to be very consistently with this for a few weeks maybe months if you want it to pay off. Dont tolerate any trolling

good luck

 

did I miss something? No one even hinted about liking their dogs to fight.

6sN7s you are right on to keep them in check.

 

Do you have a pIcture of the staff? I'm jus curious, would like to put a face on the story lol