Etc. i know that it could just be fun to them, but the girl puppy seems to really be getting hurt.im wondering that it might be because they are teething, but its looks very violent. how would i train them to be more gentle with each other? This article definitely applies to them. There is always a pack order and dogs are happiest when this order is clearly established, even if they happen to be the submissive dog. Am very interested how to help these two guys stop constantly fighting when together. They are about 3 months old and are currently eating and sleeping together. This regime will not be for life, as the pups will after a period of about 12 to 14 months have formed their own personalities and temperaments; at this age, they will have become confident of their own individual abilities. We did intensive separate training with them from the beginning, socialization, etc and they are sooo much better but had a setback. These typically include growling, sustained eye contact, flashing teeth and holding the tail still. Also just moved back to No. They were abandoned and I took them in when they were about 2 months old. They will attempt to assert dominance over each other until the natural order of the pack is arranged. Sometimes Littermate Syndrome can take the form of non-stop fighting between the dogs. Should these pups be kept completely apart? That includes Puppy and Training classes if possible, take them to a trainer that understands the inherent difficulties of raising two puppies together. does it ever stop? I appreciate I should not have gotten 2 pups but equally they are really good with each other and each brings out the others character. Is it too late to separate them? I'll try putting up one for adoption but not too hopeful there. They are very intolerant of my cats and other dogs, we seem unable to fully house train them despite constantly trying and they bark a lot. They are really good friends and don't fight at all. Firstly determine who is the more dominant, reinforce that position by feeding, greeting, playing or letting the top dog out first. We got two adorable puppies a week ago and it's already clear that this was a huge mistake - they fight continually. Thank you for all the info on your site. If you decide to choose this alternative, you can home one of the dogs with another family member or a trusted friend. If they are still young enough to feed from mom, she’ll take care of any bad behavior herself. Eventually it became clear that I gained a pup. Read. They become super attuned to anything that may be invading their territory. These changes occur almost immediately. What do I do though going forward? They were 14 weeks old. Thank you! Welcome to Stan Rawlinson's Doglistener website. During this time, they also learn the rules regarding hierarchy, rank, and position and social interaction. When Tima won't come home I wish I'd never taken them on but I was so happy when she came to the door at 4:30am. Usually, this will help, but not always. The relationship they have with their owners may also decline and they start to look inwards rather than outwards. Note down the gestures that precede fighting. In reality, the bold one is actually somewhat withdrawn and timid when his littermate is not there to give support. It can be salvageable. For example she got out yesterday and wouldn't come back inside the gate. I have called it “Littermate Syndrome”. You certainly can improve these dog behaviour up to a degree. Never physically break up a fight unless you feel there is a risk of injury. Any help would be appreciated. And then train me on her and both together. We see this with human twins. So they are pretty independent of each other and have different hobbies. Fighting: In many cases where these sibling puppies have come to totally rely on each other, then frustrations can play a part in causing underlying animosity. Your second choice is to create two individual dogs, with two separate identities and personalities, without the total reliance on each other that normally happens in these situations. Keep your body a safe distance away from the dog. We are at a point now where both scared to bring them back together in case they fight but it’s having a massive impact on our family socialising. He has contributed to and written for various magazines including "K9 Magazine" and "Pet Friendly Magazine." By learning to recognize these gestures, you can diffuse a fight as soon as it begins. I gave a time out by putting one in the bathroom for 10 minutes. I hope it helps. It is a difficult and agonising decision for someone to make. 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