Our Weims Fight

Momof2Weims · Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 4:10 pm Post subject: Our Weims Fight

Hi,
I am looking for a little help. My Wiems just turned a year old the end of October, they are male and female from the same litter. Athena and Achilles have been fighting alot, not play fighting and I am not sure exactly how to handle it. When we try to give them a treat, Athena starts grawling at Achilles and then he starts and the next thing I know they are in a full on fight. The other day Achilles bit Athena's ear and put a nice little hole in it. I get them apart and take the treat away from both of them, but I am lost as to why this happens. They get along great all day long, do not like to be separated, but when it comes to food, this happens. Athena seems to be the aggressive one and starts it. Can anyone offer any suggestions what my husband and I might do? We are looking into getting some classes for them, but in the meantime, I am wondering if any one has had this same problem and what they might have done to correct it. Thank you so much. Sad

versatilek9s · Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 4:43 pm Post subject:

I'd start by doing things with them separately and try to have training and exercise time apart. Believe me I know this takes a huge commitment!

They will have scuffles, but you can't let them be petty or guard resources (you, the couch, your bed, the food bowls, the ball, etc.). Feed them in different places to avoid any food aggression. I could go into this at length, but one thing that's helpful when they do pick fights is to put them in a down stay in their beds or their corners of the room.

Try those two things along with NILIF and see what happens.

That's the short version.

anne · Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 2:24 pm Post subject:

Do what Meredith says. You have a challenge in that you have siblings. In most cases with siblings that have been raised together, each dog will have a hard time growing to their potential if you do not make a concerted effort from the beginning to separate them. Also you often end up with one dog getting very dominant and the other submissive. It sounds like as they are maturing at age one, they are trying to work this out. I believe that once you have an established pattern of fighting like this and it is not resolved quickly from the beginning, you may often have this situation go on for the dogs lifetime and management is the key (keeping the dogs separated except for when they are under your supervision).

I see you live in Palmdale. I go up to your area to train my dogs and know some trainers that know Weims that have worked with this type of problem. PM me if you'd like more info.