Agression toward my runt

[Tarqueth]

Hello all,
Little background. I have 4 dogs. 1 Yellow Lab (4yrs old Male), 2 Rotts (2.5yrs Female), and 1 female 1.5 yr Rottador (Rottweiler/Labrador mix, my runt). Here is my problem. I have them all in a dog run together, the dog run is about 80ft long by 35ft wide. Everything was fine until about 4 months ago when I heard some fighting. Denali (The aunt of the runt) was attacking Karina (the runt). I broke it up and let things go for the night. Same thing happened again the next night only this time Denali had hurt Karina enough to cause her to limp, so my wife took Karina inside and we let her stay in the house for the night. The next day I brought Karina back outside and let only Denali out of the dog run with Karina, this was so I could watch them together for a while. Denali was fine with her. Later that week Denali was attacking her again. Needless to say, If I'm outside with them Denali will USUALLY leave Karina alone, but if Denali walks by Karina then Karina will cower to the ground right away... even if Denali isn't attacking her.

I have put Denali on a 30ft leash within the dog run with the other 3 dogs. I have 10 acres of land but no outer fence yet. My wife won't let me keep any of the dogs in the house with us because we also have 3 cats and she thinks that would be "too much". Denali does not show any aggression toward any of the other dogs or any person. She is very loving and I really am having a hard time thinking of getting rid of her.

What would cause this behaviour and can anything be done to correct it? I know it's not fair to keep her leashed up, and after reading some other posts I see it's not a good idea to leash her up. I had no idea that a leash could cause agression. So what are my options?

[jasper's_mommy]

Sounds to me like normal doggie pack behavior. I don't know how you've had so many females living harmoniously for this long. In my experience, female dogs of about the same age will get along for only so long, and then it's time to get down to business of rank. I'm no expert here, and hopefully someone can give you some good advice, but I would say that the "runt" is in danger of her life and may need to be rehomed. Or kept separated for the remainder of her life. Good luck, that's a tough situation.

[Tarqueth]

Not sure if this will help, but all of the females I have are fixed. The two older rotts are sisters. My wife will make me find a new home for Denali before she lets Karina go. I would like to try and salvage this situation but not sure if that is possible. :/

[Judi W]

I would agree. You have formed an unbalanced dog pack and then put them in a confined area. Rottweilers are not a breed developed to run in a pack like some hounds and hunting breeds. You are asking them to over-ride their heritage of being partner to man and become a dog pack. Left to their onw, the "runt" bitch will likely be killed.

[danyp1]

Why don't you expand the existing run and section of a part for Denali herself ?

[Tarqueth]

Will sectioning off a portion and keeping Denali in there create more agression toward the runt, since the runt would still be with the others. I'm thinking of a jealousy factor here, but not sure dogs think like that.

Thanks for all the quick replies.

[jasper's_mommy]

I'm not sure "jealousy" is an emotion dogs feel, although I may be wrong. I think it is more simplistic than that, more like your dominant female wants denali gone regardless of where in the yard, house, kennel, or run she is. She is acting on instinct with not a whole lot of rationale. To her it is very simple.

[danyp1]

Originally Posted by Tarqueth

Will sectioning off a portion and keeping Denali in there create more agression toward the runt, since the runt would still be with the others. I'm thinking of a jealousy factor here, but not sure dogs think like that.

Thanks for all the quick replies.

If you have two dogs that don`t get along with each other in my opinion I would either keep them seperated and work with each individually or rehome one. I think there are members here who have two dogs that don't get along maybe they can help you more.

I personally would not keep them together because I would not want any of them get hurt.

[Tarqueth]

Thanks for all the input. I'll pick up the material at Lowe's and build an extension for Denali.

[brunie's mom]

Glad that you are going to seperate Denali This will not get better, only worse...so you are going to have to take great precautions not to let the dogs have access to one another.

Also, is there anyway that you can rotate the dogs and keep one in the house everyday?? It's a shame that they must live in run Rottweilers really love to be with their people....and they will benefit having some in-house time.
I understand about having cats....I also have 3. Two of them are afraid of my dogs and stay upstairs or run to the basment away from the dogs, the old cat snuggles up and sleep with either dog.

How much training and walk time do they get??

Gina

[Tarqueth]

Actually, all of the dogs were raised inside for the first 5 months of their lives and they still to this day get along great with the cats. But we leave at 5:30 in the morning and don't get home till 5:30 at night. Some nights we don't get home till 8 or 9. My wife just doesn't want that many animals in the house. She thinks 3 cats is too much.

They have never been to any training classes. I spend anwhere from 1 to 3 hours with them after I get home. I let them out of the dog run and we play and go for a walk. This is the only time I get to love on my babies But on weekends we have all day sat. and most of sunday together.

When I'm outside with them Denali usually doesn't even pay much attention to Karina. There are times when I will look over at Karina and find Denali licking Karina's ears. She's not mean with Karina all the time, I'm just afraid if I didn't have her leashed that I would come home and Karina would be dead.

Back to training, They all know and understand Their name followed by a "no" means to stop. They all know what sit means. But Hudson, our male Lab is the only one we did any extensive training with. I don't think it's too late to train them, but it would definately have to be One on One with them since they don't LIKE to listen well when other dogs are around.

[2rotties2luv]

IMO, the safest option here would be to put the runt (the one being picked on) in the extension by herself. If you put the dominant female by herself, one of the other dogs may start to bully the runt. I agree with bruni's mom that it is very important for each dog to have some time in the house. Training is also essential.
Multiple rotties kept outdoors with little human contact and little training tend to form their own pack order which does not include a human leader. This could become a dangerous situation both in terms of dog fights and in terms of danger to humans.

[brunie's mom]

So....you have 4 dogs that have basically been living out on their own since they were 5 months old?? It seems like they spend an awful lot of time on their own. They also have very little training. They have formed a pack, and it's the pack that rules....I'm surprised the two sister dogs have not killed each other yet either.

Rottweilers need alot of one on one training....not only will they be better companions, they will be better dogs. I'm not surprised that your wife does not want them in the house much .....when they do get to enjoy the house...they are probably bouncing off of the walls.

Is there a reason that you have/need 4 dogs when you spend so little time with them?? I'm sorry if I sound harsh....but I really think it may be better if you re-homed two of the females...so they can get one-on one attention and training and get to live in a home.

Glad that you are taking some steps to protect the smaller dog....but this is not going to end your problems.

Gina

[Major]

This thread is about dog to dog aggression, not training or housing. Please stay on topic.

[Tarqueth]

Again, thanks for all the input.

brunie's mom, I don't take the truth as being harsh. Also, I will be talking with my wife about the rotation through the house idea. I am going to try to find a home for Denali.

Major,
Sorry we got off track there.