Male aggression towards female, why?

[llwaxan]

Hi Everyone,
I wrote about a month ago re: bringing a new, 8yr old female to live with me and my 4 year old neutered male. I am very grateful for all the support and suggestions and they have been co-existing well for about a month now.
Last night I had a problem though and it was my fault I think. I kennel my female during the day-she has some seperation anxiety and was not housebroken since she lived as a kennel dog prior to me. I give her something to chew during the day. I had come home and let her out and my male spotted the high value item in her kennel just as she was trotting past him to leave the room. He went for her as he tends to do in a dominant way-she usually backs away and leaves him be, but last night I think she felt a bit trapped by the space and his size and finally she just fought back. She took a little nip out of his muzzle and then fled the scene. He is 142lbs and she is 78 lbs. The real damage to my male was self inflicted though. He bit through his lip and his lip was impaled on his cannine tooth. There was no way for me to work it free, so off to the extra expensive vet I went at 7pm. I have been severely restricting their exposure to one another since last night. She has shown no aggression since towards him but he did towards her when we all were ready for sleep. She wanted a good night pat on the head and he wasnt having it. So he barked and jerked towars her. Is this serious? How should I proceed? I admit I am a little dog shy now because I dont want another fight breaking out. I need some guidance at this point. Hope y'all can help me. Thanks a million.
Lisa

[Judi W]

General rule of thumb is that any male that attacks a bitch has a screw loose, or - more likely the case here, is terribly spoiled and needs to get unspoiled quickly. Your bitch should not have to live in fear of displeasing this bully.

You need to realize that he is not just telling the bitch what to do, but he is telling you what to do as well - who you can talk to or be near or pet. I hope you gave him a serious correction when he interferred with your saying good night to the bitch.

Up his obedience. Put in 30 minute down stays at least once a day. If he gets up and moves, take him right back to where you had him and replace him. Start letting him know that it is your home and you will make the decisions.

An occasional squabble is one thing, but this is more than that as evidenced by his thinking he can even tell you what you can do. Also the fight sounds like more than just a squabble. He went for the bitch, not the object. It is lucky that the bitch does not fight back more strongly, but regardless, she should not have to be so bullied. Time to concentrate on him.

[llwaxan]

Thank you, Judi. I know I am bottomline responsible.
I have been really lax with his discipline and he has become a tyrant, no doubt. I am going to enroll him in obedience again. He does very basic stuff, but down stay is a distant memory for this Saddam Hussein I have created. Would leashing within the house for set times suffice or provide any behavior correction while I am doing the obedience training?

[Judi W]

Leashing isn't going to do any good if you only use it for restraint. I'd be inclined to get a bit bossy with him (turn the tables) and make him realize that he should be looking to you for permission for things. When he gets pushy, snap on the leash and collar and take him out for some bootcamp heeling, then back in for the down stay. What this down stay does is demonstrate that you will tell him what to do and where to do it. The only formal part of this is that the dog be where you say and stay there until you tell him he can move. The concept is really quite simple. You must be where you can see him and give him a warning sound if he thinks about moving, if he actually move, you return him without any chitchat and replace him. None of this gooy "ohhhh what a good boy", it is a quiet and authorative thing.