How to stop aggression?

I have 3 Redbone coonhound and my largest male who is 13 months old keeps jumping my other male who's only 9 months old .  The big male is over double the size of the other dog.  I keep wooping him for it but he just act's like I'm not even touching him.  I hate for my smallest male to be skiddish and I hate to have to seperate them all the time.  Does anyone know a better way to get them to stop fighting?

[SarahWilson]

close in age and the same gender are more likely to have tension.

Are they neutered?
What sort of training have you done?
What age and gender is your third dog?

If not neutered, I'd start there ASAP as that will lower tension in and of itself.

At the same time, I'd start a lot of basic work with them so you can communicate and diffuse situations when they start to tense up.

Remove anything worth fighting over and keep them separated. Hands on help would be ideal as this is not a learning curve problem.

Good luck!

[Brown Eyed Gurl]

The other dogs is a 13 month old Female and I can nueter them they are UKC registered and if they are spayed or neutered you can not enter them in events they are coon hounds.....As far a training only basic comands.....and I try hands on as much as possible but they might fight over just getting to the pen to get petted faster.....there doesn't have to be any material thing to fight over.  And what's so bad is my large Male is so huge that even when I woop him it's like I haven't even touched him.....he just looks at me.

[krickett]

BrownEyedGurl, It's great to find another redbone lover out there. I have had them off and on all my life. They are a great breed. First I would like to ask, you mentioned the aggressive male and the female are the same age...are they littermates or have they grown up together? It's possible he (the aggressor) sees her as his family/possesion and that is what is triggering the fight. Also, let's face it, any time you have more than 1 male dog living together (neutered or not) unless one of them is extremely submissive by nature they are going to go thru some trials to establish the dominate one. The leader of the pack. Some people are going to argue with me on that one but I've seen it so many times. I know only too well how many problems that can cause. No one wants to have the dog that's going to fight on a tree, or anywhere else for that matter. It would be easy to suggest just keeping them seperate if it is only this younger male that he tends to fight with, if it is almost every other male he comes in contact with then you've got some issues to work out.
First I would stop the "wooping" immediately for several reasons. First and most obvious, you've said it's not helping. Then don't do it again. Also if you are breaking up a fight between the 2 dogs then wooping one it could make him feel like you are ganging up on him too and threatening his place in the pack. You certainly don't want to risk him turning on you. Do your best to keep them seperate, make sure they are on leashes when they are around each other for the time being. If they try to fight while you have them on the leash then a firm (not rough) firm, jerk on the leash with a "NO" is more than sufficient punishment. If they pass each other and do not try to fight, are mostly sociable then praise them for it. "What a good doggie, you didn't bite little red's ear off this time!" I know it sounds corney but heap it on, be consistent and be patient and hopefully you'll start to see some changes. One way to think about it is at this age they are both just teenagers with all kinds of raging (sp) hormones and (correct me if I'm wrong) but there is only 1 girl around to impress.
Also this may mean that you won't be able to hunt them together for the time being. Hopefully the fight is just with your younger male and not with any other male. I wish you the best of luck and let me know how things go!

:) Keep em' red!

[Brown Eyed Gurl]

The 13 months olds are not litter mates they just happend to be 2 days appart.  The female hasn't came into heat yet but I know at this time all 3 will need to be seperated.  I can't neuter them because they will be for breeding purposes when they are older.  I appreciate the info and I will try other tactics since the woopings aren't working.....I have been keeping them in seperate pens now but I hate to have to do this I would like them to get along.  They are not house dogs.  They are outside together that's why I want to end this problem so they can be together again.  I will try putting them together on leads and see what happens and soon as they act up correct it.  Thanks again for all the advice.

Hey Krickett are you going to Redbone Days in Brazil Indiana?  If so we will see you there.

[krickett]

I'm afraid I won't be making it up there. Wish I could though! :)

Another suggestion, if you've not read the book "Walk with Wick" pick it up. It's a must read for all coondog owners.

[Brown Eyed Gurl]

I've been thinking about getting that book.  Now I might just have to break down and get it.  If you are ever on the UKC website I'm Rebonelover on there.  There's some pictures of my brood.  Thanks so much for the advice.

[Brown Eyed Gurl]

They get along great with humans it's the males that aren't getting along.  I'm not getting rid of any of my dogs and didn't ask for anyone to tell me how that I should and that's the only way to fix the problem.....I asked if anyone knew how to break them from fighting not get rid of them or neuter.  I wanted some behavior advice and if anyone else has some tips besides neutering or getting rid of I would love some sucess stories.

[SarahWilson]

is a group of dogs who are socialized to each other and don't see you as a part of that group.

It's hard to raise two pups of the same age so that they are as bonded to humans as to dogs. And it can't be done if they are housed outside and together.

You're in over your head, which I am sure you don't want to hear. If your goal is breeding, then you do not need two males, place one and enjoy your two. Then take this time to learn like mad and gain skills.

[karen936]

I have a bluetick coonhound and a redbone/bloodhound mix both male and a female bloodhound. I got the males two years ago adopted both about 4 months a part and the female I have had a lot longer. The boys are approaching 3 and have recently started to fight. Nothing serious first but then several weeks ago the bluetick nicked a vein, lucky hit in the redbones leg. I read everything I could get my hands on some friendly some nasty. My guys are neutred since adopted and the female is spayed. My I believe are tring to see who is top dog. HERES WHAT I AM DOING AND IT IS HELPING!!!!! I bought wire basket muzzles and added a center strap between the ears they are not exspensive got mine from Jeffers dog supply and went the the store and bought 20 inch single stich nylon collars sewed them on. They flopp around but they can't pull them off. Warning they can pull and will without that center strap the muzzle also comes with a bottom chin loop for the regular collar to fit through. My guys hated them in the beginning but they can bag each other without the vet bills. You must also do this I have gone to the nothing is free method of training. They sit to come in they sit to go out figure out which is top dog and give that dog preference. No toys fight zone. Obedience training a must get a book and learn to do the sit down long down. Exercise long walks with back packs if necessary.  Time alone with each dog. I hope this helps someone as it has been very frustrating to me also. My guys are on my Search and rescue team and I don't choose to let one go or re home. Good luck

[smiley733]

I think you need to get the book by cesear millan called the dog whisperer.  The first thing is that you need to change is that dogs will not listen if you hit them as they think you are taking their place in the pack and the jumping or mounting is an alpha stance so if you choose to keep two males then you need to be a strong leader and take charge by being solid firm leader but not with violence but with confidence.  I have 7 dogs and we have in the last 4 years only had 3 disagreements.  This is because they know I am the alpha and listen to me without hesitation.  I wonder how often do you exercise these hounds and not for shows but for fun exercise.  Dogs need to walk by your side and if these two fight then hold them on each side of you and then walk be in control and this may help with the pack mentality as this will help them bond as a pack.  I would suggest as you have said for breeding purposes then the female should not be around the males except during breeding times and this may curb the aggresion (aggression) as she is causing them to compete for breeding rights which is natural for males who are not fixed.

[Ghilly]

Just my two cents here, but if the large male is that dog-aggressive, and that indifferent to any attempts at discipline, I would think twice before breeding him.  Size and appearance mean nothing if temperament and smarts don't go along with it.  It might be better to have the big guy neutered and participate in obedience and agility with him.

Ghilly

[iris986]

I have a neutered male pug that is 2 years old and a 11 1/2 yr old neutered male Australian Aussie. The Aussie mothered the pug until he was 8 months old,but soon after the pug turned on the Aussie and is very aggressive towards him especially if someone comes to the door or they go running outside to just bark.

Being neutered does not solve the problem,both my dogs were neutered at age 4 months. I have had other dogs that were neutered  and spayed and it didn't solve the problem. Dogs get bored. They will also fight for affection. Even if they get enough.With my pug we put him on a treadmill to take some of the energy out of him and most of the time it works.

I have also trained all my dogs the basic commands and my boxer even knew them in German.

[ginger899]

I would definitely get the Cesar Millan book, and the DVD's too. Watch and learn. He is brilliant.

In the wild (wolves and dogs) only the Alphas have the mating rights. Even though your female hasn't yet come in heat, the two males aren't stupid. They know "she's the girl!"  I happen to think it's a mating rights issue.
What they all have got to learn is, NEITHER of them is alpha. YOU are.
You have to start realizing that....ie making it real. And showing them all, by many gestures which must be continually adhered to, that you are in charge.
Wopping them makes no difference. They might see that as an attempt on your part, to rule, but they won't see it as a fact.

There are many small rituals which you could try and implement, which would re-inforce your Alpha status, and show them their position in the order of things. But the beginning point is you have got to want to be. Deep down. You have got to believe you are. And from that point it is going to take a lot of work, a lot of 'thinking around corners' and a lot of concentration.

Watch Cesar Millan in action. See if that helps.

[snowflake30]

I just got a 4 year old  85 pound bloodhound .She is fine out its just once she walks in our house that she acts aggressive.I have 3 small dogs ive had for a long time .The bloodhound was very agressive from the start. I     keep my small dogs put up so the bloodhound wont hurt them.Its not right to my little ones .What do i do ?

[mebtink]

There is definitely a difference between house pets and working dogs that are kept in kennels. For the most part 98% of the population has no idea what it is like to raise a "working" dog. I do believe that there is a definte need for some modification on the behavior of both the dog and the owner, but pointing fingers and not really understanding the situation is just frustrating, especially from a animal behavioralist side. The last thing you want is to make the owner feel bad for being a dog owner and asking for help.

I applaud you for asking for assistance. But, the next step is to actually utilize some of the assistance that is out there for you. I have been training dogs for almost my entire life, I have a Bachelor's degree in Animal Science from a University, and I have actually dealt with more than just canines. I have experience with zoo animals, cats, dogs, and parrots. If you would like to email me specifically what the situation is and what is happening, I would be happy to try and see if there is something that you can do to change or modify the behavior into something more acceptable.
  
Society today is always saying that if you are having behavior problems spaying or neuter the pet, which I would normally agree with. But, since you are going to try and show the dog this is not an option. I would like to say though any responsible handler knows that if this behavior is nor managed and it causes problems in the ring, on the field, or whatever the showing is, this is not a characteristic we would like to breed forward, so neutering the dog would be the responsible thing to do. The sucess you have showing will dictate to you what you should do, and all experienced handlers accept this fate with a dog once in a while. You can email me at ***@****