Change In Behaviour

[Guest Longdog]

Willie and Whizzy were inseparable when they first arrived (being brother and sister and always been together). However, we are into our 3rd week and Whizzy is starting to rule the roost and growls when Willie tries to get to the bed. I have moved the beds further apart from each other but she can still be very rude to him. Does anyone have any ideas? Is it a jealousy thing/pecking order?? I dont want them to start being aggressive to one another. I am careful that they both get the same amount of attenion. Throw separate toys for them when we are playing. I tend to put Willies food down first as he eats more slowly than Whizzy, they dont seem to argue about food but if Whizzy goes over to Willies bowl when she has finished her own, Willie just walks away and lets her take it, so I have to monitor them eating and check her when she does this.

Also in the car they go ballistic if they see another dog on the street. I have tried the firm NO and shaking a tin of coins - they take no notice.

In the first few days they were both quite aggressive towards other dogs in the park but after a week or so of asking owners if we could socialise, they seemed to be calming down a bit. This week they have reverted to lurching and barking at other dogs and it takes all my strength to hold them. We have just started walking them in separate directions as they seem to egg each other on but it hasn't made much difference. We are looking around for some obedience classes. I would really love to get to the stage where we can let them off the lead for a good run but at the moment that seems impossible. When my Cassie was younger she was the same, I could never get her out of the muzzle or off the lead but Cushtie was a real gentleman and loved everybody.

Any training tips would be gratefully received. They are food driven but if its a choice between a piece of cheese or hotdog or a potential chase on another dog, the chase wins at the moment. Being only 2 these are the youngest greyhounds that have adopted me (I have had lurcher pups and springers). They are like puppies learning everything new but 100 times stronger! They are racing fit and have bags of energy (just off the track in January). The old ten minute dash and sleep all day doesn't seem to apply to these two. We play in the garden with them for ages before we take them out, hoping that will take the edge off if - that hasn't worked either

Edited July 7, 2010 by Longdog

[TheFullHouse]

You may be seeing what is the "normal" relationship between these two siblings. Two of my siblings get along fine in the house but they can't play with each other without getting mad. It's been that way from day one and I think it was probably the way they were with each other when they were with all the other siblings on the farm. I correct any behavior I think necessary and getting into one's food is one. That's not allowed here. If one is done before the other, I remove that dog until the other is finished. I correct growling or snapping because someone walks by or is laying too close and this has worked for me.

 

As far as taking them to the park. I think I'd take one at a time. It's easier to train one at a time versus two and you have more control.

Edited July 7, 2010 by JillysFullHouse

[Guest Sunset123]

I owned two littermate sisters and there was a period when we thought we'd have to give one of them up because of the fighting. It was a pecking order thing. We had been really careful about treating them exactly the same... and that was the problem. You have to respect their natural order. One of them will be dominant, and that's the way they like it. The dominant one should get his food put down first, he should be able to walk slightly ahead of the other on walks, etc. Very subtle changes to us, but it makes a big difference for them. They're uncomfortable when their order is not clearly established.

[GeorgeofNE]

Please--if you cannot physically contain them both, don't set yourself up for a situation when they could either get away from you, or drag you and hurt you. There are several reasons why, despite being tempted, I only have ONE dog at a time. I think back to a great training book I have by a gentleman who trains a lot of police dogs, etc. One of his cardinal rules is not to take on more dog(s) than you can physically control when you have to.

 

I think you're pushing the socialization too, having only had them for three weeks. They barely know YOU. They don't need to get to know the neighborhood dogs quite yet!

 

I'd spend time working on basic leash manners (one at a time) and building your relationship before I worry about the rest. In Greyhound terms, 3 weeks is nothing!