Doesn't share well
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How does a status fight start? What brings it On? Shelby has always been submissive and when they play, Vince will roll on his back to her too so I'm hoping the status thing has already been worked out.
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How does a status fight start? What brings it On? Shelby has always been submissive and when they play, Vince will roll on his back to her too so I'm hoping the status thing has already been worked out.
I've seen an ugly fight start over which one of our female's got to go out the door first.
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I subscribe to the theory that status (or dominance) in dogs is very flexible instead of rigid (like wolves). Dogs can be of different status at different times and places. For instance, we have two dogs that will fight immediately in the house…but they will happily walk for miles next to each other on a walk. It can chage due to life changes...a sick dog will be challenged for status immediately...a bitch in heat will be very protective of her status. Some dogs couldn't care less about status...some can't think about anything else. Things that provoke status fights are usually about space....the best sleeping spot, the best sun spot. And they are easily triggered when dogs are aroused...so when they are jostling around at the door waiting to come in ou out. Sometimes a status fight will be brewing for a while...and if you are attuned to it you can see...a lot of staring at each other,a lot of stiffening when the dogs approach or pass each other...sometimes there are very few calming signals being given (turning head, licking)...I think the reason you don't see the calming signals is that both dogs really would like to have it out to see who really does have the higher status. It seems like the fight comes out of nowhere.
Sometimes one dog doesn't really want to fight, they just want the other dog to stop seeking higher status...so then you will see a lot of calming signals, lick lipping, lip curling, growling and a fight can be averted either by the dogs, or human intervention.
Personally, I don't have any experience with a male/female pairing having relentless status fights...I would imagine it isn't too common....most opp. sex pairings can sort out their place pretty easily. And often one of the dogs will guard resources against the other...but that doesn't really have all that much to do with status, particularly if the dogs do sometimes trade back and forth.
That's my take on it...I am no expert, but I do a lot of reading :)
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I subscribe to the theory that status (or dominance) in dogs is very flexible instead of rigid (like wolves). Dogs can be of different status at different times and places. For instance, we have two dogs that will fight immediately in the house…but they will happily walk for miles next to each other on a walk. It can chage due to life changes...a sick dog will be challenged for status immediately...a bitch in heat will be very protective of her status. Some dogs couldn't care less about status...some can't think about anything else. Things that provoke status fights are usually about space....the best sleeping spot, the best sun spot. And they are easily triggered when dogs are aroused...so when they are jostling around at the door waiting to come in ou out. Sometimes a status fight will be brewing for a while...and if you are attuned to it you can see...a lot of staring at each other,a lot of stiffening when the dogs approach or pass each other...sometimes there are very few calming signals being given (turning head, licking)...I think the reason you don't see the calming signals is that both dogs really would like to have it out to see who really does have the higher status. It seems like the fight comes out of nowhere.
Sometimes one dog doesn't really want to fight, they just want the other dog to stop seeking higher status...so then you will see a lot of calming signals, lick lipping, lip curling, growling and a fight can be averted either by the dogs, or human intervention.
Personally, I don't have any experience with a male/female pairing having relentless status fights...I would imagine it isn't too common....most opp. sex pairings can sort out their place pretty easily. And often one of the dogs will guard resources against the other...but that doesn't really have all that much to do with status, particularly if the dogs do sometimes trade back and forth.
That's my take on it...I am no expert, but I do a lot of reading :)
We've never had two males fight…...just the females. We've learned to watch for "status" issue signs especially with the Af female and it's kept things calmer, but we had to learn those things......sometimes the hard way.
Adjusting to the Basenji, we've certainly done that......had to. -
I certainly have had males fight… and females also, but typically with male/female combo's they get along...
I would also have to say that your pair have not been together long enough to really have sorted things out... and when mine wereyoung the only place they got things like chews were in their crates... that is when all the fighting started, cause you know there is only "one" good one even if you put down 10 for 5 Basenjis...LOL..... -
… and when mine wereyoung the only place they got things like chews were in their crates... that is when all the fighting started, cause you know there is only "one" good one even if you put down 10 for 5 Basenjis...LOL.....
I am learning this too. My two argue over the new chewy's. I have purchased quite a few but hesitate to give them any. I am going to give them their treats in crates. :) (So much to learn . . .) Thanks!
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I certainly have had males fight… and females also, but typically with male/female combo's they get along...
I know males will fight and it can be ugly…...with two in tact males, I watch carefully and wouldn't rule out they may need separated somewhere down the line.
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Interesting however that 99% of the time you can get males back together.. different from bitches that once the blood is drawn, it is over for life…
My fights were with an intact young male and an older neutered male.. the young male was a "wantabe"... and within a few hours they would go back to existing quite nicely with each other... but bitch fights can be deadly....
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Thanks for the good advice. They are getting along fabulously now but I know that being shelter dogs there may be more issues that come up. Treatballs are only given in the crates now. Interesting all the information about the real status fights and what to look for. So far Shelby is usually submissive to Vince. I've seen both dogs do the licking the lips and looking away thing when the other had a bone but never realized that they were communicating. I figured they were waiting to steal it. Stealing is a favorite game with these two.:) I also wonder if the weather and other circumstances in the house contribute to how they get along. Some days they just seem calmer and other days Vince acts like a bully. I figure we all have our good days and bad days.
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I recently read "males fight to win, bitches fight to kill" ….sad, but so often true....
Sadly, I've experienced that first hand more than I want to. The last fight we had to break up, (Cleo and Raven), Cleo's mate Max thought he needed to jump in…...it was very scary. Raven ran past someone opening a gate to an area of the house that is Cleo's and Max's territory........it wasn't pretty at all. Raven is the smallest Basenji we have and Max and Cleo are the biggest.:(
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When I have had serious bitch to bitch fights it was interesting that the other bitches and my male would join in…. however, if it was a male to male fight, the bitches didn't even bother to get up from nap
That's funny and so believable!:D :D :D Go ahead guys, knock yourselves out.:D :D
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That's funny and so believable!:D :D :D Go ahead guys, knock yourselves out.:D :D
Exactly!!!!
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Yes, –- like with my human children --- even if identical treats are given, Jazzy has to leave hers to go check and make sure everyone else got the same thing, and to make sure that theirs are not bigger or better somehow than hers.
BUT, let anyone try to check on HER treats, and the Tasmanian Devil noises start! LOLIt's been very cute the last couple of days: Keoki has been taking hooves from Jazzy. I do not interfere as I figure they need to work out their own relationship details. It starts when she has the hoof and he walks up; she starts griping at him. He sits next to her and does that cute little leg thing they do {I think someone referred to it as boxing}. She growls louder, he moves closer. Louder/closer/louder/closer... and then he just reaches in and takes it. Once she did try to snap at him, but when she moved her head away from the hoof to snap, he reached under and grabbed it. The look on her face was priceless -- kind of "well, that didn't go the way I'd planned".
When he first moved in, she didn't give things up to him.
I don't let him take her other treats, that is those things that are actually handed out to them as a treat. But the hooves just lie around the floor and they can grab those at will. Since there are more than one around, and they really aren't "special" to the dogs, I do not interfere. I'm really impressed with how well she's dealing with him these days.
