How can I stop my dog attacking our other dog when loud noises occur?

What you're describing sounds like a reaction to the general excitement level and maybe the volume in the room. Some dogs will actually become aggressive that type of situation (for example, they will bite ONLY when there's a touchdown -- not so fun for the visitors). As far as stopping it, keeping her a quiet separate area during big gatherings is one way, as long as she doesn't bark to be reunited with the group. You can also try feeding her a continuous steam of small treats to help change her emotional reaction to these events. One thing to avoid is any yelling or punishment, since that may push her over the edge from barking to aggression

This could be a case of redirected aggression. Your dog could not retaliate against the neighbor's dog, so she went after your mother's dog. Keep them separated for a few days. Provide extra bowls, toys and bedding to prevent resource protection/aggression. Consider a pheromone product such as the Adaptil collar or DAP plug in diffuser. Either may decrease any anxiety or aggression in the house.

I'm sorry to hear that you're having this problem! It sounds like you're on the right track by separating them as much as possible when you're not home - with redirected aggression, managing the dogs to prevent situations like this from occurring is one of the most important parts of treatment. In some cases, it can be possible to teach both dogs to do something else (such as go to a mat) when exciting things happen to prevent Ophelia from becoming overly aroused and aggressive towards Chitsa, but this would really only be feasible when you are at home to manage things - so it wouldn't help much for things that happen when you're gone. I do understand your concerns about crating one of the dogs for long periods of time during the day. I would suggest trying to find a way to separate them that doesn't require using crates - perhaps by putting one of the dogs in a bedroom or other room with the door closed, or using a baby gate or other barrier to keep them apart. If there are certain things that trigger the dogs to become upset (such as seeing people pass by through the window, for example), you could also try using some type of barrier to keep them away from windows or other areas that tend to make them overly aroused. Finally, this behavior can sometimes be improved by prescription medication such as an SSRI like Prozac - you could certainly talk to your veterinarian to see if he/she feels that this might be helpful for Ophelia.

I hate to hear that about Cooper. Canine aggression is a complex behavior as it can stem from dominance, possessiveness, fear, anxiety , resource guarding or a combination. Pets can also shift around within the pack hierarchy. Being overly aggressive may be a sign that Cooper is uncomfortable in his current pack role. Unless you are very familiar with reading canine body language and training, I recommend to work with a professional trainer. Familiarizing yourself with canine body language and dog training can help you to recognize what your pet is trying to say before a bite happens. You can find many books written on the topic. One thing you can do at home is to give Cooper (and all the dogs would benefit as well), lots of exercise, routine and structure. A physically tired dog typically has less behavioral issues. Dogs also tend to thrive in a controlled environment. This can be a tough situation. You may want to separate the dogs any time you are not home to avoid injuries. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Separate them for a few days then gradually reintroduce them. First with a door between them so they can hear and smell one another then separated so they can see but not reach one another and finally a supervised physical introduction. Use leash, collars and muzzles if necessary. Pheromone products such as the Adaptil collar or DAP plug in diffuser may decrease any anxiety or aggression. Provide adequate numbers of bowls, beds and toys to prevent food aggression or resource protection.

Consider obedience training ( https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/s/petco-dog-training ) to redirect some of that energy. A pheromone product, such as the Adaptil collar or DAP plug in diffuser, may also help to decrease any anxiety. Provide extra toys, bowls and beds to prevent resource protection.

I certainly sympathize with your situation. Since Digby is 7 years old and this is a new behavior, I would start by having your veterinarian examine Digby to make sure there isn't a medical condition that is contributing to the change in his behavior. Your veterinarian may recommend trying medication depending on Digby's situation and behavior. If everything is normal on examination, ask your veterinarian for a recommendation for a behaviorist or trainer. You will need to commit to a training regimen to change Digby's behavior when he sees another dog. This can be a long process, but will be worth it. Good luck! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.