My two dogs started fighting. Should I spay or hire a dog trainer?

Hi and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I am so sorry that your two pups have not been getting along recently. I would separate both dogs while you are away until you can figure out the issue. A lot of times housemates will fight due to phobias (thunderstorms, loud noises), separation anxiety or aggression. Also, sometimes one dog may have a medical issue presenting it self to be weaker than the other dog. I would make sure both pets are pain free and have no concerning issues like vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, pain etc. A lot of the time, the newer dog in the household tends to be the aggressor. I would work with each dog separately and together for obedience training. If possible, i would get a professional dog trainer to help. A lot of the time it is the people that need training on how to properly time commands for their pups. Once they have a solid foundation of obedience training I would try a few things that will test ability to ignore one another in the same room, then give one dog attention while the other one ignores it etc. I would reward the dogs for remaining calm. This will help teach them that they can be in the same space and tolerate each other. These can be some helpful training tools that you can start with. However, if the fighting escalates, getting a professional trainer would be highly recommended sooner rather than later! I would really appreciate if you could mark this question as helpful or not as helpful. It allows us to improve on the quality of our answers to other pet owners!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Usually these behaviors can be corrected but this usually requires in person training by a qualified dog trainer. I recommend you consider hiring a qualified dog trainer to work with you in person. I think with the appropriate training they may learn to get along great so that you do not have to fear this any longer. Otherwise, they may be fine but it is a bit of an uncertainty if it will happen again. Good luck and have a good day!

I would try a professional, in-home dog trainer. If the dogs are not spayed/neutered that may be why there is so much aggression. If they are not breeding animals (mixed breeds they should not be) you should have them fixed first and then work with a trainer.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! These types of behavior can improve though this does require in person training with the help of a qualified dog trainer. I would encourage you to contact a dog trainer that can work with you and her in person to really take care of this behavior. The sooner these behaviors are dealt with, the more likely it is that you can improve and resolve them. Good luck and have a great day!

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. Based on the information you provided, it sounds to me like Molly needs to be enrolled in a behavior class to help train her. I am sure that there are many trainers in your area, so I would begin calling them and see what they have available for classes. This is beneficial at this age because Molly is so young so take advantage of her age and train her early. I hope this helps!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If this is a sudden behavioral change I would have her examined. She could be painful or not feel well and she is acting out because of that. It is better for her health to be spayed, she is at risk for an infected uterus which is an expensive surgical emergency. Hormones can affect temperament, so it MAY help but it might not be the solution. If her exam and blood work are normal, you can have her spayed then consider training and medications to control her aggression. I hope this helps and I wish you and Bella the very best!

If they are not spayed then you should start with that. Hormones can certainly cause aggression. After the surgery it takes about 30 days for the hormone levels to decrease to a level that may change aggressive behavior. If that does not help then you should consult with a professional in-home dog trainer to help you sort out the root of the problem. I see you are in Puerto Rico. There is a HUGE free spay/neuter campaign coming there in November. I suggest you check it out if you want to get your dogs spayed. Search "Spayathon for Puerto Rico" on Facebook to find their page. Hope this helps. Best wishes.