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Change in behavior

278 views 3 replies 2 participants last post by  Buckeye20  
#1 ·
I have 3 unfixed females, Cairn, Westie and Cairn/schnauzer/poodle mix rescue.

The cairn is the biggest of the 3 and considers herself the alpha. The mix is the most aggressive but until a week ago there had been no real trouble between them all. The cairn is around 4 and the other 2 around 3.
I believe the mix is coming into heat and started bothering the cairn who pushes back and now they’re constantly fighting when together. This isn’t their first heat together and there weren’t any problems before. I’m considering getting the mix fixed, but don’t want to do so to the other 2 just yet. fyi the Westie stays out of it and tries to stop them fighting.
I’m unsure what the change has been caused by other than just them being a little more mature now. Any thoughts? I’ve never had this problem before, but I’ve never had anything with part poodle either.
 
#4 ·
That's going to be a discussion to be had with your vet. Crate/rotate can work for some people, but I'm not sure there's enough info here to know whether or not you may have to do that forever. And it's worth discussing the potential behavioral changes that could happen with a spay as well as other health issues that may occur with a spay vs. no spay. I understand wanting to wait for a spay later in some dog breeds, but as far as I know (I do not have a female dog, and our dog is an adopted one that was neutered when we got him) the risk of pyometra in unspayed female female dogs is ~25% by ~10 years old, which is something to discuss with the vet as well.

Are you able to find and do some sort of consultation (in person or virtual) with a trainer specializing in female dog behavior? To just assess what the issue might be and what steps you might be able to take? That's where I'd start - but first I'd keep them separated until I figured something out.