[LizzDragonLord]

So, I have a bit of a problem, my sister recently moved in with her two dogs, everything has gone well since she moved here in fall, but ever since she stayed at my moms a couple of days before Christmas with her dog Alva, my dog Noelle has been attacking Alva and just latches on like she wants to kill her, I have to choke her to even get her to let go
I know some of you are gonna wanna say "Noelle is trying to dominate Alva", but I really don't believe in Cesar Millan's way of raising dogs (those tactics are outdated, and I don't raise my dog like that)
Alva has always been a bit of a bitch (no pun intended) towards other dogs, but Noelle has always respected her in a way, but now as soon as she sees Alva she goes for her throat (luckily Alva is very fluffy or Noelle would have done some serious damage by now)
My sister lives in the basement, so they don't always see each other, but Alva has serious separation anxiety and my sis can't leave her alone when she's on my floor
I don't want Alva to get hurt, and I seriously don't know what to do, Noelle has always gotten along with every new dog she meets

Please answer only if you have experience with this type if situation
and if you do tell me that Noelle is trying to dominate Alva, I will ignore you, dogs aren't wolves, and not even wolves acts like that if they're not in captivity

 

[annageckos]

I'd say most here don't follow CM and know he is outdated. So no problem there. What breeds are the dogs? I'm sorry I'm not much help. Have you tried walking the dogs together outside? Or taking them to some to some neutral place, on lead and give Alva treats when she is behaving? For now keep them apart. Can you set up gates?

 

[LizzDragonLord]

I'd say most here don't follow CM and know he is outdated. So no problem there. What breeds are the dogs? I'm sorry I'm not much help. Have you tried walking the dogs together outside? Or taking them to some to some neutral place, on lead and give Alva treats when she is behaving? For now keep them apart. Can you set up gates?

Noelle is a Jack Russell and Alva is a Japanese Spitz
When they're outside together they get along just fine, it's just when we're inside they fight
The good thing is that she lives in the basement with Alva so they don't see eachother so much, but when they do see each other they start fighting almost instantly. You can tell on Noelle when she's thinking about it though, so I have time to take her away, but as soon as there's treats involved they start fighting, yesterday Noelle bit me when I tried to get her off of Alva, which is kind of understandable since I literally have to choke her
That's another thing, if you know of a better way to set them apart when they do start to fight I'm all ears, I hate having to choke my own dog

 

[Larkspur]

Most people here don't subscribe to CM and all that bull. This is a +R forum that keeps up to date with the latest solid research.

When does Noelle go after Alva? Every time she just sees her or only when there is food around? If it's just when there are treats, I'd start thinking resource guarding. I'm not an expert, but if these were my dogs I would try to nip the aggression (and any fear on the other dog's end) as soon as possible. Maybe consult a behaviorist or +R trainer.

I don't really advocate harming a dog (aka hitting, kicking, choking, etc.) unless in situations where the dog is a legitimate and imminent threat. At this point, since she has bitten a person, generally we can only suggest going to a behaviorist.

 

[annageckos]

That's another thing, if you know of a better way to set them apart when they do start to fight I'm all ears, I hate having to choke my own dog

After my basset hound was attacked by a larger dog at the dog I started looking around for ways to separate a dog fight. At the time squirting water in the dogs face worked, but he did bit down again on Shorty's collar. Which I was able to take off him. One way I came across to get them apart is to grab the attacking dogs back legs and lift so they are only standing on their hind legs. Then slowly start to turn the dog, it will have to let go or fall over. I don't know how well it works, I hope I'll never have to find out.
Is the aggression maybe resource guarding?

 

[LizzDragonLord]

Most people here don't subscribe to CM and all that bull. This is a +R forum that keeps up to date with the latest solid research.

When does Noelle go after Alva? Every time she just sees her or only when there is food around? If it's just when there are treats, I'd start thinking resource guarding. I'm not an expert, but if these were my dogs I would try to nip the aggression (and any fear on the other dog's end) as soon as possible. Maybe consult a behaviorist or +R trainer.

I don't really advocate harming a dog (aka hitting, kicking, choking, etc.) unless in situations where the dog is a legitimate and imminent threat. At this point, since she has bitten a person, generally we can only suggest going to a behaviorist.

She attacks her whenever Alva growls at her. Alva doesn't really like other dogs, so whenever a dog get too close to her she growls at them, but she never does anything beyond growling. Maybe Noelle sees her as a threat?
but as soon as there's food involved she attacks her, but she doesn't attack any other dogs
I really can't afford to see a behaviorist because of how bad the money situation is where I live

 

[LizzDragonLord]

After my basset hound was attacked by a larger dog at the dog I started looking around for ways to separate a dog fight. At the time squirting water in the dogs face worked, but he did bit down again on Shorty's collar. Which I was able to take off him. One way I came across to get them apart is to grab the attacking dogs back legs and lift so they are only standing on their hind legs. Then slowly start to turn the dog, it will have to let go or fall over. I don't know how well it works, I hope I'll never have to find out.
Is the aggression maybe resource guarding?

I don't think that would help because she is so small and has such short legs, I don't think I could get a hold of her legs so easily, plus she bites down so hard, I don't think there's anything that can pull her away, I have to get her to let go on her own
It is a little bit, but it's mostly when Alva growls at her that she flips out.
Alva doesn't like other dogs so whenever they get too close she growls at them

 

[Kyllobernese]

Since Alva is growling at your dog you cannot really blame a terrier for going after her. I would just keep one of them crated when they have to be around each other. Since they are both females it is a lot harder to stop them from fighting once they have had a few fights.

 

[Sheena]

Terriers by nature are quite stubborn, they were bred to hunt a variety of animals. Jack Russells were bred to be brave and fierce when going under ground after foxes. It is hard in general to break up a dog fight, but as was suggested grabbing their back legs and lifting should work no matter how short the legs. Or if you can get something in their mouth and pry it open(I wouldn't suggest your fingers) that'd work as well. Just make sure someone has ahold of each dog because they will go at it again.

I concur about keeping them separated, as growing up we had a Rhodesian ridgeback bitch and a chow x lab bitch that the chow mix attacked the RR as a puppy... well when the RR got big enough and the chow mix went after her on 4th of july, it ended with the chow mix(Who was smooth coated) almost getting her throat ripped out. Literally, the skin of her neck was stretched out.

 

[LizzDragonLord]

I suppose I'll just have to keep them apart at all times, luckily it's not so hard do since I can just throw Noelle into my bedroom whenever Alva is upstairs