Hi, I'm new here and looking for some advice with a difficult situation. I'll try to be brief. I have four dogs. A male and female lab, a male pug, and a female toy fox terrier (Jack and Lilly, Gizmo, Cassie). Jack is large and confident, he is the leader and hordes all the toys. Gizmo the pug just sits on laps and sleeps. Cassie is the oldest and the "mother". She grooms and bosses the boys. She is only 12lbs. Lilly is the youngest. She is 5yrs old, 75lbs and she has some issues.
She has a very high prey drive, she is scared of strangers, and fence fights with neighbor dogs. She puts her scruff up the instant she hits the yard. She is scared of construction noises which we've had all summer so she's a mess outside. Aggressive one minute, running for the door the next. She humps Gizmo, she snaps at Cassie, when I yell at her she gets very submissive and licky, tucking her tail and cringing, or running from me (I do not strike my dogs). She is very jealous, of everyone and everything. If you talk to another dog or cat she will get up and come to you and lay her body across you, blocking access to others.
So, the real problem is Cassie, the oldest, and the boss for many years. Lilly attacked her first when she was a puppy, it was an even fight at the time. Then about two years later again. I broke it up in about 4 seconds but Cassie recieved nasty punctures. The most recent was a couple days ago. I broke it up in maybe ten seconds but Cassie was wounded pretty bad. Twelve-hundred dollars later I find myself in a tough spot. She will pull through, we get her wound drain removed tonight. Needless to say Cassie is going to end up killed. Since the first attack, years ago, they are not allowed near each other, and I usually keep them in separate rooms. Cassie just happened to jump over Lilly's legs to go into the kitchen and she got attacked.
Now, I've considered the fact that Lilly wants to establish dominance over Cassie. The problem is Cassie is 12lbs, she's a lap dog, she's cold, she wants to be under your blanket with you. I don't see me keeping her on the floor with the big dogs and not letting her in bed or on the couch... I just don't know.
She has a very high prey drive, she is scared of strangers, and fence fights with neighbor dogs. She puts her scruff up the instant she hits the yard. She is scared of construction noises which we've had all summer so she's a mess outside. Aggressive one minute, running for the door the next. She humps Gizmo, she snaps at Cassie, when I yell at her she gets very submissive and licky, tucking her tail and cringing, or running from me (I do not strike my dogs). She is very jealous, of everyone and everything. If you talk to another dog or cat she will get up and come to you and lay her body across you, blocking access to others.
So, the real problem is Cassie, the oldest, and the boss for many years. Lilly attacked her first when she was a puppy, it was an even fight at the time. Then about two years later again. I broke it up in about 4 seconds but Cassie recieved nasty punctures. The most recent was a couple days ago. I broke it up in maybe ten seconds but Cassie was wounded pretty bad. Twelve-hundred dollars later I find myself in a tough spot. She will pull through, we get her wound drain removed tonight. Needless to say Cassie is going to end up killed. Since the first attack, years ago, they are not allowed near each other, and I usually keep them in separate rooms. Cassie just happened to jump over Lilly's legs to go into the kitchen and she got attacked.
Now, I've considered the fact that Lilly wants to establish dominance over Cassie. The problem is Cassie is 12lbs, she's a lap dog, she's cold, she wants to be under your blanket with you. I don't see me keeping her on the floor with the big dogs and not letting her in bed or on the couch... I just don't know.
