Hello - I have a 9 yr old pit bull, and a Doberman just shy of two. My pitbull was a rescue and is not spayed. I've had her almost 4 years and she has yet to have a single behavioral issue. Very needy, protective and a mush. We brought my Doberman home at 6 wks, also EXTREMELY loyal and affectionate towards my husband and I and most anybody she sees!. She has grown with my pitbull and they have been inseperable since. Both females. The the last six months ( since heat started) she has been starting some very scary fights with my pitbull over territory I guess. It only happens if Doberman is laying on me and pitbull walks by too.close, or food ...eating too close. Its extremely scarey because obviously my pitbull is also very strong and its very difficult to break it up. The Doberman almost always winds up with the worst wounds. About twenty minutes of keeping them seperated and they're fine again. Like best friends. I've made an appt for Doberman to get spayed next week. My vet also suggested a 'dog prozac' type of med I can give my dog. Its.not fair to.my pitbull because shes much too old and often pees herself during and Shakes afterwards. She never sees it coming. The Doberman has zero aggression towards anything else at all. Even my cat she loves. . Just this, what can I do if anything? Any thoughts on the medication and spaying? My girls are my life and I have to.fix this because giving one up.is simply not an option! Please.
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Doberman vs pitbull
- Thread starter KatieGreg
- Start date
Kmbeach22
Member
I would research same sex aggression in dogs. I'm guessing this was a less than stellar breeder since she let you take your pup home at 6 weeks and purchase a female when you already had a female pit at home. I would bring in the experts. I'd hire a behaviorist and/or trainer.
Dobermans want to be with their owners, and there's a reason they call them "velcro dogs" lol. However; I'd distribute your affection in a more balanced manner when they are both around. Make sure you give equal attention. Two females may view each other as rivals, even if only in certain instances and they get along fine the rest of the time.
I'd definitely look into working with a behaviorist and/or trainer ASAP so you won't have a crate and rotate situation on your hands in the future. I'd be leery of dog Prozac, especially since she is only acting on instinct and it seems like it's pretty isolated only to what you mentioned in your post. Just my two scents. I truly hope you start to see improvements and the behavior doesn't escalate.
Dobermans want to be with their owners, and there's a reason they call them "velcro dogs" lol. However; I'd distribute your affection in a more balanced manner when they are both around. Make sure you give equal attention. Two females may view each other as rivals, even if only in certain instances and they get along fine the rest of the time.
I'd definitely look into working with a behaviorist and/or trainer ASAP so you won't have a crate and rotate situation on your hands in the future. I'd be leery of dog Prozac, especially since she is only acting on instinct and it seems like it's pretty isolated only to what you mentioned in your post. Just my two scents. I truly hope you start to see improvements and the behavior doesn't escalate.
Archer
Hot Topics Subscriber
I agree this is not a reason to rehome. i don't agree with rehoming anyway, but especially not for behavioral reasons that are fixable.
Your Doberman is resource guarding. They are a possessive breed and this is typical behavior for them to show as they are maturing. I would stop the behavior from happening before it escalates. You will start to pick up cues in their behavior before the event happens. Stop it then.
For example, my Doberman used to go after my Min Pin when he would walk past his food bowl. I would not leave them unattended when the bowl was down. I'd watch Faustus (MP) walk past the bowl and told Archer (Dobe) to simply "leave it" and he would. If I saw him starting to behave like he was going to go after Faustus I would say "knock it off" in a loud booming voice and them redirect him. It only took a few times of doing this for it to work. Archer would also do the same thing if he was laying with me on tne couch and Faustus would walk by. We tried it again and it worked. Consequentially, we also started putting Faustus on the couch with Archer and now Archer doesn't guard it. That last method might not be for everyone, lol.
The "doggie Prozac" will not work. It puts a bandaid on the issue and doesn't fix it. Training is the only answer. Dobermans require a strong leader. Have you taken her to training classes? You might start reinterating her training to reestablish alpha too. Wouldn't hurt.
Good luck, hope you find something that works.
Your Doberman is resource guarding. They are a possessive breed and this is typical behavior for them to show as they are maturing. I would stop the behavior from happening before it escalates. You will start to pick up cues in their behavior before the event happens. Stop it then.
For example, my Doberman used to go after my Min Pin when he would walk past his food bowl. I would not leave them unattended when the bowl was down. I'd watch Faustus (MP) walk past the bowl and told Archer (Dobe) to simply "leave it" and he would. If I saw him starting to behave like he was going to go after Faustus I would say "knock it off" in a loud booming voice and them redirect him. It only took a few times of doing this for it to work. Archer would also do the same thing if he was laying with me on tne couch and Faustus would walk by. We tried it again and it worked. Consequentially, we also started putting Faustus on the couch with Archer and now Archer doesn't guard it. That last method might not be for everyone, lol.
The "doggie Prozac" will not work. It puts a bandaid on the issue and doesn't fix it. Training is the only answer. Dobermans require a strong leader. Have you taken her to training classes? You might start reinterating her training to reestablish alpha too. Wouldn't hurt.
Good luck, hope you find something that works.
MicheleM
Active Member
Just going to repeat what has already been said by kimbeach and Archer. Six weeks old is too early, not going to harp on that but puppies learn from their siblings and their mother how to interact and learn how to be a dog.
Is the pit bull still in intact? Two bitches in a house can be managed and they can learn to live with each other in some cases but from what it sounds like you need to get guidance before it escalates.
Prozac or Fluoxetine is ridiculous in my opinion and there is no way I would give that to my dogs. I think you need an experienced trainer or mentor to help get these girls to live together in harmony.
Good luck and all the best
Is the pit bull still in intact? Two bitches in a house can be managed and they can learn to live with each other in some cases but from what it sounds like you need to get guidance before it escalates.
Prozac or Fluoxetine is ridiculous in my opinion and there is no way I would give that to my dogs. I think you need an experienced trainer or mentor to help get these girls to live together in harmony.
Good luck and all the best
Dobs4ever
Hot Topics Subscriber
We the people set them up for failure when we do not have a clear understanding of how the temperament of each breed works. Dobermans being bred specifically for personal protection is pretecting you. Separte them and do not let them out together. You are headed for a very ugly scene where only one dog is left standing.
Enroll the doberman for sure in training classes to help you more than the dog but it will help the dog. You do not have the experience to handle two dominant breeds that are playing out ther roles. Just make life simple and crate one when the other is out and get prefessional training and that is not Pet Smart.
Enroll the doberman for sure in training classes to help you more than the dog but it will help the dog. You do not have the experience to handle two dominant breeds that are playing out ther roles. Just make life simple and crate one when the other is out and get prefessional training and that is not Pet Smart.
I've got a pit bull mix and a Doberman with close to the ages of your dogs, but I've got a girl (pit mix) and a boy (Doberman). She's 10ish and he's 4. She was adopted from a shelter at around 2.5 years old, and he was purchased as an 8 week pup. I've had scuffles between my two but they were mostly started by Ladybug. She always wins, and Hans always winds up with a scar 
Pit bulls are better at fighting other dogs I'd say... I separate the dogs when there is nobody home to supervise, separate dogs immediately when there is a squirrel or visitor in the yard, supervise treat and feeding times, and don't play with both dogs at the same time anymore.
It sounds like both of your girls aren't spayed. I'd spay both even if doing the pit would be just to avoid a uterine infection and emergency surgery. You don't see too much about female to female aggression with Dobermans, but it does exist.
Pit bulls are better at fighting other dogs I'd say... I separate the dogs when there is nobody home to supervise, separate dogs immediately when there is a squirrel or visitor in the yard, supervise treat and feeding times, and don't play with both dogs at the same time anymore. It sounds like both of your girls aren't spayed. I'd spay both even if doing the pit would be just to avoid a uterine infection and emergency surgery. You don't see too much about female to female aggression with Dobermans, but it does exist.
Luvmydoberman
Hot Topics Subscriber
Sorry to hear of your troubles, but I think you could overcome this if you act quickly. As mentioned above, I would definitely look into obedience training for your both your girls. I have two female Dobes and was aware of same sex aggression before adopting my second girl, Dixie. My dogs are both young at 1 and 2 years of age and both are spayed as they are from a rescue. I can say that luckily I have never seen anything that you wouldn't normally see go on between two dogs. We get an occasional growl over a favorite toy or treat and sometimes over the best spot in the bed. If needed, a loud "That's enough" reminds them that we are in charge and not them and they need to settle down. It does seem that we had a brief period at about 8 or 9 months or so when Dixie was more growly but since reaching a year it has subsided. I can see that Dixie is more alpha than Sophie and that Sophie is accepting of this even though it was the exact opposite situation when we first brought Dixie home as a pup.
Perhaps you can try not allowing your Dobie to lay on you if this is the only time you run into trouble. Is she protecting you or guarding the sofa? Can you tell? Dixie wanted to keep Sophie off the bed when she went through her phase though. I didn't allow this at all as it is MY bed, and I would make her leave the bed if she became too territorial. Now we rarely have this problem and it is not unusual to see them sleeping tangled up.
I would not consider the Prozac or fluoxetine either. My ex-vet prescribed it for my previous Dobe and I weaned her off of it after less than a two weeks because all I ended up with was a zombie for a dog. Hope you can find a fix for your two girls. Good Luck.
Perhaps you can try not allowing your Dobie to lay on you if this is the only time you run into trouble. Is she protecting you or guarding the sofa? Can you tell? Dixie wanted to keep Sophie off the bed when she went through her phase though. I didn't allow this at all as it is MY bed, and I would make her leave the bed if she became too territorial. Now we rarely have this problem and it is not unusual to see them sleeping tangled up.
I would not consider the Prozac or fluoxetine either. My ex-vet prescribed it for my previous Dobe and I weaned her off of it after less than a two weeks because all I ended up with was a zombie for a dog. Hope you can find a fix for your two girls. Good Luck.
RockyTheDobie01
New Member
Hi Kate, please don't think I'm a cruel Person, in fact, I love dogs and I'm totally against dog fighting. With your case, if you have an American Doberman, you can let both dogs duke it out with supervision until your pitbull proved dominance. I highly doubt neither dog will do critical damages towards the other since the grew up together, but still keep an eye on them in case they get out of control. once proven which one is more dominant the other one will naturally give way when needed. If you have an European Dobie there's not much you can do, but do what th Doctor recommended because European Dobies tend to not back down under any circumstances. Good luck to you!
Are you insane? This is the worst advise I have ever heard, as you do not encourage a Pit Bull to fight! as they do not have an off button, and this is a recipe for disaster and is bad advise.
@RockyTheDobie01 I felt that your advice was so bad that I reported your answer to the moderators as being "wildly irresponsible".
Supervised fighting??? Have you ever seen a pit bull snap? Dobie Wan is right- they don't have an off button. A real leader doesn't let dogs work things out for themselves and create a rank system. A real leader tells the dogs how it's going to be. The leader is #1 and everyone else is #2.
And if that doesn't work, it's time to keep the dogs separated.
Supervised fighting??? Have you ever seen a pit bull snap? Dobie Wan is right- they don't have an off button. A real leader doesn't let dogs work things out for themselves and create a rank system. A real leader tells the dogs how it's going to be. The leader is #1 and everyone else is #2.
And if that doesn't work, it's time to keep the dogs separated.
Archer
Hot Topics Subscriber
Where the line is bred from has NOTHING to do with whether a dog will fight. A Doberman is a Doberman regardless of being Euro or NA. Although I agree some Euro bred lines can be a bit more drivey if they are bred for IPO etc, but the NA lines can too. I know of some very drivey agressive NA bred Dobermans.
For those reading this (who knows if OP will ever see it as it's 20 mod old) please do not follow this advice. You should never allow your dogs to "duke it out" supervised or not. It's a fight waiting to happen. Typically females can be more intense about their fighting and it can escilate quite quickly and end in a very dire manner.
This needs to be handled with behavior modification through a professional behaviorist (not a dog trainer) and obedience training. I would also impliment NILIF method of training as they need to know who is boss in the house and have both girl spayed. Both dogs need to be dealt woth together and seperately. Until training can happen and behaviors corrected, these dogs need to be seperated. Also, I would take away all couch time unless earned.
Seven season have past, but in my humble opinion @Dobie Wan Knobie's advice still nailed it...then or now either way!
RockyTheDobie01
New Member
Didn't mean to stir up everyone's emotions. I had a pit ND a rot that I found 1 in an alley the other just running down the street. Both were still pups (not sure exactly how old/about 4 months according to the vet). I had the same problem with them, but they worked it out the day 1 dog decided to g in ve way. You wanna consider me irresponsible fine, but none of my dogs have ever been mistreated not to mention spoiled by each having there own room. Letting them duke it out if they don't know each other is a big no no, but 2 dogs that grew up together will not inflict major injuries upon each other, ND if they would then it's safe to say you have a ticking timed bomb in your house that needs to be removed...
shadash
Notable member
Sorry I have to disagree with you on this one. The reason your dogs are fighting is because they're trying to define a pack order. If both dogs refuse to back down you're going to end up with a dog fight and both dogs will end up bloody. One of the dogs will eventually win but the other could likely end up dead.
A different way you could resolve this issue is by taking up the pack leader position and defining to the dogs where they stand. But I wouldn't recommend doing this if you don't have the experience and time to follow through.
That's just not true that 2 dogs who grew up together will not inflict major injuries on each other. Even litter mates can have problems with each other after maturing.
ETA: And I do have one of those time bomb dogs, but I'm not having her "removed". She's being managed.
kashi
Hot Topics Subscriber
@RockyTheDobie01 you realise that often the worse fights are between siblings and dogs in the same family. I have known a few dogs to be rehomed because of fighting in the home. I have known of a few dogs who have killed the other family dog, not pretty, not nice. I am not sure what possessed you to believe that allowing to large/dominant dogs to fight it out was smart. Rotties and Pitts have some of the worst reps around when it comes to dog bites/human bite statistics. I am not saying they are bad dogs but they certainly can be set up to be bad dogs by irresponsible ownership. Once a dog learns that biting gets him somewhere good luck at fixing it, it takes serious work. Dogs need to understand that you the owner are the one who makes the decisions in the home. They can not think they have a say over how the household is run this can develop into rather frightening behaviour. I have seen my mom's small dogs fight over pack order once or twice, even thats horrendous, and a chi vs a min pin is nothing in comparison to 2 large powerful dogs. I hope you have found a better way.
