Dogs fighting after baby

[Anonymous]

Any advice? Any recs for trainers or someone we may look to?

We have two 3 year old mutts. Love them both to pieces and they are usually best buds and well behaved. However, since we brought our daughter home 8 weeks ago the lab mix has attacked the beagle mix unprovoked 3 times. Twice in the living room near where baby was napping and once in the kitchen during dinner. The last time the beagles ear got bit and we spent some time in the emergency vet. I can't pinpoint a trigger for either of the three fights. The beagle was minding his own business all three times. Twice food was near. Twice the baby was near. I (mom) was around for all three - the only common denominator I can think of. I've had dogs all my life but this I cannot figure out. They get less attention since we brought baby home but not dramatically so. Things go back to normal eventually after the fights and then another fight happens. We've tried yelling no, favoring the beagle immediately after the incidents, etc.

TIA for any help someone may have.

[Anonymous]

Is it a lab-pit mix?

[Anonymous]

I don't know for sure, we adopted them from a shelter but I can't imagineshe is. She doesn't look like a pit, weighs 35 pounds.

[Anonymous]

Is lab female and if so, is she spayed?

Any time a new pack member is brought home, you can expect disention in the ranks, so to speak.

Don't favour the beagle. The dogs are figuring out their pack order. It's not for you to figure out, as long as you and baby are "higher".

[Anonymous]

Get advice of a good trainer. W had a similar issue and it was quickly resolved. Like a PP said, its likely a reordering of the pack pecking order.

[Anonymous]

Lab was definitely doing pecking order behaviour--also was being protective of baby. Did you get both dogs at the same time? If you got Lab first, it's likely to feel dominant over the beagle. I wouldn't worry about a baby around either of those breed mixtures--they're so gentle hearted.

[Anonymous]

Your baby could inadvertently get hurt so be mindful of that. Or you could as well.

I would guess they are getting less exercise and attention and they are acting out. Could also be that the lab feels she is protecting your baby.

Make some more rules for the behavior you expect. Crate if you can't regulate. And be sure they get some individual attention and exercise. Day care might help,even for just half a day.

Also, do consider, dogs sometimes act out when they aren't feeling well. Might need a vet visit. (Though my money is on the new changes, lack of attn and exercise).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it a lab-pit mix?

here we go again

[Anonymous]

Keep them the eff away from your baby.

[Anonymous]

OP,

My sister had two dogs--one she raised from a pup and one she adopted who was 2-3 years old at that time. The dogs were similar breeds, sex, and age. They got along at great but when her boyfriend moved in, the adopted dog started attacking her original dog under seemingly unprovoked situations.

Truth be told she did hire a doggy psychologist/trainer, and this is basically what it boiled down to. Dogs are pack animals. They are trying to establish their order in the pack. You (and my sister) are the Alphas--the leader of the pack. The introduction of a new person disrupted the order.

The dog she had raised as a pup was more submissive than the second dog, but in a doggy world you must obey the pack order. (Who is higher up in the order may have nothing to do with size, age, or sex of the dog.) So the trainer suggested putting the food down for the dog being aggressive first, greeting her first, etc. The attacks stopped. The dogs lived in harmony for the next 16 years. When the reformed aggressor died, her pack mate died two weeks later. She missed her friend.