What the L else can go wrong now....

Last night my Alaskan Malamute and my Daughters Rottie started fighting in the back yard. Up until now these little squabbles have been not too serious.

Well last night they started in and now they have injured themselves and me too. Dumb me went out there and broke 2-100lbs dogs up in a pretty serious fight. Somehow they made me hurt me back, my right leg is throbbing all the way down to the back of my knee from my back

All I can say about this was I'm an idiot these dogs could have ripped my arms and legs right out of my body but Nooooooo I had to save them from killing one another geez you would think I would use the ole noggin once in a while. The dogs weren't seriously hurt but there was blood flying all over them. Let's just say that a Malamute is a match for a Rottwieller(sp) or at least in my observation that is true. Nemo(malamute) can hang with the best of them. Go Nemo!

I'm sorry about your injury. I hate it when our animals get in a fight like that. I probably would have done the same thing you did.

Ouch! I hope your back is OK. Is your daughter's dog a permanent resident or visiting?

If you're interested, this is a really useful dog behavior website - maybe it can help you to find out why they're fighting, and cut down on the tension.
http://www.doggiedoor.com/doghouse/twodogsq.shtml

Originally posted by tuxedokitties

Ouch! I hope your back is OK. Is your daughter's dog a permanent resident or visiting?

If you're interested, this is a really useful dog behavior website - maybe it can help you to find out why they're fighting, and cut down on the tension.
http://www.doggiedoor.com/doghouse/twodogsq.shtml

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Right now he is a permenant residence, my daughter and her kids have moved in with us until she can find a place of her own. She finally got out of the mess that she was in with the ex. They are all safe and happy now. If we can only get the big dogs to quit the fighting.

Originally posted by blondiecat

Dumb me went out there and broke 2-100lbs dogs up in a pretty serious fight. Somehow they made me hurt me back, my right leg is throbbing all the way down to the back of my knee from my back

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IMO, it sounds like muscles or tendons in your back were injured, and it wouldn't hurt to go and get checked over by an MD.

Maybe the dogs were fighting for the alpha position????

First of all, I hope you are doing OK! We had an issue like that once when one of the dogs found a bone in the yard (we had just moved into the house and hadn't cleaned the yard yet) and 3 of them fought over it. Husband got bit (lightly) trying to get it away from them. We had 5 dogs at the time (3 large adult males and 1 medium adult female and 1 female puppy). We also had a clear pecking order in the household.

If both male dogs came from single dog households, it sure sounds like they are vieing for the alpha dog position, as they were both alpha dogs in their rite in their individual household before coming together.

Your behavior towards them will go a long way to how they respond to each other. You are ultimately the alpha dog in your pack and can establish the pecking order in your house. Since they are such big dogs, you will need to help them with this. If they are both equally favored (in subtle ways), they will be confused and have a difficult time working it out. Since your daughter will naturally favor her dog and you yours, you need to agree on your approach. If you favor your dog (and I suggest this only because it is your household), do things like feeding him first, giving him favors that the visitor doesn't have (a special treat, couch rites, first one praised, bedroom privilages, etc). Your daughter will have to acknowledge your dog as the alpha dog or this will probably not work.

If fighting becomes serious, you might consider investing in soft muzzles. We used them on our greyhounds when we introduced them to the cats, and although they typically hate them, they don't hurt them and can prevent them from harming each other. You would have to muzzle both if they are aggresive towards each other. Separation with supervised visits (muzzled) may be necessary for while.

Good luck!

Oh no sorry to hear that girl, I hope you are doing ok!!

How are you doing now? I just saw this (haven't been online much lately). And how are the dogs doing? I don't know what I would have done in your situation. But it sounds like your instincts took over. Glad you weren't hurt more!

Originally posted by mzjazz2u
How are you doing now? I just saw this (haven't been online much lately). And how are the dogs doing? I don't know what I would have done in your situation. But it sounds like your instincts took over. Glad you weren't hurt more!

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Feeling a lot better now. I alternated between Ice packs and heat packs to get the swelling and pain to ease in my back. At least now I can stand up straight The dogs so far have called a truce with one another, whew...Thank God for that I don't think I can seperate them again.

Yikes! And I thought cat fights were fun to break up!
I'm a wee bit afraid of large agressive dogs. . . . you are a brave woman! I probably would have grabbed a garden hose at that point. . . not lose my limbs!