What was that adage about fghting dogs? Think we need one!

[Bruce Griffis]

We had a lot of tornado warnings last night, so I brought all three dogs in from the sunroom. Normally I let them wander when they're inside, but we kept them close together just in case we might need to go to a safer room. I didn't want to go driving during the warning, so ordered pizza - and was astonished when it was actually delivered! (I figured they'd wait until the warnings passed).

So - me and my three sons were in the living room with two beagles and a mixed-breed beagle. One is very food aggressive, so I normally feed him after the others eat, and feed him away from the other dogs. The larger beagle and the food aggressive beagle are in an on-going dominance arguement, where we've had to separate them on occasion.

So what would be a very very stupid thing to do? I said the self-fulfillng words - "please don't make me regret this" while giving each dog a small piece of food and petting them.

Bad decision!!!! I knew it before doing it. I knew it while doing it. I knew they should have been kept separate, and knew they should never ever be fed at the same time.

Now I have the proof. They fought, and I tried to break it up. One of the dogs got me when he was going for the other dog. I've got some holes in my arm, and a cut about four or five inches long with the skin about 3/8" apart. Ouch. I cleaned it well. Sprayed it with antibiotic. Used butterfly bandages to hold it together. It opened up again today, so I shaved the hair on my arm, put new antibiotics on it and a bunch of bandages. Keeping an eye on it, in case I need to go in for serious antibiotics.

Not quite sure what to do with the dogs. I should not have fed them together, and should not have had a food-aggressive and dominant dog next to another dominant dog.

Trying to decide between just keeping the dogs apart and not feeding them at the same time versus bringing one or two to a shelter. If one of my kids had been bitten, I know what I'd do. If a friend or a stranger had been bitten, I'd face being sued. I should not have stuck my arm between two fighting dogs (ouch! I really REALLY know that!), but don't want to think of my kids or someone else's kids going through this.

Anyway - the third beagle (the mix) stayed out of it and has been very friendly. And to think - when we took her in from the pound, it was obvious she had been abused. I trust her more than the other two.

So the adage about fighting dogs? Is there one? If not, I recommend "keep all appendages away!"

[Susan Unger]

We had a lot of tornado warnings last night, so I brought all three dogs in from the sunroom. Normally I let them wander when they're inside, but we kept them close together just in case we might need to go to a safer room. I didn't want to go driving during the warning, so ordered pizza - and was astonished when it was actually delivered! (I figured they'd wait until the warnings passed).

So - me and my three sons were in the living room with two beagles and a mixed-breed beagle. One is very food aggressive, so I normally feed him after the others eat, and feed him away from the other dogs. The larger beagle and the food aggressive beagle are in an on-going dominance arguement, where we've had to separate them on occasion.

So what would be a very very stupid thing to do? I said the self-fulfillng words - "please don't make me regret this" while giving each dog a small piece of food and petting them.

Bad decision!!!! I knew it before doing it. I knew it while doing it. I knew they should have been kept separate, and knew they should never ever be fed at the same time.

Now I have the proof. They fought, and I tried to break it up. One of the dogs got me when he was going for the other dog. I've got some holes in my arm, and a cut about four or five inches long with the skin about 3/8" apart. Ouch. I cleaned it well. Sprayed it with antibiotic. Used butterfly bandages to hold it together. It opened up again today, so I shaved the hair on my arm, put new antibiotics on it and a bunch of bandages. Keeping an eye on it, in case I need to go in for serious antibiotics.

Not quite sure what to do with the dogs. I should not have fed them together, and should not have had a food-aggressive and dominant dog next to another dominant dog.

Trying to decide between just keeping the dogs apart and not feeding them at the same time versus bringing one or two to a shelter. If one of my kids had been bitten, I know what I'd do. If a friend or a stranger had been bitten, I'd face being sued. I should not have stuck my arm between two fighting dogs (ouch! I really REALLY know that!), but don't want to think of my kids or someone else's kids going through this.

Anyway - the third beagle (the mix) stayed out of it and has been very friendly. And to think - when we took her in from the pound, it was obvious she had been abused. I trust her more than the other two.

So the adage about fighting dogs? Is there one? If not, I recommend "keep all appendages away!"

I am not a dog owner....so why do you have these two agressive dogs? Just curious. I am a cat person, personally :basic07 And, am glad that you are ok.

[Bruce Griffis]

When you have more than one dog, they will argue over which is dominant. Some dogs are also food aggressive. When alone they are sweet, kind and playful. When together (with no food), they play together and sleep curled up with each other. When they are kept close together (like in a tornado warning) and when given food together (which I shouldn't have done) problems can arise.

All three are rescue dogs, and all three had to deal with their own issues.

[Susan Unger]

All three are rescue dogs, and all three had to deal with their own issues.

That makes sense to me ~ I have friends who have their rescue cats so I can appreciate why one would keep the extra dogs around.

That was a crazy night for ya - chaos and calamity without and within! :eek:

[Gina Stevenson]

Whatever you do, keep that wound clean! As for dogs, I can understand that. Anytime there's more than one, they must decide between themselves who's "alpha dog." Here, between Sasha [my dog who is no more :(] & Ginger [ma's dog, who's still around], they decided Sasha was it ... so, Ginger walked "gingerly" [good name for her, huh? ;)] around Sasha's bed, didn't touch Sasha's toys, but only her own, etc. Yet, they'd stand nose-to-nose, wagging tails at each other, being friendly ... but only if Sasha was feeling in the mood to let this younger dog "bother" her, I guess. ;)

Anyway, I see, too, why you wouldn't really want to get rid of either of them; they do become family ... as was my Sasha, before she died.