Challenging

[Lynne]

Every night for about the last week or so Sesi has started challenging Gypsea and only at bedtime.  Why in the world is she doing this?   

Does she really want to entice Gypsea into a fight?  I don't think Gypsea would lose and I don't really want a fight on my hands between the two of them.  She has never ever done this before.

But every night lately Sesi goes into her kennel and immediately starts growling at Gypsea who immediately starts growling back.  They will look at each other through the holes in their kennels and growl at one another or Sesi runs in and starts and Gypsea stands outside of her crate and growls back without breaking eye contact.

The don't do this during the day only at bedtime. 

Sometimes Sesi will turn her head but the growling continues. 

Last night it was a race to see who could get in their kennels first to start the growling.  Sesi got there first and sure enough started the growling.  I swear they are called Bitches for a reason!  My boys don't do this. 

I usually just tell them to knock it off and I make them go into a down and that stops it but why is Sesi doing this?  Any thoughts!!! 

[Saint Mom]

I'm not sure why but you sure know why I got a boy this time. Can't stand bitches. hihi

I know Nuuk will sometime try to block off acccess to the deck or down to the grass when Takoda wants to go that way. She has this thing about seeming to want to control some space. I take over and the party is over.

Why not try to take them one by one, with a treat in their crate, and see if it tones it down some.

[Evania]

Maybe try putting a blanket or something between them so they cannot see eachother through the holes?

[BanaerEskies]

How old is Sesi?  Who is the alpha dog? 

If memory serves me she is close to 2 and the alpha is Gypsy.  Are they both spayed?  that can help.  if not is one due to come into season?

talk to your behaviourist.  This is one of those things from my experience that you should nip in the bud or it will  most likely continue to escalate.

They will remind you what the meaning of bitch really is!

[Lynne]

Sesi is almost 2 1/2 now and Gypsea is 4.  Gypsea is alpha.

They are both spayed. 

Yes, it is still going on only at night.  There is never any challenging during the day or at feeding time.  Just at night. 

I'm not sure what is going through Sesi's head.  She has never done this before.

I will try the blanket.  Once I put Sesi in a down she stops immediately.

[Steve]

what about taking their kennels?  What's yours is yours and what's theirs is yours - if they're having a turf battle, claim the turf for yourself.  Perhaps forcing them to swap kennels is in order, change things up a bit and as you pointed out, placing Sesi in a down stops it, perhaps taking control before they head to bed is in order.  Place her on a leash or something....

[Lynne]

That is exactly what I was thinking of doing Steve!

I also think Sesi is going to be tethered to me for a couple of days.  I think she is getting to big for her pants
and testing to see what she can get away with.  Time to put her back in her place.

Today I noticed she was even nipping Gypsea on the back of the neck.  That is a sure
fire way to get Gypsea upset.  It has to be nipped right now and fast.

[Lynne]

Sesi was tethered to me for about 3 minutes before I realized that it was going to cause more problems because when Gypsea sees a leash she immediately thinks we are going somewhere.  And since she is the one that is usually tethered to me she was totally confused.

So here I am trying to teach Sesi that I'm alpha and when she was tethered to me she didn't have a clue what to do so she acted like she was in trouble which I didn't want.  And Gypsea being Gypsea and seeing a leash was going to guard Sesi and me and growl at Bear and anyone else getting near "us" and the "leash".

Soooo, I took Sesi off the leash and put said leash away and Gypsea returned to normal.  I forgot the leash is a trigger for Gypsea and one I'm still working on. 

I decided to put Sesi in her bed first at night since she is usually the first one back from their last potty of the night before bed.  Then when Gypsea enters the room I have Sesi in a down and if she even starts to grumble I stop it before it can start and that has been working these last few days.  Last night there was not even a sound from Sesi when Gypsea entered the room and went to her bed.  So hopefully all will return to normal. 

Sesi still does not challenge during the day and is just a happy girl all the time.  I have no clue why she started doing this at night. 

I wish I knew what was going on in their furry little heads!!!

 

[blessed woman]

Glad it's working. I often wish a little bubble would appear over their heads with their thoughts in it!

[JimmyThy]

Lynne -- that is really odd behavior. I wonder if there's been a slight change in Gypsea that would make Sesi want to challenge her position, since dogs may do this over time now and again. And, perhaps she's only doing it at night because there's something that Sesi is reacting to during that bedtime ritual/area that makes her think she can challenge Gypsea.

Glad to hear that Sesi going to bed first helped to keep things quiet. Have you seen her nip Gypsea on her neck again at all? Please keep us updated!

[Lynne]

Lynne -- that is really odd behavior. I wonder if there's been a slight change in Gypsea that would make Sesi want to challenge her position, since dogs may do this over time now and again. And, perhaps she's only doing it at night because there's something that Sesi is reacting to during that bedtime ritual/area that makes her think she can challenge Gypsea.

Glad to hear that Sesi going to bed first helped to keep things quiet. Have you seen her nip Gypsea on her neck again at all? Please keep us updated!

No, I haven't seen her nip Gypsea anymore.  That usually happens when they are in a barking frenzy which I try to avoid at all costs but anyone with more than one eskie knows is really really hard to control and stop.