[bella and layla]

I have 2 labradoodles 3 and 3 1/2. They have been together their whole lives. Recently after a trip to the dog groomer, the dominant one has been attacking the submissive one to the point where they cannot be together anymore. Before that attack, nothing had been different in the environment or with their behavior. I went to the groomer to see if anything occurred and they said nothing happened. I'm now stuck because the submissive one is petrified of the dominant one. I've tried to reintroduce them to each other on leashes with muzzles, covering them in baby powder to change their scent, being in the same vicinity but on leashes - but nothing seems to be working. I want them to get along but i feel like they will never again. I'm looking for some advice or if anyone has experienced this before.

 

[annabelles mom]

Welcome !

Wow I am sorry to hear such a dramatic change happened after grooming. Had they been to that groomer before? I'm wondering if something happened they aren't telling you, has the one always been very dominate?

Sorry I have no suggestions - I've never had that problem when we had 2 littermates

 

[DebBrown]

I wish I could help! This seems really bizarre after 3 years together.

Deb

 

[annabelles mom]

I'd prob also take the aggressive one to Vet for a check up - could be something wrong with him and the timing was just coincidence

 

[MaxandMe]

1. Rule out illness and/or disease etc
2. I've seen males do this once their 3yrs old +

3. also try a trainer one on one who might have good insight on this?
4. Your vet may be able to help as well ....also has there been any changes in your life, lifestyle , household or stress etc?

wish i could be more help and please update us on how things progress

 

[bella and layla]

Yup - they've been to the groomer before together. no issues after those visits. No changes at home either - everything has been status quo.

The dominant one has been fine with other dogs lately, just not to the submissive one.

Thanks for the vet suggestion - I'm going to give them a call tomorrow. I spoke with someone I know that does dog behavioral therapy/training. She had some suggestions but i feel like they would be too harsh and more traumatizing for the submissive dog.

 

[River Rat]

I would bet that something happened at the groomer's. And if I were you I'd try to find a trainer to address the situation who doesn't use harsh techniques; you could end up making a bad situation worse, as you seem to be thinking already. Are they both females, and is there a significant size difference? Not that that matters much when it comes to rank in dogs.

This must be making you sick, to see the submissive one so petrified!

Leslie

 

[dreamer728]

How long has it been since the trip to the groomers?

I ask because we took our cat to the groomers and he had a haircut, and when he got back our other cat would not tolerate him. They fought like crazy, where they had been fine previously. It took about 3 days for them to even out again, and all was fine. Hopefully you figure out what the problem is, i'm wondering if there is a scent of some kind on the one you had groomed, and the baby powder isn't covering it up?

 

[annabelles mom]

Let us know what vet says

 

[annieG]

I agree with the vet check first (maybe one of them was injured at the groomer, they can hide pain very well) then find a dog behavior specialist to work with them, one that doesn't use harsh methods.

Please keep us posted :?

 

[Guest]

I would bathe both of them and see if that helps. Bummer after just getting them groomed, but maybe the smell of the grooming products is setting him off. I know when I have continue to smell something that gives me a headache I get nasty real fast :lol:

 

[annabelles mom]

I would bathe both of them and see if that helps. Bummer after just getting them groomed, but maybe the smell of the grooming products is setting him off. I know when I have continue to smell something that gives me a headache I get nasty real fast :lol:

LOL Linda - same here, I have some bad allergies and ooooo can I get crabby :wink:

 

[bella and layla]

I spoke with the vet and they said - "sounds like a case for the dog whisperer." Then they suggested a trainer. I was let down with their response.

I gave both dogs a bath and will try to reintroduce them later today. Hopefully that does the trick, otherwise I think im going to gneed to get a trainer.

 

[mtd885]

I wonder if a female in season was at the groomers! Perhaps that set him off? Are your dogs intact? I would begin (continue) a lot of Obedience training with the dominant dog in front of the submissive dog then switch off. Walk them together as a pack with you as leader. You don't need A WHISPERER to do these things on your own :wink: These Doodles are smart, learn quickly and are very adaptable. Good Luck, let us know how it works out...mtd

 

[cheesedoodle]

Sounds to my untrained ear like a case of scent-erasure. Your dogs probably identify each other mostly by their familiar smell. After the trip to the groomer, maybe the seem unfamiliar to each other.

The idea of bathing is probably a good one. Or maybe rub them with a blanket or other bedding that contains their scents so they can key off of that.

Good luck!

 

[annabelles mom]

Just checking to see how things are going.

On the possibility of it being a scent issue:
I had read if you are trying to introduce a dog to another to put your dog outside then bring new dog in and walk it all thru house - have it lay on other dogs bed(s) and lay on floors - get it's scent everywhere - take that dog outside - bring 1st dog in - let it smell all spots where 2nd dog was - then bring 2nd dog back in - sometimes that will help - dog #1 is now used to smell of dog #2 and may not be as agressive

 

[MaxandMe]

Any UPDATE???????????

 

[bella and layla]

Both of them are females.

This weekend I bathed both of them with the same shampoo and then took them for a walk together to try to get them to do something together and to get more comfortable with each other. The submissive one actually was trying to approach the dominant one to play - which I thought was a good sign. However, when we tried to let them smell each other and get closer, the dominant one growled which scared the submissive one to the point where she wouldn't let me get her anywhere near the dominant one. I feel like im getting more nervous when trying to introduce them - more so than the dogs are.

I called a dog trainer that my friends used and she referred me to a specialist that she works with. I'm giving her a call right now.

The dog trainer did say it sounds like the dogs will need to be permanantly seperated I'm just hoping this isnt the case.

 

[annabelles mom]

Sorry to hear things are not getting better

 

[bella and layla]

I spoke to another trainer last night. She was very positive - didnt make an guarentees - but seemed more positive about how she can help me fix the situation. I have a meeting with her on sunday so I will update you all as to what happens from that training session.

Thank you everyone for your support and suggestions!