Trouble - The Squabbling Sheltie Brothers

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I have two shelties, Mick and DJ, 2 1/2 year old littermates, both neuetered males. They used to share everything without squabbling, food, treats, toys, attention, etc.
Last spring we got Roxy, a Pomeranian mix female, the same size as the shelties. She's spayed.

The Sheltie Brothers have been having these snarly "fights". Nobody gets hurt but the behavior is definitely aggressive. Snarling, teeth baring. DJ, the smaller sheltie, hides under a chair or coffee table to get away from Mick. Mick appears to be the aggressor although it is possible that DJ is doing something to "start it". It's hard to tell. Normally they fight over a treat or a toy. If you give DJ attention without giving Mick attention, Mick may start growling at DJ and the squabbling startes. Now they are starting to fight over food. We have always fed the Shelties together and they shared. (Roxy is fed in her crate - Shelties don't have crates any more). Roxy doesn't participate in the squabbling.

I think we need to get a crate for Mick (he hasn't been crated in a long time) and crate him for feeding and crate him when he gets aggressive. My husband doesn't want to deal with the whole crating thing but I think we have to.

Need help and guidance in addressing this problem behavior.
 
Welcome to my world.

I have two boys, and they fight. They snarl, and talk, and I can see a lot of subliminal dog communication going on. Twice yesterday, while at my parents house, they broke out into all-out brawls, requiring intervention. One took damage to his muzzle.

If you have to feed in crates to keep the peace, then yes, feed in crates. Or feed one in the bathroom with the door closed.
 
If you are going to crate, crate them all. No fair that some get to roam free....its just going to create more jealously, hoarding and aggressive behaviour.

And make sure that crating is not punishment but positive. Wow! If I go to my crate, I get food or treats!
 
I so feel your pain! My pups are now a year and one is nine months. They get into it but will stop if we correct them suddenly with a loud noise, but then they will completely stop and be friends again immediately. I am always afraid someone will get hurt. I do crate them together and they have always been calm in the crate so that seems to work for me.

Donna
 
We've been separating them for feeding which eliminates that source of squabbling. But its still really irritating behavior. Once they start the snarlies loud noises have no effect on them. It's like they are so focused on each other that nothing else matters.
 
You might try some "positive" behaviour training as well.

I'm no expert by any means - I'm fortunate that my 2 1/2 year old boys mostly get along - so I don't have any specific tips.

But if you build on some basic socialization techniques (stuff I learned at puppy school), you might try things like:

- be part of the group. Get down on the floor with the dogs with a toy and get them roused up. Then remove the toy (i.e. sit on it) and tell them to settle. When they've settled, treat and praise.
- take turns with them doing sit and downs. Eventually they will figure out their turn is coming and so it their treat and praise.
- take control of dinner time. Make them sit and stay in front of their dish until you release them.

These are just a few ideas to get you thinking as to how to 1) respond to you when you say "enough" and 2) eventually figure out that every pup will get their share.

In addition, I suspect some of the behaviour is due to jealousy, especially now there is a third in the mix. My guys are intensely jealous when I show attention to one or the other. If I pat one dog, and the other one pushes in, I make him wait. Then he'll get his pat too.

Hope this helps.
 
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