https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 16 Apr 2026 20:15:38 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/our-older-dogs-keep-fighting#post-2742653 Thu, 01 Jun 2017 11:22:13 +0000 littlejoy 2742653@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pinkberrry: It was a 6 month checkup after having cancer removed, so it included a physical exam as well as extensive blood work. </p> <p>@charlotte: Ohhh!! I used to read her blog all of the time (when I had free time). I remember this. I think her older dog just passed recently. :( </p> <p>@MsMini: I think she's just old and over the BS, haha. My husband was like, "She's like a 70 year old woman who has lived a fast life!", haha. :) </p> <p>To everyone: our younger dog was growling at the cat last night ... so now I'm convinced our house has a Poltergeist, and it's making our animals lose their minds. ;) Simple enough, right? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/our-older-dogs-keep-fighting#post-2742539 Thu, 01 Jun 2017 02:31:07 +0000 Pinkberrry 2742539@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Did you have lab work performed at your visit or was it just a yearly exam? Sometimes thyroid disease can cause aggression out of nowhere and it is easily treated. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/our-older-dogs-keep-fighting#post-2742538 Thu, 01 Jun 2017 02:05:12 +0000 MsMini 2742538@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a senior dog (10 years old in a breed who usually only live 8-10 years) and he has what I call "grumpy old man dog syndrome". He has definitely lost tolerance for being bugged in the last year. He is more territorial with other animals, throws is more attitude and is much more likely to lock himself in the bathroom to escape our kids. No aggression towards people but he certainly doesn't take crap from other animals, like my parents dogs. My parents dogs took a bit to adjust but now they steer clear of him. I think it's like old people in general. Have you seen them in nursing homes? They can be mean AF! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/our-older-dogs-keep-fighting#post-2742523 Wed, 31 May 2017 21:50:42 +0000 charlotte 2742523@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not sure if you have ever read the Daily Garnish blog but I remembered she had a very similar situation <a href="http://www.dailygarnish.com/2014/02/february.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.dailygarnish.com/2014/02/february.html</a></p> <p>And I don't think they ever found a cause other than just the dogs getting older. She did an update two years later that said they kept them separate most of the time and they were both happy with more individual attention. </p> <p>Hope all is well with yours and things calm down soon! My (big) dogs had a few fights growing up and I remember how scared my mom was trying to break them up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/our-older-dogs-keep-fighting#post-2742475 Wed, 31 May 2017 20:07:06 +0000 Littlebit7 2742475@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littlejoy: yeah that's tough! They can't tell you what they feel. I mean, strokes in humans can be purely behavioral if they affect your frontal cortex so you never know. I'd just do the best you can isolating your dogs triggers and providing a safe and familiar environment. That might mean separating the dogs for periods of the day when you notice the agression is at its worst. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/our-older-dogs-keep-fighting#post-2742471 Wed, 31 May 2017 19:58:50 +0000 littlejoy 2742471@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Littlebit7: My husband keeps insisting that he thinks our older dog has had a stroke. Just really odd behavioral issues ... the vet says there's no signs of a stroke or neurological damage, but does admit she may have dementia (or the dog equivalent). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/our-older-dogs-keep-fighting#post-2742380 Wed, 31 May 2017 15:34:46 +0000 Littlebit7 2742380@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I really think animals are susceptible to the effects of old age like we are. Sort of dementia like symptoms: forgetfulness (like they forgot they just ate), ridgidity in routines, protective over space and objects. Behavioral changes like agression. I'm no expert on this but I've seen several animals who were older go through this. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/our-older-dogs-keep-fighting#post-2742359 Wed, 31 May 2017 14:48:59 +0000 LBee 2742359@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh 11 year old and 10 year old started fighting when we moved. It was HUGE fights. We talked to our vet who said that it was most likely the change / move ... didn't you recently move (sorry didn't read the comments)? They had been together for 8 years so it was very weird and uncharacteristic. </p> <p>It quickly flushed itself out and they are back to normal. It lasted about 3 weeks. </p> <p>We did find out that our younger dog's vision was going, which contributed to the problem. She was sleeping by the door where we moved their food and attacking the other dog when she simply walked by like a psychopath. I think some of it was vision and some of it was just that she was being weird about food (something she felt she could control). Who knows, dogs are weird. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/our-older-dogs-keep-fighting#post-2742354 Wed, 31 May 2017 14:47:09 +0000 PawPrints 2742354@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yeah, definitely do anything you can to help them both feel like they have their own space, starting with buying another bed and feeding them separately. Make sure both are getting lots of affection/attention. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/our-older-dogs-keep-fighting#post-2742352 Wed, 31 May 2017 14:45:12 +0000 MrsBrewer 2742352@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littlejoy: Jerk cats!! hahahah Could you quick buy another bed and try to have one of your dogs use that one instead? It might be an easy fix! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/our-older-dogs-keep-fighting#post-2742350 Wed, 31 May 2017 14:43:39 +0000 littlejoy 2742350@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsBrewer: They share a bed - thanks to our asshole cat who peed on one of them! ;) I bet you're right ... she's just adjusting and getting triggered. I wish I knew how to make her more comfortable. Not sure how long I should wait to talk to a behavior specialist. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/our-older-dogs-keep-fighting#post-2742347 Wed, 31 May 2017 14:40:08 +0000 MrsBrewer 2742347@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littlejoy: Well that's great that you ruled out a health issue. I wonder if she's still in an adjustment period to moving? Like maybe she's seeming a lot better now, but there are still certain triggers setting her off. Hmm. Do each of your dogs have their own bed? Maybe just move their bed/spaces into separate rooms for awhile and see if that helps the growling/aggression. </p> <p>If it keeps up though, I think it's a little pricey, but I would suggest calling in a reputable dog trainer to maybe assess the situation. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/our-older-dogs-keep-fighting#post-2742341 Wed, 31 May 2017 14:35:26 +0000 littlejoy 2742341@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsBrewer: @PawPrints: She just went to the vet last week, and all is well (it was a 6 month follow-up for some surgery she had). </p> <p>I'm not sure who is starting it. She's definitely guarding her bed and space (by growling), which is not normal. </p> <p>They wrestle all of the time, but fighting is totally out of the norm. They've lived together for 8 years. We just moved recently, and the older dog lost her shit - she was totally insane for a few weeks. BUT, over the last 3 weeks, she's totally mellowed out and seems super comfortable. Now, in the last week, they're fighting. Sigh. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/our-older-dogs-keep-fighting#post-2742333 Wed, 31 May 2017 14:29:38 +0000 PawPrints 2742333@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsBrewer: Sad to think, but I was going to suggest this as well. Ten years is quite old and many dogs have health issues that start to occur that aren't readily visible. I might schedule a vet visit. </p> <p>High on my mind, since we just had a malignant tumor removed from our 7-year-old dog's hip. Fortunately they got it all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/our-older-dogs-keep-fighting#post-2742329 Wed, 31 May 2017 14:25:36 +0000 MrsBrewer 2742329@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh no! No advice really...</p> <p>Have the dogs lived together their whole lives? Is this something out of the ordinary? Is your older one starting it, if so, maybe there's an underlying medical condition that you're not even aware of! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/our-older-dogs-keep-fighting#post-2742323 Wed, 31 May 2017 14:23:30 +0000 littlejoy 2742323@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our 10 and 8 year old dogs have gotten in 3 fights this week. I couldn't get them to stop one, and my husband had to step in. Our older dog has been showing territory guarding the last few days, but there's nothing physically wrong with her that could explain why she's being so moody. </p> <p>Any tips? So far I've just kept them separated while in the house, but our younger dog has such separation anxiety and can't handle being separated even by just a baby gate. </p> <p>Maybe it'll just go away??</p> <p>ETA: older dog has not been aggressive with us, LO, or the cat. </p>