Well, they got into it again last night. This time not over food. I’ve been through grumbling outbursts if a dog gets crowded or stepped on or irritated, where it lasts seconds and it’s all over, but not a real fight like this that doesn’t seem like it’s going to stop if we don’t stop it.
I watched it develop, Barkley was laying on the floor in front of the couch, on the wadded up couch blanket. I sat down and told him to ‘move it’, which he didn’t really, so I pulled the blanket out from under him. He was probably feeling a little irritated/defensive about that.
Gidget came at that moment and glowered over him. He didn’t do anything until I poked Gidget and said “Gidget, knock it off!” Then he went after her. I grabbed Gidget and tried to pull them apart but I can’t by myself, Gidget’s 85 pounds and Barkley’s 50 and very strong. Hubby ran in and pulled Barkley off, he had ahold of her ear and wouldn’t let go. The thing about Barkley is he locks into the fight with his mind and won’t quit. Gidget not so much. I thumped and rolled Gidget while hubby dropped and rolled Barkley and held him down for several minutes. When we let them up, Gidget was of normal stature, Barkley looked beaten with his tail under him and wanted to slink off but I don’t think it’s over.
I’d think he was a fear biter kind of thing, that he reacted because he felt cornered, but I don’t think that’s it. He went after her because I reprimanded her and she started to back off... he saw that as weakness or an opening. I triggered it by yelling at her.
And his single mind of purpose is really something. If this happens again, I’ll be trying to pull him off, not Gidget, she’ll quit if he does, but not the other way around.
Barkley’s new around here, a rescue, and while most of the time he’s real sweet, and a cute dog, and while so far there’s no damage done, I’m just not sure we can keep him here.
If we do, it will be a challenge... I better get watched up on my Dog Whisperer. This kind of thing is what he does best.