Zeena attacks her brother Max once again

[gebower]

Sometimes, it's over absolutely nothing. Unprovoked. This time I didn't have my trusty push broom with me to separate them. Zeena was on top of him and he's giving it back too. I grabbed her by the scruff of the neck, hair and skin, and yanked her off him like a kitten. This way, she knows who the real boss is and where I got her she can't bite me. She's 65 lbs. and I'm 64 years old but, still have a lot of strength in me for that age. I don't think this will ever stop until they're too old to bother any more. She's going on 5, and he's going on 6. Everyone says there's something wrong with a male when he doesn't respect a female. But, that doesn't mean he should lie down and let the female tear him to shreds. He's fighting her back more and more now. He's had enough of her. And, I break it up immediately so there's no damage. Max has a very pretty face and she's nicked him a couple of times but usually on the eyebrow leaving no scars. I would not recommend Chows to the feint of heart or older people. They couldn't handle them. Zeena's mother was the same way. Max has a different mother. But, they have the same father. When we went to the breeder he had five purebred Chows, one male and four females. The only Chow that wouldn't calm down was Zeena's mother. Guess it's in the genes.

Regards, Gene

[cherriemater]

Oh Gene! How nerve racking for you! I can't imagine. I am glad that the boys work it out each time and they mostly play-fight (we call it "chomping") right now. Leo is the vocal one, however and will bare teeth when he doesn't like what Max is doing. [Max was sitting in his spot beneath my chair and I don't think Leo was happy about it so he gave Max a snarl. Joe was right there to stop any other aggression, thankfully].

You're right about being there and interceding. We do that with the boys and it is my hope that the consistency of that will help them ease their way through this teen-ages months (they're 15 months now).

Glad you were there for them! Hugs to you (and hope you're heart rate is back to normal).

[Victory]

You're right that sometimes it is a genetic flaw and because of that it is harder to train it out of them. Have you ever allowe Max to win? You step in and stop her, but then Max just backs up and doesn't show himself to be anything but her doormat.

My Firesong is hyper and will take out her hyerness on Dreamdancer in a split second, usually it is over another dog outside or a squirell or a bird, he's learned to duck and cover when she's in "mood" and he'll come to me. However, just the other night they were wrestling and she grabbed him wrong and made him yelp in pain and didn't back off as she should have, I turned to watch them for a moment and didn't step in until Dreamdancer had her on the floor. She submitted to him and then both to me, when I clapped my hands, (I'm 58 I will not physically intervene unless really necessary and then look out) I sent them both for a time out.

But the point had been made by Dreamdancer, that he was not a doormat and that proper play etiquette was going to be observed. Firesong is almost 12 now and still she needs these reminders once in a while. Darkwind woud do the same, and just flip her over, and lay on her until she behaved, I didn't interfere with that either, only sending them both to a time out.

Yes a properly raised, and bred male should let the female get away with a lot, but no he should never allow himself to be mauled by her, but often HE has to be the one to teach that lesson, as hard as it is for us to allow it.

[Auddymay]

Lily will on rare occasion light into Dillon for no good reason. I can separate them with verbal correction. I find it is usually due to outside factors. Lily will get aggitated by something else and take it out on him. He takes it like the servant to the Queen that he is, just turning away from her to lessen the attack. In turn, he will aggress at poor old Montana, I think because he is an unconfident second to Lil. The only time Montana will put herself above either of them is at the bowls. Each knows they are to eat their own food, but both Tanny and Big D plow through theirs and then circle the dainty eater Lily, at a distance. Once Lily walks away from her dish, Montana is on it like stink on doodie, and anyone who deigns to try and stop her but me will be met with a snap to the lip.

You are right about your 2, Gene. Zeena sounds like she and my Lily are similarly disposed. It could be as simple as Max acting a little more confident than Z thinks he should and she is trying to put him back in his place. That is why there appears to be nothing that triggers her. As long as she perceives a shift in power, this will be an issue, I believe.