Sibling Rivalry, Alive and Well
Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 8:34 am
HI Everyone,
As a lot of you know, I have a big male Chow, Max, 75 lbs. plus and his half sister, Zeena, 55 lbs. I have to break up fights at least twice a week. And it isn't Max starting them, it's Zeena. She seems to want ALL the attention and Max can't have any. Max may be a lot bigger than her, but she shows a lot more tenacity and spunt and backs him down. And when she gets riled up, it takes about 3 minutes holding her off before she "cools down". As someone once said on this forum, when a female gets spayed, the testosterone takes over. I sincerely believe this. They say there is a pecking order and this is it, I'm on top, my wife second, Zeena third, Max last. Zeena respects me a lot, but when her temper goes, she sees NOTHING but who she's mad at and that's always Max. The good thing on this is, she always goes for the mane, not the face. I'm so glad of that because Max is a pretty boy. I hate to see scars on his face or hers. Since she is black, it would really show up on her. If Max had not been neutered, this would never happen. He would be putting her in place and he has the power to do it. I use a push broom to back her down. Pardon the pun. But, as long as I keep it in her face until she cools down, it works. I don't think I'll ever get this under control until they maybe get older. Max will be 3 the 21st and Zeena is now 2. As I said, sibling rivalry, that's all it is.
By the way, even though they've had vicious fights, they have no scars. They go for the manes. I'm glad of that.
Gene.
As a lot of you know, I have a big male Chow, Max, 75 lbs. plus and his half sister, Zeena, 55 lbs. I have to break up fights at least twice a week. And it isn't Max starting them, it's Zeena. She seems to want ALL the attention and Max can't have any. Max may be a lot bigger than her, but she shows a lot more tenacity and spunt and backs him down. And when she gets riled up, it takes about 3 minutes holding her off before she "cools down". As someone once said on this forum, when a female gets spayed, the testosterone takes over. I sincerely believe this. They say there is a pecking order and this is it, I'm on top, my wife second, Zeena third, Max last. Zeena respects me a lot, but when her temper goes, she sees NOTHING but who she's mad at and that's always Max. The good thing on this is, she always goes for the mane, not the face. I'm so glad of that because Max is a pretty boy. I hate to see scars on his face or hers. Since she is black, it would really show up on her. If Max had not been neutered, this would never happen. He would be putting her in place and he has the power to do it. I use a push broom to back her down. Pardon the pun. But, as long as I keep it in her face until she cools down, it works. I don't think I'll ever get this under control until they maybe get older. Max will be 3 the 21st and Zeena is now 2. As I said, sibling rivalry, that's all it is.
By the way, even though they've had vicious fights, they have no scars. They go for the manes. I'm glad of that.
Gene.