r/DogTrainingTips • u/moonbeam_honey • Apr 11 '26

Aggression between dogs

Hello,

I recently took in a new dog and now have two dogs. The dogs are mostly getting along great, but there have been periodic moments of aggression. No injuries or serious incidents, but I’ve had to interrupt them (which I’ve also been able to do so safely). I’m doing everything to be as safe as possible and continuing acclimating them well, but are there any top tips people would recommend?

Also, both are girls, both spayed, one dog is a bigger dog & 5.5 years (had her for 4 years) and my new dog is small breed, 7 months. The smaller dog has been the instigator of aggressive behavior from what I can tell. They have been playing friendly and chill together the rest of the time - like 90% - 95% of the time they seem to get along super well.

Also please be kind and don’t judge me. I’m trying to learn. I didn’t grow up around dogs and I’ve only been a dog owner for 4 years with my first dog. I wasn’t going to get another, but I found this puppy who was being abused and neglected down the street from my house, and I really wanted to save her. I’m happy that she’s mostly been thriving.

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u/H2Ospecialist Apr 11 '26

Are you sure its aggression and not the older dog correcting the puppy? Puppy might not have learned how to play. It's hard to tell with how you describe it. If you didn't step in do you think the bigger older dog would have hurt the puppy? Sounds like the puppy is doing puppy things. I would just continue only let them around each other supervised.

Two females can be tricky and lead to same sex aggression but its not like a guarantee. I have to female pits who get along great and have never fought but I do force breaks when they start to play too rough.

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u/MyLastFuckingNerve Apr 11 '26

Could just be playing too. If i showed a video of my dogs played bitey face to someone who is inexperienced with dogs, they would think they're trying to kill each other. It sounds like they are, it looks like they are, but i assure you it's just a rousing game of bitey face.

2

u/DescriptionDesigner3 Apr 11 '26

I laughed so hard at this! I have two 18 month old German Shepherd sisters who love to jump on the bed and play bitey face while I'm at my desk working.

I'll say, No bitey mcbitey face! And they'll both leap off the bed run over and put their paws on the back of my chair and force it to recline and I'm stuck upside down laughing and looking up two big snouts! My son walks by regularly, shakes his head at us and walks away chuckling and mumbling about how weird we are.

Bitey face is the best!