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Rat-Terrier.com
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tiggarat
Bratty Ratty
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| 09/04/2007 3:12 AM |
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Lucy and Molly are littermates, and have pretty much slept together, or at least in the same room since we got them. Lately, Lucy will sleep in my room with me while Molly is elsewhere. Molly gets up early and is off and running. Lucy, when she's with me, sleeps a little later. When they sleep in the same room, they're up at the same time. What I've been noticing is that Lucy gets an attitude when she gets up...she goes to find her sister (with her hackles up) and growls at her.  But when they wake up together, all is fine. It's like they are out of sync with each other when they don't sleep in the same room. One morning, before all this started, Molly was so happy to see Lucy that she pounced on her to greet her. Since then, Lucy's been on the defensive when they are separated during the night. I don't know how to stop/prevent this from happening. I've never had this kind of problem before. I've had dog fights between males, and I really don't want to allow this to get to that point.
Please help! |
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Lisabeth
furbabies: Lucy and Molly (1 1/2 yr old decker ratties), and Rosie (3 yr old dobie)
Buddy - gone but never forgotten.
"I don't think he has any idea he's a dog, really. Of course, he thinks he has a rather odd figure for a man" - Dodie Smith |
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tiggarat
Bratty Ratty
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| 09/04/2007 3:14 AM |
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| I should add that Rosie is coming into heat...could this have anything to do with the ratties aggression? Both Molly and Lucy are spayed, but I know that they can still pick up on that sort of thing. |
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Lisabeth
furbabies: Lucy and Molly (1 1/2 yr old decker ratties), and Rosie (3 yr old dobie)
Buddy - gone but never forgotten.
"I don't think he has any idea he's a dog, really. Of course, he thinks he has a rather odd figure for a man" - Dodie Smith |
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rattytatty
Newbie
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| 09/04/2007 8:06 AM |
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Absolutely... Rosie coming into heat plays a part in the equation, but to what extent we can't possibly know.
If having them sleep in the same room together seems to solve the issue, then that's what I would make them do. If that doesn't work long-term, I would crate both of them at night. (do you crate them during the day at all?). |
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buttonbutt
Newbie
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| 09/04/2007 11:19 AM |
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| I think Lucy sleeping in your room has her feeling a bit more alpha, don't you? She may think you're granting her perks you're not granting Molly and try to "rub it in" with the aggression you're noticing, so to speak. I think I'd have them sleep in the same room, same bed, whichever room or bed you decide that's gonna be. Sleeping in the bed with their human is considered quite an alpha "privilege" in a dog's mind and may actually cement and even intensify the aggressive behavior. I experienced this with two male dachshunds once. One would just not allow the other up on my bed at the same time. |
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tiggarat
Bratty Ratty
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| 09/04/2007 6:03 PM |
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As far as ranking (alpha) goes, I think Lucy is on the bottom. She's usually the most submissive of the females, even in play, which is why I was worried about this new behavior. I never thought of allowing them to sleep with me was a privilege. When Lucy is with me, Molly is sleeping with someone else...in the room they've slept in since we brought them home. But I guess since them sleeping with me is a fairly new thing (1 1/2 months), they may consider it to be special. Plus Buddy sleeps in my room too (on the doggie bed on the floor), and they know that he's "top dog" around here. Maybe that's part of why they think my room is so special. Who knows?
The thing is, I never intend to bring Lucy in with me...she scratches on the door in the middle of the night wanting in. Then she gets an attitude first thing in the morning. 
I've been trying to make them sleep together in the same room to avoid this problem...hopefully that will help. I |
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Lisabeth
furbabies: Lucy and Molly (1 1/2 yr old decker ratties), and Rosie (3 yr old dobie)
Buddy - gone but never forgotten.
"I don't think he has any idea he's a dog, really. Of course, he thinks he has a rather odd figure for a man" - Dodie Smith |
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