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Hi Jennifer
What you're working through is a combination of problems and none of them
are an quick easy fix. I congratulate you on your determination. I
have a boy who reacts very much as your girl when strangers reach out to
touch. Have whoever reaches out to pet not touch the top of her head or at
least initially don't reach for the top of her head. Pyrs are a dominant
breed to begin with and this is a show of dominance. She feels she only
needs to answer to her pack (you and your family). As her socialization to
begin with was poor, she still does not feel confident enough to be entirely
passive (it goes against her nature).
As far as your 2 dogs getting along, you've illiminated one of the causes
of aggression, the food bowl. To a degree over time they will work it
out. I've been told by a couple of trainers as well as a couple of pyr
breeders that the best way is to allow them to work it out. Now that being
said, you have already had a vet bill out of this....my question is....was this
episode over food? Posturing, hard stares, growling, standing over, body
slams these are all dominance gestures and you shouldn't interfere with
these. If you do....your problems will continue. They've accepted
you as alpha, it's the next position that's in contention. Your girl wants
this....in pyrs this seems to be the way. My boys will roll to a strong
bitch every time, but they've also been left to work out their own power
struggles. I keep two males....for 2 yrs neither were altered, Mushu was
eventually altered due to health problems, but I never had problems with them
fighting. I also allowed posturing, and some growling. It's not nice
but it's their way of communicating. Your trainer is probably right, they
will work it out if you let them.
Ciao
Heather
Shakespeare and Mushu raw fed pyrs
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