my own two puppies fighting

[sn33195]

I have two dogs, a 5 month old male and a 1 1/2 year old female. She is submissive and he is dominate. I have had moments on our walk that the female wants to play and the male doesn't so they start fighting. How can I break them up? She knows the leave it command and listens for the most part but he just keeps on going back at her and then she breaks the command to defend herself.
I have them on regular nylon leashes and try to hold them apart but they manage to get to each other. After a minute it finally ends but it can seem intense when it's happening.

[Mike D'Abruzzo]

How are you doing with "pack structure" exercises in the home? Are there any other fights happening besides the walks?

Let me know and we can start building a plan.

[sn33195]

Pack structure is good. They do good at a heal on the walk and we use the free command. At home they can happen but not too bad. The female wants to play so she puts her mouth on his neck and he nips back at her. She gets a reaction from him so I think she thinks it's play. She doesn't give up when a dog is barking or snarling at her. Like at the dog parks she'll walk up to a dog and the dog will bark or snarl and she'll just go low to the ground as if she's begging him to play with her. She just doesn't seem to listen to the warnings. And I think he just flips out on her because he's had enough of her not listening to him.

[Mike D'Abruzzo]

Haha! Just saw your profile picture, didnt realize it was you guys! Cheyenne can be quite assertive in her "active submission". I think you are hitting the nail on the head that Slate just has enough.

I personally would stay away from the dog parks - it is only a matter of time before a dog does more than a growl if she is not reacting. Socializing is good, but "play dates" with dogs you know are better than the "roll of the dice" you will find in the dog park.

I think mainly you will have to catch up on the "leave it" with Slate and be ready for Cheyenne on the walks and give the "leave it" when she is even thinking about it. You may have to experiment as to what training collar is most effective for this without causing unnecessary stress.

[sn33195]

I have to say as Slate has gotten older and Cheyenne also getting used to him it's gotten much better. They have not fought like that probably soon after I posted that. Slate is now learning the leave it command and at home we have been making Cheyenne listen to his growling, ect by making her leave him alone using the leave it command at those times. They really seem to be getting along much, much better now. And Slate seems much more playful with her.

[sn33195]

Hey Mike!
Things are still getting better.
I do notice that Slate does great with the leave it command with us with food or a toy or something else but when it comes to telling him to leave it regarding Cheyenne, when he's pissed at her, it's like he can't even hear us. The only things that seem to work are a high pitch noise and saying come on doggies or making me seem more interesting like running around or something like that. If he is growling at her I could only make Cheyenne leave it which I feel like puts him in charge because she's always walking away.
It's like he's in a red zone right away and she just doesn't listen to him. I guess she's stubborn like that.