I have an 18 month Yorkie bitch. Two months ago we got a 4 months old Westie bitch as a companion for her. We thought long and hard about getting a second dog, and all the signs were positive. My Yorkie loves other dogs, is an absolute angel and no trouble at all.

For the first couple of weeks things were quite good. They (even now) share a basket at night and are really good all night. But during the day things are going downhill rapidly.

My Yorkie is noticably different, she is getting more and more impatient with the Westie and showing some aggression too.

The Westie is a great little girl, still a bit hit and miss with the toilet training but other than that she's lovely. Doesn't chew, is great with my children and an all round lovely little dog.

But the 2 of them together is not good at all, they started with playfighting but it builds up to a more aggressive fighting and I have to split them up constantly.

I just don't know what to do. I love them both but I don't think they are going to get on with each other and the way things are going their relationship is getting worse each day.

Do you think for both of their sakes I should rehome the Westie? I really don't want to, but I don't want either of them to be unhappy and I don't know what to do for the best.

Individually they are both great dogs but together they are not a good mix at all.

My two dogs took about a year to really come to terms with each other.

Our original dog was quite put out when the new one arrived. !

The mistake I think we made was trying to interfere in 'pack order' in that we tried to support our original dog as the superior one.

Wheras we should just have left them sort their relationship out between themselves - which is what I think your dogs are doing.

They need to play fight, and even get aggressive, so that one dog puts their foot down and says 'I'm boss!' and for the other to understand their position in the pack.

Things came to a head with mine when the original dog finaly lost her temper and put the new dog in her place! ( It was scary, but what a change in their relationship!)

They now curl up together as if they've been friends forever, and only recently the original dog ran to defend the other when she was being threatened by another dog.

Three years ago I couldn't have imagined that they would be the buddies they are now, it just takes time.

Is the older one speyed. I think it is a dominance thing. The older one is the boss and she is letting the younger one know it. Is it possible to cage them during the day so each are getting time with you.

Both mine were spayed - its doesn't stop them vying for position in the pack.

They both even competed with me as I was the only other female in the house!( I did check this out with my vet and she agreed that it was a situation where we were vying for position of top female- I won of course!)

TBH, unless one of the OP's dogs is shown signs of extreme stress, I would imagine that it is simply a case of time sorting things out as everyone gets used to each other.

also, there's no problem with one dog being dominant. Dogs feel , and behave , better, when they know where they stand in the order.

Thanks for your replies.

My older dog is spayed, yes. And the little 'un will be following suit as soon as it's time!

I think I clearly need to give it time, I just hate to see either one of them unhappy. If I'm honest, especially my older dog as she's a real sensitive type and things seem to affect her more than the pup.

Someone laughed at me the other day when I said you should never buy another dog as company for another one, you should be buying it because YOU want another dog.

Puppies can be pesky little things - do they both have somewhere they can go during the day to get away from each other? do you have a crate for the little one?

Imagine how you would feel in the other ones shoes? You've been the sole apple of someone's eye and then suddenly, this pesky white thing comes along and demands all the attention.

if they are getting along at night, but not during the day - what is the difference? are there humans around which may be triggering jealousy?

I know Terriers and Gundogs are different, but it took me 8 months to get Number 1 and two living in harmony.

I've now got 5 Labrador bitches (all entire) and we seldom have a cross word - but every single one of them has somewhere they can all their own to go (that could be a chair, room, crate for the younger ones) if I feel they need it.

When we were looking to get a re-homed dog, we loked at loads of adverts for re-homing dogs because the new dog didn't get on with the old dog. Unbelievably, some people were looking to get rid of the old dog - often old in years too - instead of the new dog!

We love our dog and have often been tempted to get another one, but we are aware that a new dog can upset the balance.

It may be something to do with the westie reaching sexual maturity as she's now 4 months old & perhaps this will upset the harmony between them for a while. Things may settle down when she's spayed.

As sue51 says, if they are getting on fine at night, what is the difference during the day? Could they be vying for your attention?

It's a good idea to ensure that they both have separate places or areas that they can call their own so that they don't feel the need to compete for a sleeping place, or whatever.

As the aggression seems to start with play fighting but then escalate, perhaps it would be better to distract them both when the playing starts & before it gets more serious.

I got another dog 3 months ago as a companion for my other dog who is just over 1 year old now, got her when she was 8 wks old and yes they play fight constantly and sometimes it sounds as they are getting aggresive so I know how you feel - and it can really get on your nerves lol!

Lola the pup is crate trained so when ever it gets to much its time out and she goes into her crate which she doesnt mind at all, or I have a gated off area where I can seperate them but they can still see each other.

I really would recommend a crate as I would not leave them alone together just in case - for now anyway.

I went through the have I done the right thing stage I think its just natural, its hard work but worth it as Lola just like your pup is such a lovely dog I couldn't imagine life with out her now.

Good luck and hope it works out for you.

Dogs do make a lot of noise when they play which can be quite surprising if you are not used to it - but there is a very clear demarcation line if / when the aggression starts.

Mine seldom have a cross word, but if they do - it's usually when certain visitors are here and they basically have been competing for attention.

I nearly always have strategically placed chews / treats around in case I need to distract them for any reason and it always works (but then they are Labs )

The fact remains - each girl needs time they can call their own in their own space - and this doens't mean they need to see each other.

Don't be tempted either to neuter early to see if that alleviates the problem - you could find yourself stuck in a limbo situation.