My dogs, Zelda (8-year-old Siberian Husky) and Yuki (4 years old), have been fighting lately. They’ve had scuffles before, but this last one was really bad. Yuki ended up with a puncture wound, and Zelda just wouldn’t leave her alone afterward. I’m not sure what to do next—should I separate them for a while, or should they still see each other? Any advice would be helpful!
Yikes, sorry to hear about the fight. I think keeping them apart for now is a good idea. Maybe give them some space to cool down. If they’re still seeing each other, it could just escalate. 
Vincent said:
Yikes, sorry to hear about the fight. I think keeping them apart for now is a good idea. Maybe give them some space to cool down. If they’re still seeing each other, it could just escalate.
Yeah, I agree. I had a similar issue with my dogs, and separating them helped a lot. I kept them in different rooms for a bit.
@PuppyProwess
Definitely! I would also recommend giving them time alone with you so they don’t feel like they’re always competing for attention. 
Vincent said:
Yikes, sorry to hear about the fight. I think keeping them apart for now is a good idea. Maybe give them some space to cool down. If they’re still seeing each other, it could just escalate.
Do you think they should see each other at all while separated? Like in the same room but in crates or something? 
@DawgPound
Good question! I think it’s okay as long as they’re not able to interact. Like, they can see each other but stay separated with crates or gates in between.
It sounds like they might be having territorial or anxiety issues, especially with all the recent changes in your house. Maybe try some behavior training once they’re calm? 
titianameyer said:
It sounds like they might be having territorial or anxiety issues, especially with all the recent changes in your house. Maybe try some behavior training once they’re calm?
Yeah, I’d look into some training or even a behaviorist. Aggression can be tricky to handle alone. 
I’d suggest keeping them separate at first, but they could still be near each other, just not close enough to interact. You can crate and rotate like someone else mentioned, works well to reduce tension.
@Lily
That’s a good point! They need to be able to see each other but not be able to fight. Maybe try rotating their playtime or attention? 
Also, check with your vet to rule out any physical health issues like thyroid problems. Sometimes those can cause aggression.
Thanks for the advice, everyone! I think I’ll start by separating them more, maybe crate them when I can’t supervise. I’ll also look into some behavior tips. Wish me luck!