It seems to often be the case with bitches, once they have had a serious fight. I love males, but after having these issues with Yogi, do think if I keep two dogs together in the future, it will be a dog and a bitch to minimise these kinds of problems. Having said that, Yogi seems to be the main issue here and my other males live happily together (and both are entire). So it is probably more down to his personality/health issues rather than the fact Yogi is male.

Hehehehe...Im not Kerrie, the dog is...I am Claire x

Thanks for your input Ailsa. It is helpful to have different viewpoints, which in turn make me look at the various possible scenarios. It could be that Yogi is worried about being run into by one of the other dogs - and Zak is definitely a bit of a bulldozer. However, the water spray is used to calm Zak down before he gets on a high when we are out for a walk. I am not really using it for Yogi at all and I am also using it as a marker (together with the word "calm") for Zak. I didn't have to use it at all today - just the fact the dogs knew I had it made them calmer at the outset of our walk.

Regarding keeping them separate, that isn't really practical to enforce as they both live indoors, however Yogi does tend to segregate himself from the rest of us and spends much of his time at home either in the garden or the porch. He has always done this. I am trying to make all associations between them positive though - ie walking them together, including them both in play (not allowing it to get to an excited level though), giving them high-vale treats for sitting side by side etc. Over time, I hope to reinforce to Yogi that being around Zak is fun for us all, and I am also controlling Zak's playfulness around Yogi, so Yogi learns that he doesn't have to fear being hurt.

It was scary and even though the dogs all appear back to normal, I am still on tenterhooks a bit.

After a thorough check I also found a couple of puncture wounds on Rip yesterday morning, which is to be expected I suppose, but still made the fight that bit more serious than I suspected.

Fights are so horrid and leave us shaken up possibly more than the dogs.
Sounds like Yogi is worried about Zak and Zak may be a bit pushy, especially given Yogi is neutered. Given uou are controlling Zak more than Yogi you can't do anymore than you are, except maybe give Yogi some space from Zak and Rip and don't let them bug him. Maybe walk him alone a couple of times a week and give him a breather. If he is anxious that could really help.

I agree with your previous post, having a girl and a boy is a lot easier than 2 of the same sex

Sure you will get it sorted.

Thanks Ailsa. I have to remain confident the problem can be either sorted out or at the very least managed effectively, as I couldn't bear to part with any of my dogs.

While it is possible that Yogi may be worried, he is also a bit of a bully himself and will think nothing about attempting to floor one or two of the working collies when we walk all the dogs together. He has a complex nature. Zak isn't really pushy as such, but just very enthusiastic and bouncy and I wonder if his attempts to get Yogi to play just irritate the hell out of Yogi. He can be a real sulky bum!

Anyway, thanks for your good wishes

To be fair a friends elderly terrier occasionally knocks the snot out of his youngster if she gets barged. Though all she does is make with the scaries or if pushed occasionally flatten her.

Do NOT knock into the old lady.

Sorry Claire! My brain has turned to mush today!

PMPL...tis fine...its called Mummy brain