I adopted Tessa a year ago, she is 1 1/2 years old now. Last weekend I adopted another husky, Mia who is 3. Mia's background/previous life because I got her from a rescue.

The past few days Mia has become extremely possessive over things like food but mostly over the dog toys. We have had two fights now break out over the toys, the most recent one where I actually got bit trying to separate them. We have lots of toys but there are a few toys in Tessa's crate that are hers, that she sleeps with every night. Mia has been taking any toy she can find and putting it into her crate, including Tessa's special toys. So Tessa tries to go get them back and fights ensue. Also if I am playing with the two of them together, with two different toys, Mia gets mad and tries to take her toy and the one Tessa is playing with. Mia has to have every single toy in her crate and won't share. Its not like she plays with them, she just has to have all of them.

They are both spayed.

I considered the pack leader thing before but pretty early it was determined that Tessa was the leader of the two of them. I am the leader of both; although it is still recent since I got Mia so I'm still working with her, it seems like she respects me in that role already. Tessa was expressing her dominice early and Mia has come to accept that. I'm just wondering if she is resenting it and maybe that is what is causing the issues?

I am at a loss of how to proceed. I don't want to have to return Mia to the rescue just because she keeps starting fights about toys.

Does anyone have any experience with this? I'll take any advice but I'm looking for husky advice specifically if someone has it.

Thanks! Jade (and Tessa & Mia)

It sounds like she is just being possessive over toys (& possibly food?) I would recommend working with them separately- esp with Mia. Teach her a leave it command and a drop it command. Once she has those 100% solid, then bring in Tessa. Give Tessa a toy to play with- and keep Mia on leash, this way you have complete control over the situation. Ask Mia to leave it and reward her with food or a toy of her own. Just make sure tessa doesn't get in Mia's space during this time, or it might cause a fight. It will take time, but they will learn to share. I recommend putting all the toys away when they can't be supervised and walk them together- exercising them together will help them to bond I would also ask the girls to sit before they eat, and don't feed them too close together- you don't want them to feel like they need to compete for food. Overall, I wouldn't panic- you've only had her about a week? It will take time for them to settle in and learn to get along

I'm familiar with this. I got bit as well when I tried to separate my two females when they would fight over toys. I brought in a spayed female foster that was very possessive over toys with my Juneau and she didn't want to share (the foster). Fights would happen (started by the foster) over the toys.

You just adopted Mia. It will take a few months (or more) for her to get comfortable and begin to trust you and Tessa. I would take away ALL of the toys and feed both girls in their crates separately. If you want Tessa to be 'higher' in the pack, put her bowl by the crate on the outside and feed Mia inside of her own crate.

For what it's worth, I was able to get my two females to share BONES by the time my foster got adopted.

Let the girls get adjusted to each other first. They'll chase, wrestle and play with each other just fine without toys.

After a few months, start to introduce toys. Find out who the instigator is. Watch to see who raises their hackles and bares teeth. Look for wide eyes and tucked tails. They'll stiffen up too. Once you figure out who it is, take them aside and punish accordingly. I usually would grab a hold of the collar, give a swift spank on the butt and a firm, "NO! NO FIGHT! BAD!" several times while looking straight in their eyes. I'd also point at the toy or hold it up to show them that it's unacceptable to fight over it. They'll catch on eventually.

There are some other methods, but that's what worked for me.

I know it sucks, but you kinda have to set them up to fail so you can teach them. If you keep the toys away, they'll never learn that it's bad to fight over it.


There are also a few threads in the 'training' section of the forum. Try searching for words like "toy" "aggression" "fight" and etc.

Just give it time and patience. You've come to the right place. You're doing the right thing by researching about it.

Good luck to you and your girls.

Good advice from both Rigbyjek and Jackie.  Don't underestimate the power of walking them together.  My Maya and my daughter-in-laws dog America have a tendency to fight because Maya is a nut job that wants to play and America is on the shy side and thinks she is being attacked.  I started working both side by side in harness and it's been improving the relationship.  They are a long way off from being buddies but it gets better all the time.  Keep plugging away at it, it takes time

You've gotten some good advice! I would agree, supervise toys and food and let them have time to get used to each other.

Mia is in a new situation and is probably a bit insecure about it. She has been uprooted a few times now, and may be looking for something that is hers. My dog was super toy possessive when I first adopted her, but will share just fine now. She will come around!