We're faced with a choice: Place one of our dogs for adoption or somehow reintroduce them and reintegrate the pack. Problem is, two of our dogs got in several bad fights over the course of a few days. At the end, they could not stand being in the same house.
The dogs: All are fixed. One, a rescued mix, four years old and 65 lbs. Possibly GSD mix. She's reactive, especially on the leash, and has had some resource guarding issues. I've worked with her for three years. She's no longer a concern. Two, a two-year-old boxer we raised from puppy. Dubious breeder, temperament problems are quite possible. He's just recently showed some bad resource guarding, ownership of couch, my wife, some other things. We've realized he's been badly spoiled. He's on strict NILIF and responding slowly. Three, a now ten-month old bullmastiff. She's already 70lbs and has clearly realized she can push the other dogs out of the way. Also spoiled. The boxer and bullmastiff are both well socialized and coming along well with obedience. They're all smart but stubborn and demand motivation (read: treats).
A few weeks ago, the boxer jumped the puppy when she got too close to his food bowl. Manageable fight. Same day, he jumped her when she got too close to the couch. Bad fight, they had to be separated for a while. Next few days, three or four more fights, each one worse. Punctures and lacerations on both -- face, nect, and front legs. After the last one, they had to be physically separated with closed doors. The boxer was so worked up he was rigid. My brother in law fostered the boxer for a few days, and then we switched so he now has the bullmastiff puppy. He wants a dog and has experience handling working dogs, and both the boxer and bullmastiff have been great citizens with his kids. However, his family is unprepared for the work and leadership required to raise strong breeds like a boxer or a bullmastiff -- let alone the energy of a 70-lb puppy running laps through the house.
They need to give our dog back, so we have to make choices. Pros, we're above-average dog savvy. I've been training and walking these guys, and I can pick up right away on any signs of trouble. Both the boxer and the bullmastiff are neutered. They're opposite sex. The puppy is growing, so there's every reason to assume the problems that suddenly cropped up were a result of changing -- therefore temporary -- dynamics. The boxer's possessiveness and the body-blocking bullying stuff, where the bullmastiff throws her weight around to monopolize access to petting, is fixable with NILIF. Cons, they may have made enemies for life. We have kids in the house, and it's difficult enough, when fights do break out, to separate these two very strong dogs without having to worry about redirected bites to the kids. It's also difficult for me to keep hawkeyes on the dogs at all times while giving the kids the attention they need as well.
Neither dog will be difficult to rehome. The problem is that we don't want to contribute to the population of dogs that need homes, and, more important, we love both. It's gut-wrenching to have to choose one or the other. The other option is to try reuniting them. That's where I turn to you folks. I'm willing to try bringing them together in a neutral place, with the parallel walk getting closer and closer, watching, etc. I'm even willing to crate and rotate temporarily and muzzle the two in the house for a while if that's going to enable us to create a pack again.
Have any of you had good experiences in similar situations? Help me make an informed decision.