Dominant DogsHere's a question recently posed to me by a Dog Training Blueprint subscriber together with my suggested answer. Hi Andrew, I've really enjoyed your tips. My dogs are my babies and are rather spoiled. Usually very well behaved though. I have 3 all rescued. 2 females and 1 male. They are all spayed/neutered and I've had them all since they were pups. For the most part they get along pretty good, but once in a while, about 3 to 4 months, we have a fight between 2 females. One of my babies is a 14 year old German Shephard and my best friend in the world and she's just too old to get her butt kicked like she does when they fight. She isn't usually the one who starts it, but usually is the one to get hurt the worst. The other is much younger, 5 or 6 but no more than that, and usually, not always, but usually is the dominant aggressive dog. I would get rid of her except she's usually very well behaved and the 3rd dog is about 4 and they are very best friends. No matter how badly I don't want to admit it, I know the oldest can't be with me forever so I don't want to get rid of the off/on aggressive dog because is companion to youngest dog who would be heartbroken and lost without her. Do you have any suggestions? Sorry so long, but if I could work this one out I'd be so grateful! Thanks so much,
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Hi Michelle, Without seeing the dogs together and how you react with them it's difficult for me to be certain about the problem, though I have an inkling of what it might be. It could be jealousy caused - inadvertently - by you. If the 5/6yr old tends to be the dominant 'pack leader' it's important you don't try and change that, but just go with the flow. You must always be sure that when you say hello to the dogs you do so to the dominant one first. If the other two have their own obvious pecking order then you must greet the number 2 dog second, and the one who's 'bottom of the heap' must be the one you greet last of all. Same when you feed them - #1 dog first and so on. Same when you let them off the leash or do just about anything with them. Always do it with the 'top dog' first. I know this can sometimes be hard - you naturally want to give the underdog some extra TLC and encouragement, but if you do so the top dog will react by 'bullying' it. Obviously I can't be certain this is the problem, but I think there's a good chance that's what it is. Regards,
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