Are you a dog owner? If so, are you the alpha dog? You need to be, whether you have one dog or several. And, no, I am not advocating biting your dog’s ear like in “Snow Dogs” but your authority needs to be established. There are some good articles out there to tell you how to do it and if you feel the need, you should do it. As much as we want them to be, dogs are not humans and it is ok to treat them like people up to a point, knowing where to draw the line.
Dogs are, by nature, pack animals. We’ve all seen what happens when several dogs get together, even if they all live together. Like humans, there will be the alphas and the non-alphas – the proverbial pecking order, if you will. Three’s company will sometimes be an issue and one will get picked on or your darling babies will simply exhibit a behavior totally unlike them. When they do, remember they are reacting to an innate emotion that they really can’t control. What you need to be able to do, as the alpha, is get them “back” to reality.
With the adoption of the two foundling puppies, we went from two to four dogs. Prior to this, when Molly (Golden/Lab X) was alive, there was great competition between her and Sara, our Lab. I had to keep them separated when preparing their meals then stand there till Sara finished (she was the faster of the two) and remove her from the room and close the door. Now, feed time is orderly. They get a “Paws Up” order and all sit and are quite, sitting next to their respective feeding area. Sara is fed first but does not eat till I give her the command. Then each in order of seniority. But, if I didn’t adhere to the ritual of separation before and after, Sara and Molly would go at each other – all superficial but vicious, nonetheless, and who knows, if unchecked. Now we have these two puppies who immediately saw Sara as “mom” and she responded in like kind. Jake, our Rat terrier/Jack Russell X, is independent and doesn’t get into the petty jealousies – though he is quick to chase cats with encouragement, knowing he isn’t supposed to!
So, back to the alpha dog issue. I have a very strong personality, am the feeder and primary care giver so I am pretty much the alpha without extraordinary demonstration. Kona, the McNab, is the smaller of the two puppies and, of the two, tends to be in puppy trouble way more than Kai, the Kelpie. As such, it had come to be that I was scolding Kona all the time. Didn’t mean to but was, nonetheless. I started noticing that Sara was “attacking” Kona more and more frequently, pinning him on the floor with her face in his, using a vicious demeanor – again, all superficial but still vicious. Then I began to realize that Kai was on his brother just as viciously on a frequent basis. Neither had a reason for the behavior against Kona. My mind started spinning with all that had transpired in recent history and I came to realize – I think I am correct – that my treatment of Kona precipitated this behavior of Sara and Kai towards Kona. “Mom” does it so we should do it. Sara “attacked” Kona one day so quickly and so off-the-cuff that little Kona pee’d on the floor! Broke my heart.
I immediately changed my ways. I stopped fussing at Kona, no matter what he did (difficult, sometimes!). I disciplined him when necessary but stopped with the verbal scolding. It has helped a great deal and incidents against Kona are fewer (witnessed ones, anyway) but they still occur. The worst is meal time. I have to put all but Sara out in the family room while I prepare the food bowls and, as I did when Molly was alive, stand there while Sara eats then get her out and close the door.
All of this has helped a great deal but has not “cured” the problem. Sara pretty much is ok (except meal time) but Kai will still pin his brother in a threatening manner to the point I have to “get on him”. Am I doing it right? I don’t know. There has been no real biting – just flexing of rank, I guess you could say – but it is always against Kona. Kona has the proverbial “kick me” sign on his back, for sure! Like any parent with any children, I try to be sure all get the appropriate attention and I do protect Kona when one of the others is going after him. Jake doesn’t care about any of it except when he is in my lap in the chair and the boys come up to see me and be loved. Then Jake will display some jealousy. He is not at all threatening but it surely is annoying and will result in his being dispatched to the floor!
Again, like human children, all of my “puppies” have individual personalities and need to be nurtured accordingly. Like human children, each needs to be loved and cared for and manners taught. Never having two true puppies at the same time has presented some challenges – and tried my patience! But like a human parent, I must be mindful of what I say and do and try to be consistent, as being the alpha dog carries considerable responsibility.