Comments on: How to lead a dominant dog http://www.thatmutt.com/2009/01/14/how-to-lead-a-dominant-dog/ Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:11:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Lindsay Stordahl http://www.thatmutt.com/2009/01/14/how-to-lead-a-dominant-dog/comment-page-1/#comment-222451 Lindsay Stordahl Wed, 11 Jan 2012 00:52:57 +0000 http://www.thatmutt.com/?p=2310#comment-222451 This probably doesn't answer your question, but here are my thoughts: More submissive dogs do not always fight back. My dog is submissive, and I can't say exactly how he would respond if another dog actually attacked him. It's my job not to put him in that situation. Still, I know that things happen no matter how responsible you are. A great dane lunged at my dog (my dog is about 70 pounds) during an obedience class over the summer. My dog snapped back under that circumstance. The other owner intervened and we both were able to almost instantly pull our dogs away. They were both fine. There have been a few other times where dogs will bark aggressively at my dog and get close to him, and my dog just rolls over onto his side. This is what he does if I am stressed out and raise my voice with him, too. And one thing I want to add is that sometimes getting defensive will actually make the situation worse. I'm sure you know that most dogs will not attack a dog that is in a submissive position. But the attack can intensify if the other dog responds with defensive energy. This probably doesn’t answer your question, but here are my thoughts:

More submissive dogs do not always fight back. My dog is submissive, and I can’t say exactly how he would respond if another dog actually attacked him. It’s my job not to put him in that situation.

Still, I know that things happen no matter how responsible you are. A great dane lunged at my dog (my dog is about 70 pounds) during an obedience class over the summer. My dog snapped back under that circumstance. The other owner intervened and we both were able to almost instantly pull our dogs away. They were both fine.

There have been a few other times where dogs will bark aggressively at my dog and get close to him, and my dog just rolls over onto his side. This is what he does if I am stressed out and raise my voice with him, too.

And one thing I want to add is that sometimes getting defensive will actually make the situation worse. I’m sure you know that most dogs will not attack a dog that is in a submissive position. But the attack can intensify if the other dog responds with defensive energy.

]]> By: NIc http://www.thatmutt.com/2009/01/14/how-to-lead-a-dominant-dog/comment-page-1/#comment-222384 NIc Tue, 10 Jan 2012 21:39:02 +0000 http://www.thatmutt.com/?p=2310#comment-222384 Great advice~ I have been rescuing and fostering dogs for over 20 years. I usually get the large aggressive dogs everyone else is afraid to deal with. I recently fostered a lab/pit mix (45 lbs) who is only 1yr old and has attacked my 5 year old mastiff/boxer (100+ lbs) 3 times now. Once resulted in severe leg wounds of my boxer that required antibiotics and vet care. My boxer definately knows I am alpha dog and responded as such, the pit did not know that at the time of this incident. I was able to halt the scuffle quickly, but it is alarming that my large boxer did not defend himself by "obeying" me. I felt as if he expected me to protect him since I was saying "OFF" and even under attack, he would not protect himself from the smaller pit. The dogs are never left together unattended, they usually play great together now. I obviously can quicly act on the situation I just fear I have done something wrong in my training that my sweety would not defend himself against a full on attack (but listened to my "off" command to the point of being hurt :o( Is this OK??? Great advice~ I have been rescuing and fostering dogs for over 20 years. I usually get the large aggressive dogs everyone else is afraid to deal with. I recently fostered a lab/pit mix (45 lbs) who is only 1yr old and has attacked my 5 year old mastiff/boxer (100+ lbs) 3 times now. Once resulted in severe leg wounds of my boxer that required antibiotics and vet care. My boxer definately knows I am alpha dog and responded as such, the pit did not know that at the time of this incident. I was able to halt the scuffle quickly, but it is alarming that my large boxer did not defend himself by “obeying” me. I felt as if he expected me to protect him since I was saying “OFF” and even under attack, he would not protect himself from the smaller pit. The dogs are never left together unattended, they usually play great together now. I obviously can quicly act on the situation I just fear I have done something wrong in my training that my sweety would not defend himself against a full on attack (but listened to my “off” command to the point of being hurt :o ( Is this OK???

]]> By: Lindsay Stordahl http://www.thatmutt.com/2009/01/14/how-to-lead-a-dominant-dog/comment-page-1/#comment-14671 Lindsay Stordahl Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:40:27 +0000 http://www.thatmutt.com/?p=2310#comment-14671 I'm so glad you found this information helpful. Good luck with your new dog! I’m so glad you found this information helpful. Good luck with your new dog!

]]> By: Cathy http://www.thatmutt.com/2009/01/14/how-to-lead-a-dominant-dog/comment-page-1/#comment-14658 Cathy Thu, 24 Sep 2009 10:18:00 +0000 http://www.thatmutt.com/?p=2310#comment-14658 Wonderful article. I have a submissive female German Shepherd and we just adopted a 2 year old male German Shepherd mix. He is definitely dominant. Our household sounds just like yours did. You gave great tips! I am glad Vixen found a good home. Wonderful article. I have a submissive female German Shepherd and we just adopted a 2 year old male German Shepherd mix. He is definitely dominant. Our household sounds just like yours did. You gave great tips! I am glad Vixen found a good home.

]]> By: Lindsay Stordahl http://www.thatmutt.com/2009/01/14/how-to-lead-a-dominant-dog/comment-page-1/#comment-10047 Lindsay Stordahl Tue, 05 May 2009 12:36:43 +0000 http://www.thatmutt.com/?p=2310#comment-10047 The most important thing to do is make sure you and your boyfriend are in charge, not either of the dogs. And it sounds like that is what you're doing. if they both know you are in charge, then they will not try to take over. Some people make the mistake of focusing too much on the new dog when their other dog causes more of the problems. So watch and make sure you are catching unwanted behaviors from both dogs. My guess is Chino is just trying to find his place. He is still out of control at times, being a puppy and new to the environment, etc. Gus is trying to step up and control Chino when he thinks you aren't. That's why he still listens to you when you step in and "take over." I think you are doing the right things, just stay consistent. If you haven't already, start walking them together side by side. That really helped when we fostered Vixen. She had to see me as her leader and Ace as her pack member. The most important thing to do is make sure you and your boyfriend are in charge, not either of the dogs. And it sounds like that is what you’re doing. if they both know you are in charge, then they will not try to take over.

Some people make the mistake of focusing too much on the new dog when their other dog causes more of the problems. So watch and make sure you are catching unwanted behaviors from both dogs.

My guess is Chino is just trying to find his place. He is still out of control at times, being a puppy and new to the environment, etc. Gus is trying to step up and control Chino when he thinks you aren’t. That’s why he still listens to you when you step in and “take over.” I think you are doing the right things, just stay consistent. If you haven’t already, start walking them together side by side. That really helped when we fostered Vixen. She had to see me as her leader and Ace as her pack member.

]]> By: newpitmom http://www.thatmutt.com/2009/01/14/how-to-lead-a-dominant-dog/comment-page-1/#comment-10038 newpitmom Tue, 05 May 2009 01:13:50 +0000 http://www.thatmutt.com/?p=2310#comment-10038 Hope I'm not too late on this one! I have just recently started fostering an 8 month, 40 pound male pitbull, Chino. We already have Gus, a 3 yr old, 60 pound mutt. Gus is more aggressive than Chino (chino has been through temperament testing and passed with excellent scores), but I am having trouble figuring out which one of them is dominant over the other. They are both dominant by nature, and I don't think they have figured out who is where in the pack yet. Although Gus likes to try and boss Chino around, he definitely knows my boyfriend and I are alpha around here. Chino, on the other hand we are still working on. It's only been about two weeks since we've had him, and since he is a puppy we are really having to start with the basics. He does not like getting scolded though and always puts his ears back and kind of sulks when he does. If the dogs get into any sort of squabble or are starting to play too rough it usually only takes me to say "Hey! Sit!" and they both stop and sit and look, so I'm not totally worried that they think they're dominant over me. The part I don't understand though, is Gus always wins wrestling matches and any small arguments they've had (Chino literally just falls down and lays on his back), but Chino is ALWAYS in charge of the toys. They always take turns who gets to eat first and who goes out the door first when we just let them out to go pee. I am just nervous about the "bully" in Chino, I don't want him to be sneaking his way into dominance around here! Hope I’m not too late on this one! I have just recently started fostering an 8 month, 40 pound male pitbull, Chino. We already have Gus, a 3 yr old, 60 pound mutt. Gus is more aggressive than Chino (chino has been through temperament testing and passed with excellent scores), but I am having trouble figuring out which one of them is dominant over the other. They are both dominant by nature, and I don’t think they have figured out who is where in the pack yet. Although Gus likes to try and boss Chino around, he definitely knows my boyfriend and I are alpha around here. Chino, on the other hand we are still working on. It’s only been about two weeks since we’ve had him, and since he is a puppy we are really having to start with the basics. He does not like getting scolded though and always puts his ears back and kind of sulks when he does. If the dogs get into any sort of squabble or are starting to play too rough it usually only takes me to say “Hey! Sit!” and they both stop and sit and look, so I’m not totally worried that they think they’re dominant over me. The part I don’t understand though, is Gus always wins wrestling matches and any small arguments they’ve had (Chino literally just falls down and lays on his back), but Chino is ALWAYS in charge of the toys. They always take turns who gets to eat first and who goes out the door first when we just let them out to go pee. I am just nervous about the “bully” in Chino, I don’t want him to be sneaking his way into dominance around here!

]]> By: MrPitBull http://www.thatmutt.com/2009/01/14/how-to-lead-a-dominant-dog/comment-page-1/#comment-7904 MrPitBull Sun, 22 Feb 2009 01:08:36 +0000 http://www.thatmutt.com/?p=2310#comment-7904 Always interesting to consider others viewpoints when it comes to the do's, the don't and the why's. Leerburgs has some of the best info I have found on dog training. Always interesting to consider others viewpoints when it comes to the do’s, the don’t and the why’s. Leerburgs has some of the best info I have found on dog training.

]]> By: elisa http://www.thatmutt.com/2009/01/14/how-to-lead-a-dominant-dog/comment-page-1/#comment-7002 elisa Fri, 23 Jan 2009 17:31:37 +0000 http://www.thatmutt.com/?p=2310#comment-7002 Yep - the issues with my dogs definitely need to be addressed before we bring an already stressed dog into our house. And I agree with you wholeheartedly about people letting small dogs get away with things that they wouldn't allow big dogs to do. My rule of thumb is that when either of my dogs exhibits an unwanted behavior, I think "If Allie weighed 80 lbs, would I still think this was cute?" The answer is always no, and then I work to correct the behavior. Yep – the issues with my dogs definitely need to be addressed before we bring an already stressed dog into our house. And I agree with you wholeheartedly about people letting small dogs get away with things that they wouldn’t allow big dogs to do.

My rule of thumb is that when either of my dogs exhibits an unwanted behavior, I think “If Allie weighed 80 lbs, would I still think this was cute?” The answer is always no, and then I work to correct the behavior.

]]> By: Biggie-Z http://www.thatmutt.com/2009/01/14/how-to-lead-a-dominant-dog/comment-page-1/#comment-6884 Biggie-Z Mon, 19 Jan 2009 23:09:29 +0000 http://www.thatmutt.com/?p=2310#comment-6884 I defnitely think Biggie encourages the smaller dogs to jump on him and hump him! It's so very funny because you can tell by the look on his face that he's just having fun. I agree with you on the doorway thing - I don't *always* have to be first on everything (in fact due to our schedules, Biggie usually eats first), but I think he gets it that if he gets to go first it's because I'm letting him, and not just because. It's a very subtle difference, but one worth noting. I defnitely think Biggie encourages the smaller dogs to jump on him and hump him! It’s so very funny because you can tell by the look on his face that he’s just having fun.

I agree with you on the doorway thing – I don’t *always* have to be first on everything (in fact due to our schedules, Biggie usually eats first), but I think he gets it that if he gets to go first it’s because I’m letting him, and not just because. It’s a very subtle difference, but one worth noting.

]]> By: vee http://www.thatmutt.com/2009/01/14/how-to-lead-a-dominant-dog/comment-page-1/#comment-6836 vee Sat, 17 Jan 2009 22:31:54 +0000 http://www.thatmutt.com/?p=2310#comment-6836 Very informative! I think one important thing i've learned with my doggies is that body language can speak louder than words! I put more effort in showing them how i feel by the way I carry myself and act towards them and it seems to be highly effective, even though Jakey is pretty much like Ace and Walter can't be taken seriously! Very informative!
I think one important thing i’ve learned with my doggies is that body language can speak louder than words! I put more effort in showing them how i feel by the way I carry myself and act towards them and it seems to be highly effective, even though Jakey is pretty much like Ace and Walter can’t be taken seriously!

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