My dogs usually play well together, but two of them have been exhibiting some aggression. Do you have any idea what might be going on? How should I deal with this issue?

Hi! I so enjoy reading your newsletters and have found much help from your web site, both the articles and the DVDs! I have the Basic Obedience Training Video as well as the Dealing with Dominant Aggressive dogs (they have been very helpful, thank you!). I have tried to figure out what is going on between two of my threes dogs but can not figure out if I am causing the issue and thought you might be able to give me a few ideas and point me in the right direction?

Background- 3 dogs; 160lbs male fixed Cane Corso 6yo raised as a puppy, 40lb male fixed Yorkie/Australian Cattle Dog 5yo adopted at 11months, 15lb female fixed wire hair Dachs/mini schnauzer 10yo adopted at 6 months (puppy mill dog/ retired Nursing Home Therapy Dog). The Female came 1st, then the Cane Corso about 4 years later, then the yorkie/cattle dog about 1 year after that if I remember right.

They all play well together, eat well together. We all exercise about 30 minutes a day or so and they all walk very well on leashes at the same time, as well as I work form home and they play in the back yard several times a day. We have many rules, I eat 1st, they eat after all food is set down after I release them, not running out the front door or back door etc. They also have several stupid tricks they each do at play time or treat time.

Here is the problem; it is between the Cane Corso (CC) and the yorkie/cattledog (YC) The YC is very dominant, the CC will not walk past him when the YC is sleeping near the back door. The CC will stand about 3 feet away and whine because he wants to go outside. The YC will jump up and bark/snarl at him (right up in his face) if he attempts to walk by him or stands to close. The CC will not do anything - meaning he has no reaction to it, just stands there with his head held a bit higher until the episode passes (about 2-5 seconds at most). Same issue happens can also happen when we are all going to bed. They each have their own bed but if the YC goes to bed 1st the CC has to walk by and the same instant aggression happens. This can also happen in the back yard or any other place in the house. Other times it does not happen as all, even if the day before the same scenario played out. This behavior was occasional in the begriming but over the past year it happens more and more often and now is a daily habit. Also, If I pet the CC the YC will come over and bark at us. He will not do this if I pet the Female.

What I am starting to see now is the YC is doing this much more often and now my little girl is starting in on the same behavior. The only time I see it right now is when the CC is outside and wants to come in, she will rush the door and jump up on her back legs barking at his face (same 2-4 seconds), most times he pays her no attention but other times play will start (very funny to watch them play because she is so small compared to him, he typically will roll to the ground and she will run around him pulling ears, jumping on and around him, they both love this game and it is about the only way they play together). He is not aggressive towards her as he came in when he was a puppy and she put him in his place several times as a puppy. We had one instance about 3 years ago where he got overly excited seeing another dog through the window, he snapped at her. This put me on guard but unsure if this was due to his excitement, so I monitor them closely. The CC has a strong tendency to be dog aggressive with larger dogs and can not be trusted around them.

Knowing that CC has done this once (snapped at my little dog) I want to be extra safe and sort through what type of mixed message I am sending them. Do you have any idea what might be going between the CC and the YC? Is the female seeing the YC in action and now starting to doing the same thing?

I should have handle this quite some time ago but I really did not/do not know what to do. They seem to be a a great grouping of dogs and do very well together, play together and sleep in close proximity to each other on their own. Do you have any words of wisdom you can impart to me on how to deal with this issue?

Thank you in advance for any help you can suggest,
Christie