Hi, I recently got a 7 month old female GSD and I already had two yorkies, one male and one female (3 y.o). I didnt know anything about training anyone to begin with. I didnt know about this website until recently. So I didnt introduce my GSD properly. I am trying to do it right and have a pack structure but my GSD and my male yorkie seems to both be trying for the dominant spot. How can I tell. I think its the big one bc she does seem to push the other two around. But mostly he stands his ground. I just want to make sure Im treating the right dog as the higher rank. I have been her 3rd owner but she has been through 6 weeks of training now and is much more discipled now, when I got her she was wild! Thanks, p.s. this is my first GSD

Short answer: YOU are the pack leader.

Are you seeing dog-dog aggression? What do you mean by "push around"?

 Quote: Erin Croley

Hi, I recently got a 7 month old female GSD and I already had two yorkies, one male and one female (3 y.o). I didnt know anything about training anyone to begin with. I didnt know about this website until recently. So I didnt introduce my GSD properly. I am trying to do it right and have a pack structure but my GSD and my male yorkie seems to both be trying for the dominant spot. How can I tell. I think its the big one bc she does seem to push the other two around. But mostly he stands his ground. I just want to make sure Im treating the right dog as the higher rank. I have been her 3rd owner but she has been through 6 weeks of training now and is much more discipled now, when I got her she was wild! Thanks, p.s. this is my first GSD

Its not aggression so much as trying to be dominate I think. She stands over them in a way they says "Im bigger" and will go after my yorkies when she hears them walking around. She isnt aggressive, its hard to explain. My female yorkie is submissive and doesnt do anything back, but my male yorkie yips and barks when she does these things which is why Im not sure who is dominate. What city in california are you in Connie, if you dont mind my asking. My husband is from Salinas near Monterey.

Erin, what I think Connie is saying is that regardless of what's going on w/the dogs, YOU are in control. It's pointless to waste time trying to decide who is doing what. YOU need to step in and make sure EVERYONE understands that what you say goes. You will fail if you try to make one dog higher ranking than the other. This is a lot harder than it sounds and often times, humans read it all wrong and really screw things up. You're not a dog; don't worry about their "feelings" toward each other; concentrate on discipline and making sure everyone knows what is acceptable and what is not, and dominating others is not acceptable. Split em up if you have to. 3 is a hard number. Why not rotate?

My philosophy is that I really don't care if they all hate each other; they will tolerate each other because I give them no choice.

I have a very similar problem (not anymore) with my male Chihuahua and my male GSD. My Chi picked at poor little Caleb when he was a puppy. Well, before long, Caleb was nearly 100lbs and tired of that crap. My Chi is determined that he is the boss. Caleb is determined that HE is. Everyone else canine defers to Caleb (after me, of course) except bratty little Widget. I have had them together for 5 years. They hate each other. Stare at each other and growl constantly if allowed within eye contact.

So, they're separated 99.9% of the time. The only time they see each other is when I bring Caleb through the house to go somewhere. Other than that, they know the other one is on the premises and will fight through doors if given the opportunity. I hope you don't have to go to such an extreme, but don't fight it if it looks like you do; it's not worth the risk to the little dog if you don't step in, regardless of who is the aggressor.

Dominance will turn to aggression in this kind of situation. It doesn't always, but you already have problems at 7mos. It will only get worse.

 Quote: Jenni Williams

.... regardless of what's going on w/the dogs, YOU are in control. It's pointless to waste time trying to decide who is doing what. YOU need to step in and make sure EVERYONE understands that what you say goes. You will fail if you try to make one dog higher ranking than the other. This is a lot harder than it sounds and often times, humans read it all wrong and really screw things up. ... Dominance will turn to aggression in this kind of situation. It doesn't always, but you already have problems at 7mos. It will only get worse. ....

Exactly.

And the pack leader (Erin) has a crucial job: to protect all the dogs from aggression (and fear of aggression) within their own pack and home.

Thanks, you put in perspective for me. I think part of the problem is that I didnt introduce her properly as she is my first big dog. But things are better than they were when I first got her. I will stop trying to figure it out and just go about being the boss.

Good luck to you! May things continue to improve! Don't beat yourself up over not introducing her properly; just do the best you know how to do from now on.

Please please for your yorkies safety. Keep them away from your GSD. One thing is nearly always the case in dog related deaths by other dogs in a normal environment. It's usually a toy or small terrier on the receiving end of a larger dog.

Even a well behaved GSD can accidently hurt or even kill a small dog in play. They just don't realize the size difference. If your gsd has a halfway decent prey drive he may kill your yorkies trying to catch them. A momentary squabble of mine over anything can end with a bad vet bill if you're lucky.

There is no reason to keep these dogs interacting with each other, so please just dont.

Thanks for the warning, I have already had one scare involving a chew. Thankfully I was in the room with them. Now I lock everyone up when Im not "eyes on them", and even when I am they get locked up with their chews or bones. No one was seriously hurt in the fight but mostly scared, myself included.

Not to keep harping, but just to remind us all that "not seriously hurt" is only one aspect. A dog attacked by another dog is affected by it, and it can change the dog's reactions to other dogs forever. This is aside from the dog's perception of his pack leader/protector. JMO.

Breaking up a fight is not what I want as my goal; I want my dogs never to be attacked, period, and absolutely not in their own home by members of their own pack.

You are doing the right thing with the toys and chewies.