I have a problem and need help!! I just received a female that I am fostering right now. (I feel if I'm going to breed, I should foster). Anyways, my male really trys to dominate her. He only does it when he's excited and she comes around. He's pinned her down, and most of the time I was able to stop it before it started. I would give(Ed's) level 12 correction, but then he show aggression to me. I think it is more out of fear or defensive than anything. (He's 2.5 years). I would give him the correction again for doing it to me. Well, he then jumped up at me and latched on to my arm. He had a pretty good hold (I was able to notice it was a shallow bite). Needless to say, the fight was on. I "Alpha rolled" him, then went to on leash obedience for about 5 minutes. He is very forgiving, because he would play and and wag his tail, like nothing ever happened. Now when he growls at the female, I just hollar at him and he goes the other way. Oh, his correction were with a chain and leash, and I jerked with all I could. Did I maybe go over board with it? Is one correction enough, or was I right for correction the aggression on me? Please help me with this. The female is deaf (that's why she is being fostered) and cannot hear his warning growls. They get along fine, until he gets excited, like when I'm around or someone is at the door. Just in the yard, they are fine together. Please help..

In my openion the correction was correct. As was the correction for the aggression toward you.
But I would not alfa a 2 1/2 year old dog that shows handler agression, unless it was muzzled.
If he isn't hurting her I would let them work it out if possible.
Ron

My opinion you did the right thing. When I was going through this (not to the degree of me geting bit) but aggession. I'd always have a weapon so I know I could win without him getting too close.

Now when I get the slightest growl like stopping him from eating something, (I wanted him to take it to the back yard and he places down and starts eating it in front yard). Rather then reach down and take the ham bone away and risk a bite, I'll distract him by sending him to the back yard (he knows that where he usually get to eats) then.

I'll pick the bone up and take it to the back yard. Kinda out thinking him or maybe just working with him, rather then forcing the issue.

So as he growling at you pop the leash/chain and tell him to sit, then down. Stay and release after he calm. It happens so fast maybe not.

How is your arm?

Thaks Don and Ron. Ron, I agree about the alpha roll and muzzle, but I was so pissed at the moment I didn't care. I failed by letting my anger get to me, but I WAS going to the the Alpha dog. I was in control enough not to beat him or go overboard with that, just pinned him until he broke eye contact and stopped growling. My arm is fine, just bruised and sore. Didn't get a punture from the canine teeth. Like I said, it was a very shallow bit. I guess I pulled away right as he was latching down. I do have teeth marks though. Luckily he's forgiving enough. Afterward, he was my best buddy again, and we went jogging and played ball, like nothing ever happened. We went through this same dominance thing when we bought a female to breed, but it wasn't near this degree. He pinned her a couple of times and that was the end of it. I guess since the foster dog can't hear his warning growls, he gets pissed off, whereas the other female would leave him a lone. We'll see how the next few days are going. Yesterday and today have been a lot better. The males walks away when the female walks up.

Oh and Ron, I don't know if he or our other female hurt her. But when the male pinned the foster dog, the other female was trying to grab her throat. I guess pack instincts were kicking in and she was helping. Anyways, the foster had one puncture wound on her shoulder and several small scratches. I cleaned it out and gave her some antibiotics. It was fine the next morning. No swelling or anything. That's when the big fight started with me. The other female was jumping on the male then. I think she was just being a pack animal and jumping in on the one that was losing. That's my philosophy.

You need to read Ed's article on BREAKING UP DOG FIGHTS

I would never try to Alpha roll a adult GSD. No muzzle may equal no FACE. Not tying to be a hard A&#, but My 7-1/2 yr old male nailed me.

You were LUCKY. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Read th earticle by ED!!! Did I say, READ THE ARTICLE!!

Butch is correct....read the article. Also, never allow dogs to "work things out themselves." YOU set the rules, YOU decide how much rough housing is enough or how much they come in contact with each other ect...

You are the pack leader. There are great articles on Ed's site on breaking up dog fights and dealing with dominant behavior.

Thanks for the help so far everyone. I guess I was miss leading on the breed of my dogs. They are all Boxers. I do train him in SchH, so he has had bite training and obedience. His mouth structure of course is different from a GSD. I guess I WAS lucky not to get rebit. I tried a few times, but I was lucky to catch his skin on his neck just right where I could control his head. You are right though...Ideally I would have had a muzzle on him. But it would defeat the purpose to go get the muzzle and put it on him and then alpha roll him. The corrections through the leash were only making the situation worse, so I had to take control of the moment. Like I said, at that point I really didn't care if I got bit or not (believe me, the thought was in my head) but I WAS going to WIN!! I think the problem has worked itself out. No incidents the last two days (knock on wood) and both dogs go the other way when one comes near the other. We'll see...

Jason, Check you P.M....and ignore the spelling/typing errors.

By no means am I an expert but Jason the reason for using a muzzle if/when you Alpha Roll a dog is not to get bit. Especially in the face or neck, Alpha rolling a dog weather GSD or Boxer is dangerous. Boxers are strong powerful dogs and as you know just play fighting can hurt you. You got lucky he really wasn't fighting you, like you he was just trying to make a point. A dog that really fighting would bite hands and then face or throator whatever just like he would in a dog fight. You got lucky.

I'd try some another kind of Alpha recognition technique like putting him on a long lead attached over a tree limb or clothes line post. Call him off her and if he doesn't come off hoist him up until he gives in. I know that sounds crule to some imagine what kind of power the dogs thinking you have! He reasons that you could kill him with a word.

This is a short take of something I got off this board in another area, the lesson here is to try to win without shedding blood. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

You were lucky, maybe its time for a trip to Vegas! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Question? Is the deaf bitch, White?