Hello all,
I trust this message finds you in peace and all is well.

I am confused about the ranking of my dogs within their pack structure.

2 dogs in question are 5y/o M Ridgeback- first dog in the house, was a puppy when we got him. 4y/o M rescue Flat Coated Ret mix, second arrival when he was 18mo. old. Both dogs are fixed.

Ridgeback will wait for other dogs to go thru doors, and will give up toys and chews with no issue. This leads me to believe he's lower ranking than Flat coated mix.

But often Flat coated mix will groom the Ridgeback's ears and feet etc, but Ridgeback never do that to him which I thought was the sign of submission for the Flat coated mix since he's the one who is grooming.

Can you please shed some light onto this mixed signs(at least mixed to me) and give your opinion on it.

When replying please state your "opinions" vs "knowledge"

thank you in advance for your time and help

My opinion: My dogs can be anywhere in the rank they choose, so long as it's number 2.

My opinion is the same as Michael's. It's also my opinion that as long as you are seen as a leader, the hierarchy of the dogs isn't rigidly fixed (or all that important.) They may occasionally give signals that can be interpreted as variously dominant and submissive to each other--but as long as there are no real aggressive postures, I don't care who's licking whom, or who's sharing toys as long as they do it nicely.

I make no effort to feed or touch them in any certain order--as if to reinforce some pecking order they may or may not have created.

There are no middle ranks. Just one leader, and everybody else is equal at the bottom.

My "knowledge" and "opinion" are that I am number 1 in the pack and the dogs are number 2. There are no overt displays of dominance allowed.

I agree with Michael and Tracy.

This "Ridgeback will wait for other dogs to go thru doors, and will give up toys and chews with no issue" would never in a million years be allowed among my dogs. No dog will take from another one what I have given, and even above that in importance, no chewies, treats, and toys will ever be left among the dogs without my up-close presence.

It's a little (or a lot) odd that someone attaching an advertisement for training would be sincerely asking questions like this one or like the one in the marking thread. JMO.

He's head trainer too.

Connie & Randy,
I love the ego it's great. Thank god I don't pretend to know everything otherwise I couldn't learn any more.

I have no problems asking when I want to learn/need information I hope one day I can know everything and no longer have to ask. Until then I am happy to stroke your egos and provide entertainment for you.

Thanks for answering and have a great day

 Quote: turk akbay

Connie & Randy,
I love the ego it's great. Thank god I don't pretend to know everything otherwise I couldn't learn any more.

I have no problems asking when I want to learn/need information I hope one day I can know everything and no longer have to ask. Until then I am happy to stroke your egos and provide entertainment for you.

Thanks for answering and have a great day

Turk, your questions are fine (and they represent common errors).

It's the combination of the level of question with advertisements for training that presented the problem.

But you mentioned on your other thread that the video was not meant to be an ad at all, and in considering again, I realize that it would be silly to post ads promoting professional training along with these questions.

You specifically asked for differentiation between "knowledge" and "opinion." Hence I specified. ("When replying please state your "opinions" vs "knowledge.")

You are in the right place with your questions. Wrong place for promoting a training business with them.

I have no idea why you say "entertainment." I answered you quite seriously.

Stick around. You did get good responses.

Don't know everything. Never have pretended to.

Randy Allen
Head trainer of two dogs.

 Quote: Turk Akbay

I am confused about the ranking of my dogs within their pack structure.

Two issues: 1) trying to 'rank' your dogs as if their relationships were fixed (when in fact these relationships are fluid and change depending on contexts, conditions, and whether there is a high value object involved; and 2) this is your pack structure, not theirs.

As the pack leader, you control the resources, and you control the behaviour of the pack members. If one dog is being too pushy, you are the one to give instructions for expected behaviour. If another dog is being taken advantage of, it is your responsibility there is a fair distribution of resources to the pack members.

They sound sarcastic and silly- but the folks you are thanking for being know-it-all's, really do know A LOT.... Both are highly respected trainers on this forum.

I agree with the majority of statements. I am #1. My dogs occupy slot #2. They are not allowed to show dominance over eachother, and have no resources (toys, bones) left out in the house to try and guard (eliminating that source of potential fights)

That said, I have a 1 1/2 yr old DS who is dominant with other dogs, and a very submissive 2yr old English Pointer. It does not matter what is going on- no one is allowed out the door before I am, and they are released by name only, and in orders that vary. They don't know who will get to go out first. They don't need to have pack structure between them. I am the pack, and that is it.



On the grooming thing.... maybe your RR has an issue with a yeast or bacterial infection? The flat coat is smelling it, and therefor licking it? I can always tell when my Pointer is getting another ear issue, because the cat won't leave her alone.