Having a new puppy in my house has brought up this topic for me, and I was wondering how others have experienced this.

Today I took Cinco out for his first leash walk (outside our house and yard). I decided to bring Jack along too--just to see how the influence of another dog that walks nicely beside me would influence the pup. I just put them both on my left side and started walking. And I was pleasantly surprised. Cinco seemed to "get" what we were doing by imitating Jack. When we stopped at an intersection and I asked Jack to sit and wait, Cinco sat and waited too. (It was pretty damned cute.) We went about four blocks in a big circle and, for a first outing, he did remarkably well. Much better than I think he would have done without Jack along.

He's also learned that at mealtime everybody sits and makes eye contact with me, then eat when I say "okay." I didn't teach him that at all. He simply saw what the big dogs did and imitated them.

I think watching the other dogs go outside and pee has been a monkey-see, monkey-do exercise as well. They all run out the door and pee; he watches, then imitates.

Not everything's been a good example--he's also learned from Fanny about climbing onto the lid of the open dishwasher to lick plates, and she has also taught him the fun of staring at chickens. We'll work on that.

So--what's your experience with dogs "teaching" each other the ropes?

Good thread Tracy!

Because of the amount of dogs I have I often do things in pairs and will try and match up an older more trained one with a young'un. It's amazing how much they watch and absorb and then mimic.

House manners it's invaluable. They just kind of learn how to settle in without too much effort on my part.

The good & the bad.

My female has picked up a couple of things from my younger male the I have been trying to break him of...Go figure. So much for the older teaching the younger one, here! UGH!!!

Same experiences here!

Grace taught Kira how to heel in the same way

http://s14.photobucket.com/albums/a304/GermanShepLuv/Dogs/?action=view&current=Picture158.jpg

Vigo learned from them as well.

Of course, they pick up the bad too...barking is a big one! I usually have one who goes potty and the others go "oh, yeah" and go too.

When we fostered dogs it was great to take advantage of. All the fosters learned how to use the doggy door and sit/wait for their food very quickly.

We had 5 week old puppies who were sitting on command because that's what the big dogs did. They also sat for their food dish. The cutest thing was watching them try to use the doggy door. We have a higher door that has two plastic panels to acommadate our long legged boxer and keep the heat out. Two plastic panels took more weight than one of the pups could put on it. So you'd see one puppy go up and jump on the panel, then two puppies on the panel, and then finally with all three on there it would swing open and they would all tumble out.

Our baby, Echo, came to us about six months after Vince joined our pack. He was 10 weeks, Vince was about 15 months. The baby was full of flight (not fear), a breed characteristic - simply a cautiously aware choice of anything new. You couldn’t get near his mother and he’d spent his first 10 weeks under her elusive leadership, very little human exposure.

The first couple of weeks proved quite interesting but he bonded quickly (gotta love marker training). He and my husky also bonded quickly and the husky’s mental stability rubbed off in a big way - no aggression, no fear and a deep desire for human interaction. In turn, proper socialization and exposure to almost anything life was going to throw his way has left him with no environmental triggers and very little reaction (other than curiosity) to new things, loud noises and activity.

Vince, on the other hand, (as most know) had quite a tormented puppy hood. His first 9 months consisted of pent up energy and fending off the designs of an unsupervised, rambunctious young boy. His nerves were fried when I got him.

Echo relaxed into the quiet, calm of our home and quickly learned to trust humans. With raising the two young ones together, Vince was also able to experience Echo’s stable introduction to new exposures. I believe the learned trust and calmness of the young one has had a tremendous effect on Vince.

They could be considered polar opposites in their breed characteristics but I’m seeing the best of both breeds intertwining into their personalities. An engaged devotion to training/learning with the baby (monkey see, monkey do is big around here too) and a much calmer, trusting, relaxed way of living for the shepherd.

So I guess, from my experience, I think the ropes can taught from both angles, the older learning from the young as well.

I know, not quite your question Tracy, and far too much rambling but learning/understanding/teaching are constants around here and any help I can elicit from the pack is a big plus in my mind. Great topic and congrats on your new addition!!

I always throw a new puppy out with the big dogs so it's easier for the pup to learn how we live here. Remember though, some pups can teach the older dogs bad things too! Gibbs, lol

At the rescue I used to manage we had up to 30 dogs, who were fed in groups up to 12. It was SO COOL to toss the newly surrendered dog into the room of seniors, who'd wait at the assinged spot on the wall. After 2 days, the newbie always got it, and learned his or her place/bowl, and in what order he/she got to eat. (2 people would feed, prepping everyones food, then setting them down in a particular order.) It was amazing to watch the new dogs learn that once you finish your meal, hurry out the doggy door for a treat outside! I think we had 3 or 4 squabbles with new dogs at feeding time in the over 3 years I was there. It was crazy, but it worked.

We also let all the permanent residents teach the new dogs the doggydoor (Not a typical rescue- no kennels, they all lived in the house with the owner). Letting the dogs do the teaching was MUCH easier on me then trying to shove the 150lb scared great dane through the 2'x 1 1/2' hole in the wall!

The last pup I had was taught lots by our senior Newf. Worst was trolling the neighborhood carrying his food bowl....