Mike...your post made me think of something...you said "we". I assume you mean your wife or significant other? I wonder if it is easier in your situation b/c you have two humans. I wonder if it makes any difference to a dog, in their mystical doggy minds, if there are 2 alphas as opposed to one. Could it be that they try harder for position #2 and try to keep another dog lower if there is only one human? Or is it simply different natured dogs? I don't have any OB issues w/any of mine regarding any commands, but I still could not allow a couple of them to run together in a trio.

Of course it depends mostly on the dog, a lot on the skills of the handler...but just philosophically, I wonder if it's a little bit different dynamic when you have a clear alpha PAIR as opposed to a single woman. I ask this mostly rhetorically, just as something to ponder, because it certainly seems at times that while my males don't challenge me, they will challenge a male human in my company..almost as if they think THEY are #2, and any new male should be #3...

I am tired and probably not making much sense.

Wasn't really shorter, Mike, but you are a true gem! Your explanations make so much sense.

 Quote: stephanie biros

Wasn't really shorter, Mike, but you are a true gem! Your explanations make so much sense.

I agree.

Ms Biros, Ms. Sutherland,

I will work on shorter in '09. I promise!

Its just that I've had so much coffee, and can type really fast, and have all this stuff in my head.

It is a blessing you do not have to listen to me. Really!

Happy New Year!

Mike,

To answer your question earlier about how I handled their "squabbles" - I would grab Fero by the collar and take him over to his cage and put him in it and leave him in there for awhile- I feel that Fero is the one that starts these altercations, Sampson does not fight back (thank god) but he does growl and try to stand up to him. The last one was the worst, Fero got on top of Sampson and really acted like a demon dog after I put Fero up I looked for sampson and he had gone out and was standing out in the back and didnt want to come in. So the problem is also now that sampson is afraid of Fero. when I let Sampson out of his cage to go outside and fero is still in his, he always has to look in his room and make a small growl as hes going to the back door as if hes afraid. I'm going to work heavily on their obedience, etc for awhile and if and when I feel they can be out together in the house supervised I will try it, not sure how to go about doing that when the time comes, any ideas how to re-introduce? I believe some people are born natural leaders and some have to work at it, I'm thinking I need to work at it but for my sanity and the dogs and mine happiness I need to do it. I know I can if I put my mind to it. I like the notebook idea by the way, actually have one ready to use.

Mike, I always enjoy reading your posts you make, very entertaining and insightful!! Keep drinking your coffee - I'm drinking some right now

Edited by Kathy West (01/04/2009 11:35 AM)
Edit reason: add comment

Kathy, I just want to add that your primary job at the moment is to protect the dogs, so if one is afraid of the other and your presence is not yet enough to allay his fears and prevent any kind of threat to him, you must do what you must do -- and that would be to keep them separated and safe as you work on your leadership skills and on the obedience of the dogs.

I also want to make clear that Mike's point about not being afraid of being bitten is huge. If you are not there (and most people are not), then don't try to pretend. It won't work.

Your plan about empowering yourself into excellent control with each dog is a good one.

Mike said this: I really believe that if you are in charge, and do not tolerate bad attitude, and establish a command set that will allow you to verbally control the dog(s) that you can eventually have the dogs interact without much problem. But you got to be in charge in consistency, posture, attitude and intention.

I agree.

Ms. Sutherland is absolutely right.

A dog person's first and foremost obligation is to protect the dog. Period.