I posted this message under the wrong category - this is my first time and I'm just learning, sorry! I now realize this topic should go under this category:


How does one tell if you have a dominant dog? I have adopted a 2 year old German Shepherd mix from the Humane Society 7 weeks ago. I have a ten year cat. So far, the cat and dog do not go on the same floor. They have been face to face. The dog gets excited, but when I tell her to stay, she will. However, I don't trust the dog around the cat when I am not around and put the dog in the crate.

I have taken the dog to a friend's house last week and the dog did not get along with her dog. The dogs fought for a few minutes. We took the dogs on a walk and they did fine (side by side). However, when we came back from the walk, we took the leashes off and they started fighting again. After reading the messages on this board, I now realize I should not have taken the leash off because I don't have control over her when she is off the leash. (I have bought a prong collar which makes a huge difference). Have I created more problems with this dog because the dogs fought. My friend thinks I should keep bringing her back to her place until the dogs get along. (she boards dogs). Is this the right thing to do?

No, I don't agree with your friend at all. Personally, I don't think it's a good idea for you to go with your new dog into another dogs territory and expect them to be buddies!

What is your motive anyway? Is it because you want your new dog to have a friend? If so, YOU are to be the friend of your dog, not one of your friends pet!

There is nothing wrong with going over and meeting up to go out on a walk together, and at that point your leashed dog should be obedient and respectful of you and walk nicely.

If you want your dog to go into the other persons home I would do it on leash and down the dog at your side at all times, you move, the dog moves, etc. Use obedience for control, and the other dog should be equally controlled or you should keep your dog out of that house.

Every time I have taken my dog out for a walk, she always whines, barks or tries to jump when she sees other dogs. My motive was to socialize her with other dogs, so she wouldn't get so excited when she saw other dogs.

Thanks for your advice. I agree with you, but my friend seems to have a lot of dog experience and she keeps telling me I have to work on socializing her. She said my dog was dominant, and I should think about getting rid of her, but I really didn't see much difference between her dog's behaviour and mine. Both dogs barked and tried to fight with each other. How do you tell if one dog is more dominant?

I live in the city and she lives on a farm. Will going back to the farm and walking them together on a leash help socialize my dog, as long as I don't let them fight.

I do have another motive. My friend said she would look after my dog if I wanted to go away for a week-end sometime. I thought it would be better for the dog to my friend's farm, instead of a kennel. Any ideas?

Well, idea #1 is, don't take your friends advice!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />


Your 1st idea to socialize is a great one, but your dog is 2 and of unknown background, so I would start with OBEDIENCE, that is where your socialization will come in. Meaning that once your dog obeys all commands, you can go anywhere and do anything with your dog.Your dog may still WANT to jump or lunge or whine at other dogs, but will know that it cannot because it is against the proper behaviour rules.

Your dog may indeed be dominant, but who cares? AS long as the dog is not aggressive to people without provocation,and is obedient to you, then the fact that the dog thinks it is big and tough is irrelevant. Control of the dog is the key factor.

Not for nothing, but your friend does not seem to really know that much about dogs,based on what you've said!! Just because she has a doggie business does not make her doggie smart, and her suggestions to you do not sit well with me. I feel you are correct in what you say that it took 2 to tango at her house and if she is a supposed knowledgable dog person SHE should have known better, which she didn't, enough said!

Although I have not kenneled any of my GSD's, I have kenneled past pet dogs. IMO, you are better off at a reputable kennel than at the farm of this person! Check carefully with sources such as your vet, local groomers, dog training clubs, etc. for recommendations and then ask for references!!

Good Luck!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Agreed with Jeannette, the window of opportunity to socialize the dog closed a long time ago. However, even though that window is shut, you can still desensitize the dog to others by means of obedience training. Start off by finding someone with an older, well socialized dog, and then try and find your dogs comfort zone (it can be 20 or 200 ft). Work within that zone, having the dog in a downstay, and reward for good behavior, correct for disobeying a command. Gradually increase the proximity to the other dog, the idea being to accustom your dog to others without going off the deep end.

Originally posted by Leanne Graham: The dogs fought for a few minutes. We took the dogs on a walk and they did fine (side by side). However, when we came back from the walk, we took the leashes off and they started fighting again. How did you stop the ‘fighting’? Are you sure they’re fighting? Some dogs play pretty rough.

We yelled and my friend grabbed her dog. I don't have a lot of experience with dogs and am just learning. All I know is I didn't like what the dogs were doing and it kind of scared me. I am ordering the Dog Obedience tape and have hired some dog trainers to help me train her. She seems like a good dog, but she has issues around other dogs. My friend says the dog seems unpredictable and this type of dog is the worst kind. However, I am now questioning how much she really knows about dogs. Thanks for your help, I really appreciate it.

Best of luck to you!! And good for you, continue to seek answers to your questions!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Your friend cannot know dogs too well since she missed the signals that HER dog as well as yours were giving before the engagement. And there were signals.
I would be very leery of any advice she might offer you since she has already made a judgment that your dog is dominant and unpredictable. And, by the way, "dominant" and "unpredictable" are almost opposite characteristics.

Good for you to get to work on training. You'll learn a lot about how to read your dog as you get to know him better.