I just wanted to ask about when females will start to show aggression toward other females. We have a female mutt upstairs from us and when our GSD (6mos old) and their female mutt meet during potty time, our GSD lunges at her, hair standing up on the back.
The mutt is a little over a year old and she shows (as far as I can tell) no signs of aggression towards my dog but our neighbors who own her have told me she is a nasty dog and are considering getting rid of her because they are having a baby.
Is my dog being aggressive towards females already at this age? Is she just picking up on the fact that this other dog has dominance problems in the home?
I'd like to know because we are moving back home to Iowa and my brother has a female Siberian Husky and I would like to know if the two should even meet because I definitely do not want a fight on my hands!
Connie Sutherland Moderator Reg: 07-13-2005
Posts: 31571
Loc: North-Central coast of California
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Quote: nathan barkley
I just wanted to ask about when females will start to show aggression toward other females. We have a female mutt upstairs from us and when our GSD (6mos old) and their female mutt meet during potty time, our GSD lunges at her, hair standing up on the back.
The mutt is a little over a year old and she shows (as far as I can tell) no signs of aggression towards my dog but our neighbors who own her have told me she is a nasty dog and are considering getting rid of her because they are having a baby.
Is my dog being aggressive towards females already at this age? Is she just picking up on the fact that this other dog has dominance problems in the home?
I'd like to know because we are moving back home to Iowa and my brother has a female Siberian Husky and I would like to know if the two should even meet because I definitely do not want a fight on my hands!
JMO:
You might have completely missed a challenging stare.
But just as an aside, "a nasty dog" means zero to me, and coming from people who get rid of rather than train and rehab their dog, I'd probably give that very little credence. "Dominance problems in the home" would also be a phrase I'd pretty much let be. Most overused term in the dog world? "Dominance." JMO!
BUT, I'd keep my dog away. 100% away. You have had your warning that there is something; it's not sensible or smart to "test" it.
Has your dog reacted similarly to other dogs? Just this one?
You are wise to plan ahead for the meeting in Iowa. Will they be in the same house? If so, I'd study Ed's protocol.* If not, how often or how close will they have to meet?
Thanks for the reply, I definitely may have missed a challenging stare, almost wrote that in my original post. I try to keep my dog away and when I hear the other dog going out upstairs we just go back inside and wait our "turn."
I don't know what they mean by "nasty" or "dominant," this is their first dog so they may not even know the meaning of those terms.
My dog has had contact mostly with other male dogs, I have not noticed her doing this around other females before.
When we get to Iowa my brother lives across town and the dogs may go weeks without seeing each other, forever if it will create a problem. Am I being too nervous about this?
Connie Sutherland Moderator Reg: 07-13-2005
Posts: 31571
Loc: North-Central coast of California
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Quote: nathan barkley
... When we get to Iowa my brother lives across town and the dogs may go weeks without seeing each other, forever if it will create a problem. Am I being too nervous about this?
Why are you nervous at all? I have no problem with keeping my dogs away from any dog who poses any kind of problem (or to whom my dogs pose any kind of problem). In fact, let's just say that my dogs happen to have a couple of canine "friends," but it would be fine if they didn't, too.
Read up on neutral (controlled!) meetings and don't put big expectations on it, and all will be well!
Thanks so much. I guess I just don't want there to be anything "wrong" with my dog. Its the only problem we've really had with here because we have been following Ed's puppy and basic obedience along with Michael Ellis' food training DVD.
Ditto with Connie on her observations of the other dog and family!
You are looking at two dog's that have no social structure between them and they are both marking/claiming the same area.
Use this as a training scenario to let your dog know she's not allowed to go off on another dog just because it's there.
Being social just means your dog has to accept whatever you expose her to. It doesn't mean they have to be buddies.
Melissa Hoyer Webboard User Reg: 05-09-2005
Posts: 1340
Loc: SE Michigan
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Quote: connie sutherland
Why are you nervous at all? I have no problem with keeping my dogs away from any dog who poses any kind of problem (or to whom my dogs pose any kind of problem). In fact, let's just say that my dogs happen to have a couple of canine "friends," but it would be fine if they didn't, too.
Read up on neutral (controlled!) meetings and don't put big expectations on it, and all will be well!
Pretty much the same situation with my dogs...
I am very lucky that my family has a very similar viewpoint on dogs that I do. This works well because we all travel to the family cabin together, where we have six dogs together (a Shih Tsu, 3 GSDs, a Cairn Terrier, and a Beagle mix). It has truly been as simple as having good leadership/training and all the dogs know what is expected of them. For example, leave the Shih Tsu alone, pretend he doesn't exist...and so on. We also make an effort to do things with our dogs as a group throughout the year.
Also, the basic training work that I have put into my dogs (and my aunt does with her dogs) means leaps and bounds in these situations. And then, there is my grandparent's yorkie...THE SNAPPER. My dogs are on leash and nearby me anytime she is around. Controlled situation and no problems!
P.S. Also, your pup might be a little insecure with the other dog. Make sure you are working on neutral behavior around other stable dogs (not the neighbor's).
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Female Puppy showing Female vs. Female Aggression?
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