When a dog stands over another dog as if they are towering over their playmate is that a display of dominance?

River is intact and 7 months old. I believe she's going to come into heat soon since her vulva does look slightly swollen and I noticed a very small pink spot on the carpet. The past week I've noticed her playing with Shelby and then suddenly she will stand up while Shelby is on the ground and move her whole body over and stand over Shelby while looking her full in the face (a stare). I stop this behavior immediately and give them both something constructive to do away from each other because what *I* see is a pushy puppy and a patient dog and I'd rather it be two patient dogs.

Is this behavior a display of dominance? Could it be happening lately because of sexual maturity? I haven't ever had a maturing, intact female puppy. This is new territory for me!

For the record neither of them are left alone together. They are physically separated by doors or kennels when I'm not home and they are always supervised when I am home. If I leave the room, one of them has to follow me. This is how it's been with my dogs for years ever since breaking up a incredibly horrific dog fight between two pit bulls and getting a hard and fast lesson on safe dog management.

Yes, that's a display of dominance. I think you are right to correct it.

That's what I do. Any small show of dominance or aggression between pack members (humping, towering, toy-stealing, too-rough "play fighting") is corrected by me with a verbal "uh uh." I'm fully aware that it's natural for dogs to have a pecking order (and I'm pretty sure of the order among my five)--but I don't care. I'm more interested in there being one leader, and that's me. Only I get to offer corrections or control resources.

Plus, it's probably way easier to consistently correct small infractions than to break up a real fight, or fix longstanding behaviors. Better to set a "no bossiness" rule up front.

Even in play, dogs will display dominance/rank enforcement. It is very possible that, as the younger female matures, she may be seeking to establish her rank in the pack. IMO, what you are seeing is the play version of "teeing up" another dog. This may not be healthy in a home pack environment, as River is pbly interpreting Shelby's "patience" as submission (acceptance of a higher ranking pack member).

I agree with both posts above mine.

It's a full-on display of dominance (both the posturing and the stare) -- one that I don't allow.

Like Tracy, I completely halt posturing, humping, and all other such displays, no matter how minor they may seem at first.

Also like Tracy, I don't care what they would sort out as the pack order (although I too know what it would be). It's me, number one, and then them, all number two.

Actually, all I'm really doing is saying ditto. LOL

It is SO much easier to nip that in the bud. (BTW, this calls for a "nope" or a "hey!" for River, or whatever your infraction move is, not just a distraction; she needs to know it's not OK, and the other dog needs to know she is not on her own.)

All JMO!

KNOCK IT OFF while pointing at the offending dog tends to get the appropriate response (the trouble maker slinks off and minds her own business). I just prefer giving them something constructive to do to show them what I'd PREFER their behavior to be like. They aren't typically allowed to play indoors so a short wrestling match will be followed by a long chewing session in their own safe spots.

Sounds like you are alert to this.

For me, this is something I do correct for. As I mentioned, it might be nothing more than "Hey!" (or as you said, "Knock it off!"), but I don't let it slide.

JMO!

I agree with Connie, Tracy & Duane. It is an act of dominance...& is most likely caused by her 'growing up' & trying to establish her spot in the pecking order within the pack. Yes, the owner should be the one in charge, but there are still pack dynamics & a pecking order that gets established within the pack. I don't play into it though, as I will feed one dog 1st one time & another another time, who gets their collar on first when we are headed out to the field, who gets their ball tossed first, who get to train first, etc, etc...so I reinforce that I make all the decisions as to who gets what when etc not their idea of pack pecking order.

I too use 'knock it off' as a verbal for any kind of confrontation or posturing with my dogs. I have very reactive dogs that are not really buddies ...more like they tolerate each other,so it doesn't take much to stir things up. I am very vigilant & know what are the often 'triggers' for my dogs & I am very fast to jump on any kind of display. There are no toys, bones or playing in the house. The house is for quiet time. Outside in the yard & out at the field, they do each have their own ball that we play with & there are ZERO disagreements about who's is who's. They learned early on that if there is..they are taken away. So I have no problems with this.

Rules & consistency & no favoritism is the key to keeping peace.

Vigo tries this move with Grace, and only Grace.

In his case, it is both a play for dominance and a push at Grace to get her to interact with him. She generally ignores him and doesn't play with him. He has learned (and it really only took 2-3 repetitions when he was young) that if he bops his head over hers, then she will chase him off and grump at him a bit...which he likes A LOT.

In any case, it's discouraged in our house and Vigo's knock it off command is "don't be a d!ck" True story lol.

When River tries to herd the cat I usually fuss 'Stop being a jackass!' She knows she can get away with it when we have certain company over because I don't use the word 'jackass' in front of my mother! Talk about a smart dog! The cat is now being put away in my bedroom for his own comfort when my mom is visiting.

You could switch to "jackwagon," like I heard in some commercial on TV. LOL