This is my first post and have many things I would like to discuss. I'll take it easy on you for now but I want to discribe my situation. I have a 3year old black GSD that I love with all my heart Belle' Amie'. I got her at 6 wks and we have bonded as much as a human could bond with a dog. She reads my thoughts as well as I read hers. A year ago I bred her with a german bred black and she threw 6 excellent pups. My breeder/trainer evaluated them and was impressed with the combination results. I sold all of the pups except one black and tan male (Hekoichi) By a sad turn of events one of the people I sold a black female to died and the dog was returned to me. Since she was the pup with the best temperment as far as non aggresive and since birth always seemed to sit and study her surroundings I decided to keeep her as well(Naka). My vet is very impressed with thier behavior and how they respond to my comands. I can calm them with my tone as well as bring up thier drive during protection training. We are all very in tune with each other. The problem I'm running into is the pups competition for my approval. They seem to ccompete with each other when I'm around for dominance. I know this because the other members of the family tell me they don't behave the same when I'm not home. They playfully fight and bring me toys to show me thier trophies. Hekoichi especially seems to thrive on my approval. I try to give them each individual attention just as I have with my own children when they were young. I'm finding the differences in personality and abilities are similar to raising children. I'm also wondering if Naka who is now spay is likley to challenge her Mom Belle' down the line and if there is anything I can do to prevent this from being a possibility. I am training him for protection and Her Naka for tracking. As new as I am to this process I don't want to mess it up. Naka and Belle' I walk together and they are becoming a great team. They seem to move and work so well together I'd like to keep it going. My trainer is very good but the experiences of other dog owners is unlimited and valuable.

So what is your question? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

I guess in reading over my first post my question got lost in my discription of my pack situation. Im interested to hear of other expierences from people who have dogs from the same litter who have insight into pack developement. Reading over the dominant topic and what I've read in books I am wonderng if positions shift? if so does it always get ugly? Is there a age when the chances are greater? I think another question would be how much should I interfere. Please consider they are living in my house as house dogs go am I anticipating unlikely problems?

First off, I'd like to welcome you to the board.

Now, secondly, I never recommend people having more than 2 house dogs in a family setting. It is best to have one male and one female as they will be more likely to get along then two of the same sex. From reading your post, I'm not 100% clear on how many dogs you have.

Your question on how much you should interfere can be answered by saying that you must be the undisputed pack leader. You must make it clear from the beginning that you are in charge. I suggest you go to the training articles section of this site and read Ed's article on having more than one dog in a family setting.

Otherwise, your post is a little difficult to follow. Don't take that the wrong way....I'm a little tired and cranky right now so it's probably me!LOL <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> If you can clear up exactly how many dogs you are talking about it would help.

After you read up on this feel free to ask more questions. Once again, welcome to the board.

From your post; the best I can figure out is you have three dogs within your household. Issues of pack order and how to handle these issues seem to be your question.

First of all..your dogs must recognize and respect you as "their" leader. This occurs with a firm foundation of obedience training within the home enviroment. Whatever you say..they do! You must know your dogs inside out and know exactly what every body stance/signal means. Confrontations between the dogs can be avoided if you can read their body language and they can read and understand yours.

Second..personalities of the dogs can play a huge factor in pecking order and you can help to keep the pecking order intact by not making changes as to routine or how the household is run..ie..same order for feeding; etc. As dogs mature from puppy to adulthood they go thru a "punk teenage cycle" and tend to question/threaten the established. This may include; who goes thru the door first, who comes in the door first or who gets the choice of the best toy or chew. If your oldest female is the established "Alpha" then re-enforce her "status" by always allowing her to be "first".

Third; I would not advocate nor suggest allowing any dog to "fight it out" for any reason be it position or otherwise..but..there is a fine line that you have to walk when there is a confrontation. Your ability of control, knowledge and temperment of your dogs plays a big role in knowing when to step in and when to not.

I can only base my thoughts on personal knowledge when my male "punk" Lab mix was trying to "move up the ladder" against my female Alpha GSD many years ago. He would pester her, stand in front of her and stick his chest out to challenge all the while she was "looking" at him down her nose with her lip slightly curled in response knowing..the rules are..no fighting allowed. Watching from the yard; I saw the Lab "jump" at the GSD. She had finally had enough of his challenges and put the Lab on the ground and then stood over him with him on his back..all in a couple of seconds.
I immediately yelled to the GSD to stop and let the Lab up. She obeyed and walked off..leaving the Lab to ponder his defeat and submission. This "cured" the problem of the wanna-be and pack order was secured/maintained. Had this initial challenge situation occured with the female Husky/Shep as the aggressor/challenger; I would have immediately separated the dogs to never again be out together and avoided all confrontation possibilities.

The best way to insure a harmoneous household is to early on establish the rules and enforce them.
Give each dog individual quality attention, learn and listen to their body language.

Thanks Barbra for the advice so far I have done exactly what you suggested except for allowing my alpha female to be first. I think I'll take your advice and change the routine as far as feeding order to her first. She has displayed some changes in behavior over the past few months. She is not crated anymore as the other two pups.I have been spending more one on one time with her. She seems to be much happier working alone with me. It seems she missed our one on one time together. For 2 years it was just her and I now these two are getting my atteneion and she is not happy. It's hard working 3 GSD everyday. My family was so sure they wanted to get involved training and a year later I'm doing it alone. I am determined to train and develope thier potential. Your right about everything you discribed I'm the authority and they respond to my body language, voice, and our routine. I love this stuff they are so smart and good about pleasing me. I never hit them but i've been known to take them down by laying on top of them and growling in thier face. If you don't think that turns heads on the street when a sharp correction is called for. I can also calm them into a complete relaxed position. Like I said I have a trainer but I also read everything I can get my hands on about training. Thanks for the encouraging words.