Dominance and Dog Training

[RonandJan]

– rather, they're unruly behaviors that have been unintentionally rewarded, while the "right" behaviors haven't been taught.

I think this is very true. Especially with an intelligent pup. I mistakenly taught MMM that Cm'here means to sit my little rump down and Jan will come and pick me up. I surely did NOT mean to teach that, but to this day, he does exactly that.

I am more careful now than ever that I say what I mean and how I am going to get that communicated to him.

He also mentioned that rank typically correlates with age. How true is this? Can anyone with multiple dogs share their experience?

This may not count but MMM is 4 or 5 months younger than Teddy and yet is the dominant of two. Their first meeting of MMM at 12 weeks old, Teddy ruled the roost, but it did not take long for the tables to turn (sorry mixed metaphors). I am interested to watch the pups together at the picnic next week to see how they interact with one another.

 

[Toffee's Mom]

I think this is very true. Especially with an intelligent pup. I mistakenly taught MMM that Cm'here means to sit my little rump down and Jan will come and pick me up. I surely did NOT mean to teach that, but to this day, he does exactly that.

I am more careful now than ever that I say what I mean and how I am going to get that communicated to him.
....

To this day I LOVE LOVE LOVE that story! I will never forget laughing my butt off that morning I read that thread! Wonder what that says about me??
I remember where I was when I read that thread!? Sorta like where were you when Kennedy got shot.. where were you when you read Jan had poisoned a queue hahaahahahah

 

[take4roll10]

I am interested to watch the pups together at the picnic next week to see how they interact with one another.

I am interested as well. Although, I'm not sure if I'll be able to tell. You may have to point it out to me.

 

[RonandJan]

To this day I LOVE LOVE LOVE that story! I will never forget laughing my butt off that morning I read that thread! Wonder what that says about me??
I remember where I was when I read that thread!? Sorta like where were you when Kennedy got shot.. where were you when you read Jan had poisoned a queue hahaahahahah

Gee I am so glad I am going down in the annuls of How Not to Train Your Puppy in 100 Days!

 

[Toffee's Mom]

Gee I am so glad I am going down in the annuls of How Not to Train Your Puppy in 100 Days!

wasn't there an old housecoat involved!?

 

[RonandJan]

yes........my Mickey Mouse bed jacket and fluffy slippers in the rain with the garbage men hooting and whistling as I went out to get this 16 weeks old, too smart for his mistress, puppy! (Little pain in my butt who I adore immensely)

 

[Lahree]

Yes he said this at a seminar I was watching on DVD and that makes a lot of sense. The lower ranking dogs differ to the alpha without being told. He also mentioned that rank typically correlates with age. How true is this? Can anyone with multiple dogs share their experience?

Yes. We had a doxie, Coco, and Jazz, our Sheltie at the same time. Coco was my husband's dog and Jazz was my dog. Jazz came with me to our new home in Texas from Oregon. We all four moved into a new home at the same time (therefore, neither dog had "home territory" claims). Even though Jazz was twice Coco's size, she was older and she was the alpha. There was never the slightest bit of jealousy or fighting for rank, it just "was." Jazz was a completely laid-back dog. Coco never lifted a lip to Jazz or growled or outwardly established rank that we ever saw. It was just immediately established that she was alpha. Although Coco and Jazz loved each other, when Coco died, we could tell that Jazz was VERY happy being the only dog. He really thrived. Very, very happy. Maybe he resented being the follower for 10 years.

 

[Ainsley's mom]

Could have been a gender thing. In the animal world, females often rank above males.

 

[Lahree]

Could have been a gender thing. In the animal world, females often rank above males.

True.

 

[romeosangiovese]

when Coco died, we could tell that Jazz was VERY happy being the only dog. He really thrived. Very, very happy. Maybe he resented being the follower for 10 years.

Haha! That's funny.

Yes I've also heard males tend to give in to females alot. Tho' that doesn't necessarily mean they rank higher I'm guessing? Males have a supposedly linear fixed hierarchy whereas girls tend to fluctuate more or something like that. All very interesting. Wish I got paid observing dogs.