I have a bitch at home (Dora) who is co-owned by me, on breeding terms. She is (hopefully) pregnant and is staying at our house until the pups have left. Since she has been mated, she has become growly and a little aggressive towards my older entire bitch (Eve). She postures around her with her hackles up quite often. Fortunately Eve ignores her and just sends out calming signals. I'm sure this is just Dora's hormones playing up. My son however has decided Dora is just a dominant dog and is asserting her authority over Eve. He always called Eve the dominant one and is now saying it is Dora. One thing he does realise is that none of the dogs try to be 'dominant' over humans (Dora is always on her back giving puppy ears for human attention lol) but he believes in dominance within a group of dogs. (ie the pack theory I guess)
So, my questions are: a) Is there a way I can get Dora to relax more around Eve? b) What would you say to my son to persuade him its not a dominance issue?

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Anyone?

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Check out my English Shepherds
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Breed for a useful dog and you often get a beautiful, useful dog... breed only for a beautiful dog and you are on your own in the useful department.

Hormones probably have a lot to do with it, my girls were fine when the younger came as a pup right up to her season at 9mths, then the older bitch (incidently spayed for at least 10yrs by then) started on the younger in season bitch, who put up with it the first 2 or 3 times until she retailiated, was fine again once season finished and since the younger was spayed. So if a normal season did that, pregnency hormones I assume would be even worse. My older female has always been a high ranking female anyway.

The other thing Im wondering as you say she is co-owned on loan, its not her patch, and im assuming she doesnt live there normally, with the hormone changes and pregnancy, it still remains she is on another entire bitches patch
that is not her normal home and surroundings, at a time she may feel vunerable, it could be what you are seeing may be defensive.

My breed is a pack breed, and as far as they go, there is deffinately some kind of order, respect system/rank thing going on. I agree it is probably hormonal to a degree, but it wouldnt surprise me if there is a bit of dynamics as regards to position of being in a vunerable condition on another entire bitches patch thats not her normal home. I would deffinately only have them together under close supervision all the time. Just in case your one gets fed up with the posturing and behaviour.

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Yes, that makes sense.

Don't your dogs change position, depending on what is going on? Mine are never left alone together so its not a problem, just interesting.

__________________
Check out my English Shepherds
http://www.edenvillage.co.uk

Breed for a useful dog and you often get a beautiful, useful dog... breed only for a beautiful dog and you are on your own in the useful department.

There has been a potition change over the last year or so with the current 3.
and there has been position changes in the past when Ive lost one.

Example my first dog was a Samoyed male, followed by a Siberian, later another Siberian female and then a further one. My original female was tiny, but for some reason had the respect of all the others, never had to snap and growl, yet none of them would step over or round her at close range. Where as they would jump over each other move out each others way for the water bowl etc. Not with her they didnt they would wait. If she was blocking an exit or entrance then no way would they. When she died the youngest female took over. She though would make a point with a growl or air snap if need be. But the others wouldnt step over her or do the things they did before.

Several years later I still have the then youngest of my original four plus 2 other editions that came as 11 and 12 week pups. They are now 13, 5 and 2half nearly. The one now 13 was boss, still would occasionally put the others in their places with a growl or air snap. Neither would step over her, the boy especially would bark for us to escort him past. which is ironic as he is a mal
and twice the size. The one now 13, was always a madam, would take their things if she could to make a point and again neither did anything. Until the youngers 1st season. She was fine, as I said the older female picked on her for doing nothing more than going up to her respectful head bowed wanting to play.
Until she had enough and retaliated. Although there is no arguments as such,
the older one, now wont jump over the younger she barks at me to escort her past, where they waited for her to start eating before they did, they now dont. If they have chews where they before let her take it, the girl will tell her where to get off now, and shes realised its pretty silly to try. The older now shows the younger respect. The younger girl and the boy are pretty amicable and are in the main happy to share although he wont take liberties like stepping over her now, or wont take whats hers as she will growl at him and he stops. If the older starts to get hyper at food times the others tell her off, which they wouldnt dare before.

So there are deffinate things going on as regards respect and whats tolerated and whats not from each individual. Sorry bit of a ramble.

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Well regarding your son, I wouldn't worry about what he believes to be going on. At best a lot of what is the common perception of dog-dog relationships is based on shaky info to start with and thinking that you know or not knowing if its dominance or whateever won't help solve the issue.

With the two girls, the best thing that you can do is give them space from one another. They are both signaling and asking for distance whether that be viat anxiety signaling (Dora) or calming signaling (Eve).

Dora's singaling is stress based and this will not be good for her or her babies so making sure that both girls feel happy and relaxed is a priority.

You may find that just space is comforting to them. In that case you can separate them via a baby gate, each with access to her own crate den.

Sometimes being able to see one another is the stressor so visual barriers are best.

Eitherway you can allow them each to sleep on a towel and then give the towels to the other so that they can smell and investigate. Most discomfort signaling, as seen here, is basically about gaining time and space enough to investigate the other party without pressure.

DAP and calmatives are also always a priority for introductions. Obviously keeping resources that may be competed for out of reach is important too.

Whether it be hormones, 'dominance' or other relationship stuff, competition or just a plain old dislike for one another it doesn't really matter - deal with the observable (ie. the behaviour you can see) and not the stuff that can only ever be guessed at.

There is a description of some exercises in this post that may help them to learn to love one another: MY bone! | Pet Central's Pawsitive Dawgs Blog!
And although pitched towards resource guarding these exercises are also about teachinh each dog to enjoy the other in closer proximity.

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Anne, owned by Rufus & Tripod

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