I read that if you have more than one dog they will sort themselves out and decide which one is higher ranking.

How do I know which of mine is or are they too young to have sorted it? What signs should I look out for?

Archies 14 months and Bramble is 5 months old. I can't see any sign of either being "in charge". I thought with Bramble being so young Archie would be higher but he doesn't seem to show signs of it - not that I can see anyway!!

Do they eat together? sometimes dogs just get on with each other without problems

Yes they do eat together. They enjoy play fighting and seem really happy to see each other after they've been apart!

There may never be an issue with hierarchy, dogs often live happily together without any probs, other then the odd squabble over food. personally I have always found bitches to be more stroppier- When they are play fighting they may already be passing on signs that you are not reading - i.e one dog may always be below the other, rolling over and looking up at the other dog - . sorry if i have not expalined this well
regards
DT

Archies a dog and Bramble a bitch and, I agree, she can be bit stroppy! Will keep eye on play fighting - tonight seemed that both of them at some point were on backs looking up. Bramble does often launch herself at Archie but is this because shes only 5 months old

With Zipper 2 yrs and Lilly 11 months, Lilly seemed to be boss from day 1. Zipper is so laid back he never told her off when she chewed on his ears etc.
However I've noticed that although she seems to win more toys from him and he's over on his back more when they play. If there is something of real value, such as a pigs ear, he definately is in charge.
I think he's to laid back to worry about the little things
It's really funny when he surrenders when they play fight because Lilly is half his size

__________________


A dog Possesses Beauty, Without Vanity,Strength without Insolence, Courage without Ferocity, And all the Virtues of Man, Without his Vices.

I currently have a year old bitch and a 7 year old male - we have never had a fight yet - there has been the old scuffle but the bitch is still quite submisive so nothing has ever come of it. I really don't think you'll have a problem, maybe when you girl has matured she will be the more dominant dog - but that will not neccessarily mean fighting - they decide their own pecking order and many dogs live in complete harmony.

It doesn't come down to which one's biggest, oldest, fastest or loudest but which one has the right energy to be the higher ranking dog. Higher ranking dogs are born not made and because it is easier for a dog to follow the more submissive dog will gladly allow the other dog to take the lead.

If you get two dogs that have the same energy levels and are relunctant to back down then that is when trouble begins because they are kept in the same enclosure (house). If they were to be born in the same group in the wild, then one of them would leave to form a new group to avoid conflict.

Sometimes it can just be a territorial thing at which point you as the owner need to step in and remind them that you own the house and they are able to sleep where they do because you allow them to not because that is "their" bed, you allow them to play with your toys and eat your food.

The leader sleeps wherever they want to where as the lower ranking members need to make room and sleep where there is room leftover.

Really got me thinking now! Archie is very laid back and if Bramble gets into his bed he doesn't object, just gets into hers! Shes also very good a pinching toys and he lets her - sometimes we feel really sorry for him !! She does try sometimes to eat out of his bowl - again, he'll let her and just go and eat hers (we do stop them doing this though).

Think we've got a bossy little madam and she's still only 5 months old!

they can form hierarchies at a very young ages and normally the one in charge is the calmer one