Dutch Shepherd Forum

Hey all, quick question. Koda loves other dogs and just loves playing with them. As soon as an object is involved he gets aggressive. This can be food or just a toy.. he doesn't care about people taking his things only dogs. This weekend my lab and him were swapping raw hides. Koda snapped at her a few times(not really biting) and she just stood there. Well it happen, they both snapped and Koda got it bad, blood all over and a scare on his face. I'd like to work with this and I don't know how to do it without putting myself in danger. He did this with a stick outside with a smaller dog.. the smaller dog said "Whatever.. just wanted to play..retard and walked away. ) Same thing when we go for walks and I toss the ball. I usually play with two black labs at the park and koda has that attitude.

Oddly enough the lab was licking his face and koda didn't mind that.. he started to lick her as well? Usually that's a friendly thing but why the all out biting.. what gives?

This is what I have been doing.. if I see it happening I get to it before hand. I tell Koda no and tell him to lay down. At times I notice he tries to hog both bones so I get involved and it's all over. I either A attempt to give them both to them. If they continue to be retarded with the swapping then no bones for both of them. How would an alpha dog deal with this.. let them kill each other?

I've never owned multiple dogs, but what I'd do is not let them take things from each other. If both have a treat, each gets to enjoy it in peace.

Around other dogs, I'd make sure not to have any toys around that Koda is going to fight over.

I wouldn't worry too much about being an alpha dog; I'd be more concerned about being a leader human

Boaz is like that, too. He was really bad when he was a baby, and very scary to see. But I kept after him and only hear an occasional low rumble from him.

Everything is MINE. If there's a dispute over something, it becomes mine. (All my dogs understand this. If I want something, they will relinquish it.) Then I have the option of giving it to whichever dog I want. If Boaz shows more interest in the object after I give to to another, I physically block him, and tell him "leave it". (I always think of the scene in "Kate and Leopold" when Hugh Jackman tries to block Meg Ryan from entering the apartment.)

leih merigian wrote:I've never owned multiple dogs, but what I'd do is not let them take things from each other. If both have a treat, each gets to enjoy it in peace.

ah! But that's the thing with two or more dogs, they always want what the other one has

Here with treats I made it very clear they do NOT approach each other while feeding. If it is stuff that takes longer (chwey things) I seperate them. Feeding time goes well together, they stand far enough apart and both know not too fool around, I wouldn't leave the room tho, and anytime I have a guest-dog staying over I feed them seperately.

With toys, I have to seperate them, Ivil always wants what Dingo has, and she doesn't care much for all the warnings Dingo gives, and I don't feel like being the police all the time. So playing is seperate too, ecept for playing without toys, they get to do that by them selves

What's mine is MINE, and what's theirs is MINE too. You only get to have things here when you follow my rules, and it's only yours until I want it back. If someone else has it first---You Don't Touch It!
It's worked here for the past 40+ years.

bannerd wrote:How would an alpha dog deal with this.. let them kill each other?

No, the leader of the pack determines who, what, and where to fight. That is a total disreguard for the pack leader and their position, disrespect at its finest. Behavioral issues within the pack are dealt with swiftly and harshly by the pack leader. Any problems with another member of the pack, and they should come to you for guidance. Taking the "initiative" upon themselves and not coming to you for guidance is also corrected. This not only relates to food items, toys, and possession aggression. It also relates to aggression towards people and other dogs. Your dog does not dictate the rules, YOU do. One of the most serious offenses is against proper pack behavior. IF you let it go inside your pack, it will translate to outside your pack.

You ever notice how the pack leader corrects 2 lower ranking members? At the same time.

(p.s. There are ALOT of variables in this statement, such as fighting for rank in the pack is not considered aggression by the pack leader, go figure ).

Drizlaru wrote: fighting for rank in the pack is not considered aggression by the pack leader, go figure ).

I should have specified, by a canine pack leader. Human rules can and should place all dogs as equals in the household (at the bottom of the family pack). That's a leader rule, same as not peeing in the house, and has to be taught.

Just to add too - Be fair and don't put your dog in a position where your setting them up to fail. If you know they can't get along with toys and other dogs, or food and other dogs, keep toys and food away. Or keep them seperated while they enjoy their treat or toy. You will never see a canine pack leader take food away from his or her subordinates after they are done, it doesn't happen. In return the pack members give respect to their leader. Respect goes both ways, give it and you will receive it.