Quote:
Originally Posted by Odie
I was not thinking of them as dominating me. I was thinking more along the lines that Odin is the Alpha male, Angie next etc. I was wondering if it was jealousy or something that I was doing. And yes they do fight this was just different than their regular fighting. My husband built two kennels in the backyard and when they fight they get separated there.
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I was rather busy earlier so didn't get to say all I wanted.
You saw others say to forget the dominance thing, the alpha status. I agree as well.
I have "dominance" over my dogs, meaning they know I'm the master.
However, around other dogs, all training is out the window, as it cannot be trained out of them. I never attempt the impossible, meaning attempting to train the aggression out of them.
Why? Because I believe it is a form of cruelty to punish them for their inherent nature. It confuses them and they do not understand what they are doing is wrong, in their owners eyes at least.
I don't believe in having packs of dogs, as pets...although years ago I saw true pack behavior in Alaskan Malamutes.
I'm sure you have seen the stories now and then of "pitbull" packs attacking humans.
If they were true pit dogs, that would be impossible...
ApBT's are the most independent breed of dog, and their mentality is, "there can be only one."
Non-pit dogs, though, do follow a lead. If one attacks, they all do.
I know if one of my dogs attacked a person, or even became aggressive, the others will want to get that dog.
Even when I have had dogs that could be around each other, I always had to make sure no other dogs were in sight.
Why? Once they see a strange dog, they want to get it....when they couldn't, they'd want to fight each other.
(Hope you understand what I'm trying to demonstrate)
In your case, since they get along most of the time, and because they are blue dogs (I'm assuming here), they are not
ApBT's and do not have true dog aggression. (Heck, the great grandfather of my dogs was a pit champion and got along with other dogs, UNLESS they started with him---then bed want to kill them. That is the exception, not the rule, though.)
True pit dogs generally don't attack weaker dogs, but want to beat the stronger ones.
If you study nature, animals like to eliminate the weak.
In your case, though, I believe it was jealousy. You were gone, they missed you, and the instigator may have felt the weaker doc was invading the attention it wanted from you.
Pets like routine. You being gone disturbed the balance.
I wouldn't worry too much about it. Once the balance returns to normal, the order will be back in place.
