Re: Miss Maple and Other Dogs

[Gina Heitz <brier@oregonsbest.com>]

Hi Leigh,

As Fran said it's dominance, a struggle for power.  Maple is fairly 
dominate for a 6 month old puppy (there Fran now you know her age).  At 
some point you might have a "bitch fight" or you may not.  I would not 
leave these two dogs unattended  and I would intervene and assert my 
dominance carefully, act as a referee of sorts on a regular basis.  Don't 
go sticking your hands in to the middle of a romp, but stand tall and be 
loud and gruff.

Also as Fran points out bitches are the worst at the fighting thing.  If it 
escalates to a real fight girls will fight for blood.  Boys get one good 
lick in and go ouch that hurts and turn tail and go away as a general rule 
like a whipped puppy.  Come back all puffed up and remember it hurts and go 
away again.  This is one reason why I always suggest to people who are 
going to have more than one dog to have one of each sex.  Also get your 
male dog first allow him to develop his personality before you bring in the 
true alpha as all bitches are.  Not always dominate but in the pack the 
bitch is always the respected alpha.

Carol:  At this point in time isn't Shasha now the alpha though we know she 
is totally a submissive dog in temperament where Hunter is more aggressive 
(out going) in his temperament?  Even though he's a snob...

TRiX is submissive but knows she is a bitch and expects respect from the 
males in her life.  She will growl at TP or even big old hairy SeaJay if 
they try to take toys away from her or invade her space.  She is what I 
classify as an dominate submissive.  Rolls on her back but keeps asking for 
more with the bigger girls.  Kaycee scolds TRiX every day and there might 
at some point be a challenge of the pack order with regard to TRiX and one 
or more of the other girls taht might make us take notice.  We just keep an 
eye on things and referee when we need to.  We always let every one of the 
dogs know we are truly the alpha though.

Or it could just be play.  With out personally seeing it I really can not 
pass 100% judgement.

Gina