CockersOnline Forum
Cocker Specific Discussion => Behaviour & Training => Topic started by: Clarabell on January 21, 2012, 07:21:57 PM
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Hello everyone!! I was just wondering if anyone else who has a black & tan has dominance problems? Its Just with other dogs and in one sense seems to be rough play but sometimes can be a bit intimidating towards younger dogs. Thea loves to play and definately loves rough & tumble but she does get very bossy >:D Could do with some advice please.
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Daisy, our black and tan (10 months) definitely tries to dominate her older brother, Dylan (2). It's usually when either food or fusses are on the cards and, though she knows that they will BOTH be included, she tries to bully Dylan out of the picture. As you say, it sounds like rough play, but the timing indicates that it's more of a dominance thing. Have tried to stop this - but with little success so far. If anyone can advise the best way to stop her doing this, it would be appreciated. Thanks.
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Nothing to do with the colour. Ebony is black and tan and she is not rough at all. In fact she can be quite nervy! :D
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Daisy is actually very nervy - except with her big brother :005:
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Abbi (nearly 3) is black and tan and will give in to every dog. If she's playing with her ball and another dog comes along she just backs off as if to say "you have it!". She submits to most dogs if she doesn't know them and those she does she just plays happily with.
I don't think the colour is relevant so just in her nature.
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I have a Penny a black an tan nearly3 who is happy friendly puppy to both us and dogs. Both her mother father etc are good temperament.
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Millie is solid black and doesn't like other dogs ;).
You'll get much more help if you change the title of your thread.
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Dennis completely hates any rough and tumble and has never been dominent towards other dogs. He is now 7 years of age.
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At 9 months, your dog is still very much an adolescent and learning the rules of doggie communication. I doubt very much your dog is either "Dominant" or "bossy" - an individual dog will tend to respond to different dogs in different ways... even dogs who live together may have a more fluid heirarchy, one being the "boss" in terms of food, but giving way to another when out meeting other dogs, for example.
I have a dog who I have to monitor quite carefully with other dogs... but her reactions are generally nothing to do with "dominance".
She lacks confidence in general, and had some very bad experiences with other dogs when she was a pup. Therefore if a bouncy, in-your-face dog approaches she will tell it off. If an adolescent dog approaches, she will normally tell it off and if it moderates it's behaviour, go on to play. If a puppy approaches she is normally very tolerant, unless the pup gets too bouncy in which case it is gently put in it's place. If a polite older dog approaches she will greet appropriately, or avoid a meeting if she's not 100% certain. She will avoid larger groups of dogs, and can get very defensive if dogs hem her in. Timid dogs she is very patient with, however overly submissive dogs (those who approach confidently and then turn on their back) she will bully if I don't call her away... and there are a few dogs who she hates with a passion and will tell them off as soon as look at them, even though I cannot see how they have offended her in the slightest. So in a very few situations she can be a bit of a bully, but most of her interactions with other dogs are tainted with fear and uncertainty on her part.
The key in dog interactions isn't so much how your dog in acting, but what the other dog does and how your dog responds to that... if another dog keeps coming back for rough play, then they are both enjoying it and it is not a sign that your dog is a bully (though with adolescent dogs it can be an idea for owners to intervene and calm things down from time to time so that they don't learn bad play habits).
If another dog acts scared, or backs off from the greeting, you would expect your dog to show some calming signals (lick lips, turn head, yawn etc) or other non-threatening behaviour (a relaxed/happy lie-down, a play bow, approaching the side of the dog rather than head on or straight in for the bum-sniff).
If another dog yelps during rough play, you would expect your dog to immediately back off.
How young are the younger dogs she tends to overdo things with?? Puppies can be very rude - while adult dogs tend to give them a generous puppy license, adolescents don't always know to do this... the key is that if a puppy yelps/submits etc, your dog should then back off - if not call her away and reward her for leaving the pup alone. If it's other adolescents, I suspect it's just a case of teenage macho-ism. :005:
Does your dog get to play with older steady dogs?? This is the ideal way to ensure she grows up with appropriate manners, as an older dog will not hesitate to tell yours when she has overstepped the bounds... ;)
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Don't think this is anything to do with colour :dunno:
Coco is very bossy with other dogs and she is brown :-\ She used to beat up the smaller dogs in the park and she would try with the big ones too if she had the chance. >:( A few tellings off from older dogs when she was a teenager helped her to learn some manners - don't think this was anything to do with dominance - just pushing the boundaries ;)
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Thank you everyone. Thea is a very happy and confident little girl and has no fear whatsoever which is her character and we do love this about her. Her friends are all mostly around the same age if not a little older and range from Teddy the German Shepherd, Paddy the Boxer, Murray & lulu the cockers and Matthew the Cavajack. So as you can see, with Thea, size doesn't matter. I have seen her submit on a few occasions when she must sence something but she never seems worried.
I think her bossy behaviour may possibly be easing very slightly or she is learning a little lesson as one of her best friends (Murray the cocker) now ignores her if she starts barking in his face and when she stops, he resumes play. This I find totally amazing to watch.
Thanks again for replying :D
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Only just found the post on bossy dogs ! my computer has been down, anyway our Amber is a gold show dog nearly two and a half , she has always been less tolerant of puppies for some reason , most dogs she meets she will sniff and is OK but she doesn't like to play much with other dogs and is quite happy to just run about by herself, i often wonder why she barks some dogs off particularly puppies ?
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I think Thea just likes to be top pup and after reading all your posts, I've come to the conclusion it's just her very strong character >:D
I wouldn't want her any other way although sometimes when visiting a friend who has two chocolate labs, one being 4 months & the other 4 yrs old, I have that feeling of anxiety when you take a bossy toddler to play group :005:
Many thanks again :D