Dominance Thing?

[Corgi_Lover]

Short story at bottom

I mean i guess my pups have just come to an equal balence of dominance but is this normal? My dogs have a really odd dominace structor(sp?). Megan doesnt really mind being at the bottom of the chain. But Abby makes sure she stays there. Trevor just doesnt really care were he stays but Abby like "imagines" that there is this huge complicated dominance structor. Trevor has never shown dominant behavior exept the ocasional growl when Abby tries to steel his toy he is playing with. But Abby if fairly dominant over her toys and space. If Megan is in the kitchen or near the toy box or crate Abby will give her this "stare" and slowly creep up on her. head low, hair raised, ocasional growl, Megan will leave but Abby will herd her into a corner, she has never gone after Megan, she will just keep her in the corner. If we see her doing this we say "Leave her" and she runs into her crate. We yell at her and then after 5 minutes she is allowed out of her crate. She has gotten a lot better abount this and she barely ever does this anymore. Also she is a little dominant about her toys. Trevor on the other hand is sweet and just really doesnt care. he will walk up to Megan and give her a nice kiss on her nose; Megan doesnt like this; but he just doesnt really care. But Abby has this weird theory that she is not allowed to eat before trevor is done. She will lay in her crate untill he has compleatly finnished and has walked away, then she wil slowly come out of her crate and eat. Is this a normal behavior?

So a long story short--The most dominant pup in the house turns completely submissive while Trevor (the most submissive dog in the house) eats. Is this a normal behavior?

[Peggy]

Originally Posted by Corgi_Lover

Short story at bottom

I mean i guess my pups have just come to an equal balence of dominance but is this normal? My dogs have a really odd dominace structor(sp?). Megan doesnt really mind being at the bottom of the chain. But Abby makes sure she stays there. Trevor just doesnt really care were he stays but Abby like "imagines" that there is this huge complicated dominance structor. Trevor has never shown dominant behavior exept the ocasional growl when Abby tries to steel his toy he is playing with. But Abby if fairly dominant over her toys and space. If Megan is in the kitchen or near the toy box or crate Abby will give her this "stare" and slowly creep up on her. head low, hair raised, ocasional growl, Megan will leave but Abby will herd her into a corner, she has never gone after Megan, she will just keep her in the corner. If we see her doing this we say "Leave her" and she runs into her crate. We yell at her and then after 5 minutes she is allowed out of her crate. She has gotten a lot better abount this and she barely ever does this anymore. Also she is a little dominant about her toys. Trevor on the other hand is sweet and just really doesnt care. he will walk up to Megan and give her a nice kiss on her nose; Megan doesnt like this; but he just doesnt really care. But Abby has this weird theory that she is not allowed to eat before trevor is done. She will lay in her crate untill he has compleatly finnished and has walked away, then she wil slowly come out of her crate and eat. Is this a normal behavior?

So a long story short--The most dominant pup in the house turns completely submissive while Trevor (the most submissive dog in the house) eats. Is this a normal behavior?

Go to the forums button and look for "What Is An Alpha Dog". That will give you more clues as to what is going on and where your dogs are in the pack order.

Peggy