espencer
Posted : 10/11/2006 12:00:27 PM
ORIGINAL: lookingoutforscout
My husband and I just brought home a new puppy yesterday from the humane society. She is very sweet and quite calm. We have a 6 month old black lab mix who loves EVERYTHING. We would not even hurt a flea!!! Ok, well maybe a flea. Anyway, the two dogs seem to get along well. They were romping in the yard, but every once in a while with our 6 month old (Scout) put his face in hers, she would growl and sometimes nip at him. Is this normal behavior? Shouldn't Scout be the dominate one? Is there hope for these two? I am a nervous wreck around those two because of this. I want our house to have hamony. Can anyone give me and my husband advice or at least conforting words!!! Thanks!!
Actually
YOU should be the "dominant" one, not your dog, you have the be the "leader" of your pack and you can decide if you want to have a hierarchy or not (i rather not since then they wont be fighting for 2nd place)
Cesar Millan says:
"
Bringing Home a Newly Adopted Dog
In my work, I get to meet the most wonderful people and I try not to be too hard on them when they are my clients, but usually I#%92m telling them exactly what they don#%92t want to hear – that they are usually the reason for their dog#%92s problems and they need to change the way they relate to their dogs for their own good.
It is hard to resist wanting to spoil a new pet, especially if you have just adopted a homeless animal. Owners will bring their new friend home, constantly hug the dog, stroke the dog, bring the dog to bed with them, and tell it, “It#%92s all right. You#%92re safe now.”
The problem is the dog doesn#%92t feel safe at all. It will sense it is with a person who doesn#%92t have a “plan,” knowing that they are not with an assertive leader. One of two things will happen: The dog will develop an issue stemming from that insecurity –or existing issues will get worse–or the dog will immediately take the leadership position so that at least someone is in charge! Remember that the majority of shelter dogs are already stressed and nervous or afraid and can become aggressive if they don#%92t feel they have that strong, calm-assertive leader at their sides.
In the wild, when a new dog joins an existing pack, they already have a position for it. It will either be a leader or follower. The new dog knows what#%92s expected of him, and what to expect. Most people don#%92t have such a plan, and when a dog finds himself in front of owners who do not assert themselves correctly, the dog is going to create the plan for them.
The right way to bring a rescued dog into your home involves understanding the leadership role. The first thing you must do upon leaving the kennel or shelter is to take the dog for a walk. This will rid him of some of his anxious energy. Resist the urge to coddle it. Affection must come later, when the leadership role is fully established. And don#%92t worry that you are hurting the dog#%92s feelings by withholding affection. You are not. The most important thing it needs to know is where it belongs in the new pack."