Female Pup trying to gain dominance

[RoarsomeMum]

Hi there,

I have 2 rotties, a 10 month old intact male Jay, and a 12 week old Female Asi intact.

Our Male came from responsible breeders, breed for tempremant, and we have spent lots of time in training. He loves agility and is good at it! He is a very good natured dog. He plays with Asi well. lets her mouth him, and disiplines her if she gets to rough. Asi came from a background where she had to fight for her food/space. She was not socialised as a Young Young Pup the way Jay was.

She tests her bounds a lot at puppy school, is very dominat, but not agressive. She was food agressive when we first got her, but we have worked with her and she does not show food agression anymore.

She has started to get far more agressive in her Play with Jay. Sometimes, Jay seems scared of her Now. I am not entirely sure what to do. Its been 12 years since we have had a "pair" of dogs, and I cant remember if we should try to interfer with there "pecking" order, or if that would make it worse. She still waits for him to eat, and lets him go through doors firts, so he still has some top dog respect, but the play fighting is getting too rough.

any ideas/advice welcome.

[liah]

Is the play fighting getting to the point where there is blood or broken skin? Do they seem to be getting too vicious? Usually its best to let them establish a pecking order. In a pack there is usually one male and one female at the head of the pack and the rest fall in behind these. I have 2 bullmastiffs, a male and a female. The male has a nasty habit of bowl jumping while eating. He will go between his bowl and the female's, she will put up with this for a little while and then she will go him. I let her go as she doesn't hurt him but she lets him know its not on. In our house she is the dominant one. You will find that in alot of cases the female will try and usually succeed at being dominant over the male. If they are not physically hurting each other I wouldn't worry about it.

[RoarsomeMum]

Thanks a lot for that Liah. No blood or even close yet, thank goodness.

I guess I will have to get use to the idea that Asi will probably be leader of the pack. Poor Jay!!.

[liah]

Go the strong female! :laughing: