Under no circumstances should you leave dogs to sort out their differences. It’s grossly unfair on older dogs and raises the status of younger dogs to an unhealthy level.
Left unmanaged it leads to all kinds of problems. As Pack Leader sorting out differences is your job.
In pet dogs any form of aggression is both unwanted and unnecessary so it makes sense never to allow your dog to develop fighting skills. I let puppies know very clearly that jumping on older dogs, biting their ears and tail is not acceptable. Pottering around the house or sleeping with an older dog is fine but rough play or truculent behaviour is not.
Older, calm dogs do not approve of unruly behaviour and if you don’t deal with it they have no option but to do it themselves thus forcing a calm dog to become aggressive.
I intervene the moment I see any sign of unruly behaviour, my senior dogs appreciate this and remain calm knowing the problem will be dealt with. Any older dog showing aggression to a youngster will be instantly corrected.
In a nutshell anything that encourages your dog to develop aggression skills is bad. That’s why I avoid rough games like tug ‘o’ war and wrestling. My dogs wouldn’t know how to be aggressive because I’ve never allowed them to learn.
When I take things from their mouths I use absolute minimum force I want them to remain gentle and soft mouthed and ripping stuff out of their jaws will only encourage them to bite harder. It is your job to sort out differences. Your older dog relies on you to maintain equilibrium and your young dogs rely on you for education.It’s a serious job being Pack Leader.
Read more training tips on Vic’s website: www.vicbarlow.com , and click here to read some of Vic's previous columns
