Dog psychology question? Discipline?

Question

We have 4 dogs. 2 males, 2 females, all fixed. Recently one of the males (the younger one) has been beating up the other male (the older one). He tore into him badly the other day and caused some pretty nasty wounds. They have always gotten along well and this is a recent behavior. We are not sure if the younger one is trying to prove his dominance by pushing the older one out. The younger one is 6 and the older one is 14.
The older one does not back down but the younger one has started biting and injuring him.
We are really worried and not sure if we should discipline him when he does this. What can be done to stop this reign of terror?
There have not been any recent changes in their living area or conditions. No changes in feeding patterns either.
Do you know what we should do and what might be causing this?.
Thank you in advance.

Answer 1

Your younger male is indeed trying to dominate. You need to 'educate' all four dogs who's the chosen leader. If you want the older male to be the dominant male, you must show extra affection towards him. Let your body language show them whom you favour. (For example: Pat the older male on his head while you deliberately 'ignore' the others. If the younger male attacks the older male, catch him red handed and discipline him. Always follow up with a comforting pat on the older dog's head. Say loudly 'Furbie (e.g.) is a bad boy! Brandon (e.g) is a good boy!' Or if you serve the dogs' meals, make sure you serve the older dog first and make the others wait. This is dog language...the leader always eats first.) Follow the examples consistently and your 3 other dogs will come to terms with their lowered status.

Answer 2

I have experienced the same problem, only with 4 females (all fixed). Lady was the smallest dog, but also the oldest. She was a JRT/Sheltie mix. Summer was (at the time) 5 years old, the medium sized dog (Lab/Shepherd).

One day the dogs were all outside, being fed. They were fed in a specific order, to prevent fights. Well, Lady went after Summer, and Summer lit right in. They tore each other pretty bad, with my Mother right in the middle of it. After that, Summer became the Alpha dog, and Lady had to be kept inside away from the group. Summer was much stronger than any of the dogs (she litterally ate concreate - very powerful jaws), but never showed aggression until she was pushed around by Lady. They had been in each other's life for more than 2 years at that point.

We had a large farm at the time, so the dogs had the run of the yard all day, and were inside during the night, bad weather, etc. Lady was ok around them inside, but they were never left alone again. We had to do this for 3 years, difficult at times, but managable.

So basically, from the sounds of it, your younger dog is expressing his right to be Alpha male. In the wild, a younger animal takes that role once the older one is no longer strong enough to keep it. If your one or the other doesn't back off, you will end up with a pretty serious fight.

I honestly don't know how you can stop this from happening other than to seperate them. Please don't beat, hit, etc him. It's a natural thing (you have a pack of dogs, more than 2 you will get a pack-like mentallity). Contact a trainer in your area, or an Animal Communicator. Try to solve this without physical harm to your younger dog (I say this only because there are idiots here who will suggest you beat the crap out of him, or something equally heinous).

Best of luck!

Answer 3

Dogs are instinctively pack animals. Packs have a definite leader, and the older dog has been dominant for a long time, it sounds like. The younger dog may sense that the older dog's health is poor and that he is aging. (Dog's noses are so incredibly sensitive that they can sense that another dog is: male or female, their general health, their diet, and their current reproductive situation, among other things). The younger dog is beginning to assert himself, and hopes to overthrow the older dog and become pack leader. (Yes, a pack can consist of only 2 dogs). This is a natural behavior, it's genetically imprinted upon him. To discipline him for this would cause confusion and frustration for him.
Your choices are few:
1) Separate the dogs until the older one is no longer dominant (which may be the time of his death).
2) Continue the situation as it is.
3) Punish the younger dog and deal with the results.
I don't think there is an easy answer for you. Dogs are such noble creatures, they befriend us when others won't, they stay near and offer comfort when we are not well, and they defend us with their lives. I hope you can find a solution. In the meantime, give both of them a big hug from me.

Answer 4

I believe that (99.9% of the time) positive punishment (following an operant response with the presentation of an aversive stimulus) is wrong . Positive punishment includes shock collars, prong collars, smacking, yelling at and alpha rolling your dog. I don't think you need to call the humane society on yourself, just modify your techniques. You will be surprised at the positive response you get from your dog. Try using positive reinforcement, (following an operant response by the presentation of a desired stimulus eg. treat, pat, praise) when your dog does something you want it to continue doing (eg. sitting when asked). When it shows a behaviour you want to discourage, use negative punishment (removal of a desired stimulus, eg. your attention). Of course, your timing must be correct for this technique to work. Your instructor is wrong in that there are many "professional" trainers that use aversives such as those positive punishments mentioned above. However is this the best way?? No. Just because it may often be successful it does not mean that aversives are not causing other unwanted behavious such as aggression, submissive urination, fear reactions etc. Also, training using positive reinforcers builds a relationship between you and your dog that is built on positive and not negative experiences. Just because something has been done in the past, and it works, does not mean it is the kindest, most effective, most efficient training method.

Answer 5

The younger dog realizes that the older dog is aging, and he has set himslf to move a notch up the alpha pole...This is normal in all dog packs, wild and domestic... Since the females don't seem to be involved, do this training with only the two males..

You need to re-establish your own role as pack leader..In their world, might makes right..but in your world, all must respect each other...
If you are a younger person, be sure to have parents with you during this training.. It works easier with an 'assistant' anyway.

You can do this quite easily, but it is time consuming and requires Consistency.
First of all..Pick up the food dish...don't ever put it down during this training period.
Your dogs will eat ONLY what you give them from your hand.
Put a leash on each of them..this helps you move them as needed, and also shows them that you can control them..

If they become scrappy while you are feeding them, at the very first sign of aggression, quickly, take the aggressor and put him in the other room, and ignore him while you feed the innocent one..Then, bring out the other (after only a few minutes) and try feeding them again.. every-time any sign of a squabble breaks out, take the offender to the other room for a time-out.
be sure to serve up their normal amount of food before you begin, so that they get a good meal...
Dogs during this training need fed 2 times per day..so that is why this method is time consuming...but, you are setting the ground rules that will help all the rest of their lives, so it is well worth it!

this normally takes just 2 days or so, but if they are pit bulls it may take a bit longer. if there are other family members, get them involved, as they need to be masters as well.

Dogs are even so much happier when they accept their owner as master.
... then there is no need to compete.

Answer 6

Discipline is definitely in order. Have you checked the area to make sure one of the dogs hasn't buried a bone somewhere and that could be causing the aggression of the younger dog.
The younger dog could be setting his sights on claiming the alpha dog status. Without supervision or separating them, it may get worse. It's obvious which is the stronger dog and which is more vulnerable to being attacked.
Check that behavior now before it happens again and one of them ends up so badly injured it won't survive.

Answer 7

I think you might need to find a new home for the younger one its just not fair whats happening to the older one.Dogs work in packs maybey the younger one scents something wrong with the older one.I dont believe in getting rid of dogs for most reasons, but it sounds like you need to because the older one doesnt deserve this.14 is to old to be going thruogh that he should be injoying whats left of his life .Maybey the younger one id jelouse.I normally go against people getting rid of any animal but that poor 14 yr old .I have elderly dogs and I dont know how your able to deal with this its a tuff problem

Answer 8

Are these dogs 6 and 14 YEARS old? Six is pretty late for a dog to decide to show dominance over another one he's lived with and been friends with for years. I would be taking a dog who exhibits sudden unexplained behaviour changes to the vet to be checked to find out if something physical is going on with him.

Answer 9

The younger one now thinks he can take the bigger one in a fight. it will only get worse!!! Do not leave the two of them where they can get into it. If it means keeping them in seperate parts of the house you will have to do it. You could probably beat the younger one to death and he would still attack the older one. Good luck.

Answer 10

The younger has noticed that the older is SICK & WEAK! Now's his chance to kill/drive out the older & move up in the pack.

SEPERATE them!!!
FAST!! & get old dog to VET for help! He has something major going on that YOU haven't noticed & the other dogs have! Heart?

Yes,I've SEEN it! It's true!