What does it mean when a puppy is submissive with its littermates?

Question

She is the runt, and when her siblings rough house and such, she stays clear... is that a sign for her future temperment? She is part pitbull.

Answer 1

In my opinion it means that it is the pick of the litter! Unless you are showing it :o) They establish a "pecking order" and only one can be alpha. The submissive one will never try out for the part but is much happier just being a follower! If you are going to get a pet (Not show dog) this is the dog you want (just my opinion)

Answer 2

Sure can be! On the other hand it can be that she is agressive and not allowed to play with them. Dogs are pretty much born with strong dominency or submissive traits, regardless of their breeds. Even if she was a purebred pitbull, she could easily be submissive from birth!

Answer 3

Yes, it is a sign of her temperment. Believe it or not, a lot of behavior problems are genetic and not always environment or abuse. An aggressive dog was most likely born that way and submissive or dominant traits are the same.

Answer 4

It's a puppies way of being playful or as we would say it's playing, and as well it can be as it's showing who's older and or the dominate one, but in most cases their playing and just rough housing as we have done when we were kids, it's the same for puppies as it is for us.

Answer 5

Yes it is a sign she is the lowest in the pack there is alway one in a litter. Let the other pups know you the pack leader do not want this . You need to socialize her take her to parks around lots of people & other dogs let her know there is no reason to be afraid. Go to this web site it might help you it has helped a lot of people .
http://www.dogpsychologycenter.com/
Best of luck to you.

Answer 6

Sorry to put it harshly, but there is a runt in every litter.

Answer 7

it might just be a part of her shy personality. maybe she has not come out of her shell yet