Should the puppy be dominant or should my 2yo?

[DanielleG]

I have notices recently that my 2yo is rolling over and letting the puppy have his way with him. Max just lays there and lets the puppy hump his head and sniff is unmentionables (we break it up). I expected Max to be the one doing all of the sniffing. I'm kind of taken back that the puppy is humping, Max has never humped. Is Max just letting the puppy do that because he knows its a puppy or is he the number 3 dog now (I'm the top dog, puppy seems to be number 2). Who should be the boss besides me?

[Autumn]

I've done a lot of reading about this - granted most of it on the internet and possibly not that reliable :D - but several of the more reliable sources said to keep in mind that YOU don't get to choose who is dominant. Only the dogs can decide.
It may be difficult to see Max seem to go down a notch but everything I've read also said most dogs are happy as long as they know what their place is and don't really care if they're top dog. You don't say how old your pup is, but humping can be a dominant behavior.
I'm far from an expert ;-), just interested in the subject and read a lot.
Anybody have a different experience than these "basics" I've read?
Good luck with your new pup. Just be glad Max is such an easy-going guy!
Autumn, Chaos, and Delilah

[Sharky]

We have Tyla who is a little over a year and JoJo who is a little over 3 months and there is NO mistake in our house who is the alpha dog!!! Tyla will just lay there and let JoJo pounce all over her until she has enough then she gets up and walks away!! Granted the play rough at times, but JoJo definatley has the last word (or bite, or growl....lol)

[JazzyBells_Mom]

I'm sorry Danielle, I don't have any advice to offer. I just had to share this though.

I thought when I first read your post (til almost to the end, OK sue me I'm slow!) that Max was your....child! I'm sorry. But I was picturing a 2 year old little boy sitting on your Dane's head and humping. LoL Sorry! OK, I'm slow and blonde!

It was very amusing reading until I figured out that Max was your Dane! LoL

Mona & JazzyBell :+

[Mira]

Hi Danielle

Well i have 5 dogs and all females. So here is my advice to you. You can't control who is dominant. Dogs are pack animals. They set up a herearcy(sp) So jsut let them do their things and establish this and everything will flow. You might have some growls when your little one gets bigger but they will figure it out. Good Luck

Angie:)

[Holldoll]

Mona~

Don't feel bad! I thought the same thing! And I'm not even blonde!! Just a little slow at times!! :D

:*
Holly

[jaykimsue]

I have to admit that when I first started to read this post I thought the same as Mona and Holly :D

I had to giggle afterwards though, :7

Susan and Jonah :)

[JazzyBells_Mom]

Great! I thought my mind was totally gone!

Mona & JazzyBell

[mp]

Oh good, so did I!

Now that we're sure it's two dogs, some dogs are very tolerant (even maternal) with puppies and don't start defending their pack positions until the puppy is older.

mp

[Cujasky]

Who should be the boss besides me?

Dogs will generally pick their own pack order, but, I was once told by an instructor, that always feed, groom, etc,first, the dog that was there first.Generally, it will help to set the tone of the relationship between the dogs. Cuja is our mixbreed b*tch and 11 years old. She is definitely the alpha bitch in the house. She will allow EZ to play with her, only when Cuja wants to play. Otherwise she does give off her signals, either by walking away(or if EZ is persistant, by a low growl). Cuja has her own bed, her own toys, and her own area to go when she want some free time alone. Cuja is fed first and usually receives her treats first.This being said, Cuja does not "rule" the house. Cuja also knows that I am, along with every other human in the house,is higher than she is and EZ is, so whatever I say-goes. With a new pup in the house, there will always be a transition period where they both must get used to each other and learn the rules of dealing with each other.

[Ginger1]

Danielle, we went through the same thing when we got Marley. It was very disturbing to see a 2 month old puppy humping a 3 year old English Mastiff. Marley (our Dane)has a dominant personality, and Carbon has always been passive, but I felt the same way, like Carbon should be sticking up for himself. We had Marley neutered and he no longer humps everyone (he was "friendly" w/ other dogs too) But he still likes to boss Carbon around.

[Merlequin]

I like your style.

~Bonnie~
"Some days you're the dog, and some days you're the hydrant." ~ Unknown

Visit Flash's World
www.merlequin.com
www.thebonniepage.com
www.docmarine.com

[weim_mom]

That's what I thought too Mona! I was thinking, "Ok, your baby doesn't hump your dog... and this is a bad thing?"

LOL
Michelle :7