Quote:
Originally Posted by JeanieK  Not always. Mine will growl at another one, but then take their chewie and go somewhere else.
They have never growled at me.
What I am saying is, that dogs in a pack are not always on the same level with each other. They all will be submissive to you, but not to each other.
A less submissive dog will growl at a more submissive dog and the dog will walk away. If the more submissive dog walks up to the less submissive dog with the chewie, the less submissive will drop the chewie and walk away.
If they are all very submissive dogs, they never challenge each other. But if you have two dominant dogs, you might have some fights. But normally one will back down and that is how they establish a pecking order.
The point is unless they are fighting, it is best to let them work it out on their own, cause if you don't know what you are doing, you might read them wrong and correct the wrong one, and create a bigger problem. |
A fearful dog will growl even if they are submissive.
Dogs can be trained to walk away or give up the resource. This can be done and should be done. What happens if your little yorkie doesn't want to give up something to a bigger dog someday? Not all dogs will back off because of a growl. What do you do then? Let them work it out?