Quote:
Originally Posted by QuickSilver  Most, if not all scientific research in the past fifteen years has debunked the idea of alpha/beta/omega ranking in dogs. There's a great book that covers recent canine research: Amazon.com: Dog Sense: How the New Science of Dog Behavior Can Make You A Better Friend to Your Pet (9780465019441): John Bradshaw: Books
One thing that "alpha-ness" doesn't address is that different resources may be more or less important to a given dog at any time. A non-confrontational dog may change his stripes when he's hungry. Or maybe one dog always gets human affection first, but doesn't care about toys particularly.
I have seen two contradicting arguments based on alpha theory on possessiveness. The first says that you should allow dogs to work it out among themselves, because dogs are happier when they know their place. The second says that you should not allow this kind of behavior, or even force the possessive dog into "last" place, because not intervening displaces you as the ultimate alpha.
Since there's no evidence for either side of the argument as far as I know, I vote for doing whatever you want. But of course, the wife is always right.  Up with four-kneed elephants! |
I agree w/QS in the argument of Alpha. But I base this on the fact that mine (all 4 of them) all get along well and don't fight each other for Alpha. I feel that I am the leader and I say who gets what and who plays with what. Now dh disagrees and thinks they should all get and do everything the same all the time. As to where I believe in favorites (
Yes, I said it....something a mother should never admit, but I have favorites....doesn't mean I don't love the nonfavorites just that I connect with the favorites more and I show it to a degree) Like if it's just me normally I only walk the girls....well Bambi's had one walk but that's cause I just now believe she's covered from her shots as it's been over a month since she's gotten the final shot. I will occasionally take the GP Garrett (depending on the heat) but Barley I'll never take again as he turns into a devil on the leash so DH walks him.
My GP is a push over to the little yorkies so they would take from him all the time if I didn't step in. They know his favorite toy and would rip it apart if I let them. But I tell them no and give them one of their favorite toys. Lucky for me redirect normally works if not I put the favorite toy they want up and say no.
I see Barley trying to bully Garrett in other ways too....like jumping up and biting Garrett's sides when they get excited to go outside or something. I tell Barley no for these behavior and give him a look of seriousness and then I lavish Garrett w/affection for being such a tolerant big brother. Barley gets jealous of that and stopped doing it. Is it right or wrong I don't know BUT it works for me. Just my two cents.