Most of the so-called experts who have handled many multiples of dogs for years say to leave pack hierarchy alone or it could destabilize the pack, cause insurrection and fighting. Usually members of a dog pack or dog family are happier when we appreciate their own natural, canine family structure over those we might want to insinuate on them as humanlike. If the pack is getting along as is and not fighting, I would let it be. With two terriers of the same gender, you can sometimes create problems when you try to usurp the leader or alpha member of the pack. If you want one dog to play with a toy the leader disagrees with, let the pack leader/alpha outside and allow the other dog to play with the toy. See if that works. Just be sensitive to the fact that as canines, they operate on a different social schematic than we do and to give a follower "place" or "standing" above what he's earned can get him hurt sometimes.
__________________ Jeanie and Tibbe One must do the best one can. You may get some marks for a very imperfect answer: you will certainly get none for leaving the question alone. C. S. Lewis |