I have 4 females yorkies and 1 male golden retriever. The yorkies are mother and then daughters. They all get along great but Cozy is Mama to all the others. She is top dog of the doggie pack and discipline them like puppies. A lot of growling and noise but no damage. Even the +75 Golden is disciplined by her.

I think I will have to do what SWHouston says and let her be the alpha dog. I'm thinking back and remembering I had started to feed Mia first as a way of telling Nina I didn't want her to be dominant over Mia. I have also been putting Nina behind because of her aggressiveness. This has only made her furious as she once used to be the alpha dwarf (lol) and now I have her apart from the doggie pack. She does only get aggressive towards Mia.

I will be spaying Mia in a month and later Nina because I'm currently having a really tight budget. I hope this does help to calm them both down. Although I really wish it was my boy, Bambi, the alpha dog. He is the most "rational" buddy in the house (lol).

It is not an idea I love because Mia is such a kind girl and so naive that I feel bad having to reassure she is below Nina. :(

You are lucky to have your babies getting along just fine. I hope I can come to that point soon and I will for sure work on it as I just don't ever want to re-home any of them.

Can you switch and have Nina spayed first? That may help a little bit to have her hormones calm down a bit.

I don't think a male will ever be alpha over a female! LOL :)

I am a bit scared of spaying Nina. She weights 5 lbs ... do you think it will be fine?

and LOL at the male not alpha against females

Oh yes, she'll be fine. My Dexter was fixed and he was only 4.2lbs. 5lbs is fine to have them fixed. Yes, shes small and I would be cautious with a clinic type place where they are put under, fixed in 10 mins and then put in a crate to recover. My Dexter went to a vet hospital. He was constantly supervised and made sure that he ate, drank, his vitals were stable all day after he came out of it, and they only sedated him to last a little bit of time, so he was completely awake and aware when I picked him up at 430pm.
Fletcher went to a clinic (he was much bigger at 9lbs) and it was a lot cheaper, but I took him home and he was groggy all night, barely waking up, no food or drinking. It was a bit harsher I think for him than Dexters was for him. Poor little guys!

Good advice celstu :thumbup:

Infinity,

At this point, I don't think it will make much difference as to who gets the knife first, and, YOU don't decide who is Alpha qualified. That's internal Pack business, they've already made those decisions, and it appears that Nina has the lead. Though it's tough to see/witness, resistance from the other Pack members, only strengthens Nina, and "proves" to the others, she's qualified.

Now, it's up to you go make all that work for her ! :thumbup:

The key is patients and consistency.

PS:
Males will not get involved with Alpha Female struggles.

I realize that this post was not directed at me, but I found it very interesting and wanted to add 2 cents worth, lol.

I have a 15 yo nm, a 5yo if, a 3yo if Biewer, and a 5 yo sf.

The Alpha is the 5yo sf, then the 5yo if, then the 3yo if, then the 15yo nm. The 15yo nm does challenge the Alpha sf on occasion (who is first out the door, or to get my attention) as do I to remind her I am the Pack Leader. If he's not starting something, he ignores the girls.

One thing funny (I was shocked) I noticed the other day... the Alpha sf is a bit over the top (off her rocker). I was walking her with the 3yo if Biewer, and the Biewer started correcting the Alpha sf whenever she needed it (like when she barked and tried to run after a passing car), and then the Biewer backed off until the next time the Alpha went 'off'.

Also, these dogs were super passive, or more like 'lost' when the Alpha went away for a week to have surgery, and were very happy when she came home.

The only other behavior I've seen that really bothers me is when somebody gets hurt, like taking a bad step that makes them yelp.... all the others rush over and I don't trust it... I always intervene... it just does not appear friendly.

Maybe they let her be Alpha bc she is a bit crazed, lol! IDK. I had the male since he was 5yo, then in April 2009 I added the now Alpha sf, and in June 2009 we got the 5yo if, and in January 2010 the Biewer. I thought it would be easier that way rather than letting any of them become 'established' and then adding on. This way, it all came about as they were still settling into the new home. (The Alpha thought the Biewer was a big squeaky toy in the beginning, lol, so I really had to watch them closely. My first clue was when I saw the Alpha dragging the Biewer across the floor by the ear... no blood or fighting, she just wanted to play.

They get along most of the time, just an occassional skirmish and a less occassional fight here and there. The two IFs just went through a trying period, they never fought till a few weeks ago, and I had to quickly separate them. I believe it was all my fault though. One wanted to play, the other was protecting me.

I do give them each special attention, but they will wait in line for their 'turn' to be picked up and cuddled. They do the same for treats, and new toys or bows from the store.

I see after writing all this down, that their personalities play a big role in it all, and I do constantly pay attention to what is going on: I'm always listening and watching them interact. Most days they are all very well behaved....

I have 3 spayed females and 1 neutered male. Cali is almost 7 and I got her at 9 weeks. When I brought her in I had a 7 year old pomeranian who was very territorial and not very friendly. They just pretty much ignored each other and coexisted fine. Then about 1 1/2 years later I brought in Pixie who was 13 months when I got her. She came in and took on the alpha or pack leader. She took to my pom instantly and would lay right between her front paws all the time. And my pom let her. Then about 1 year after I brought Pixie home I got Roxie from Pixie's breeder. She was 4 months when I brought her home and Pixie took to her immediately. When Roxie got a little older she and Pixie would pick on Cali. Never to the point of hurting her but they have all grown out of that. 2 years ago when I inherited Nikki a neutered rescued male, who was estimated to be 15-17 years old he took an instant dislike to Cali and to this day will go after her. Fortunately he has no teeth and can't hurt her. She never fights back. He has gone after Roxie a few times but she stands up to him so he doesn't try it much. He has never, ever gone after Pixie and will even let her sleep in his bed. So all in all they get along fine. Pixie will get on the others if they aren't listening to me and she will lay by them if they aren't feeling well. So she seems to be the pack leader.

kjc,

I apologize for not opening up my question to the Forum. Though I'm still quite interested in what Teresa has to say about that. Your comments are ALWAY welcome, solicited or not !!! ;)

Sounds like you have a great Pack there, no doubt a result from your expert management skills (learned or natural) :thumbup:

Patti,

I too have one, Sneakers (3.5y/i/M/Alpha) that doesn't not want to meet and greet anyone. Highly territorial and protective, then I have...
Becca (1.5y/s/F) who knows no strangers, but, that depends on the circumstances. At home she's protective, out and about, she's as friendly as can be.

I think that their original exposures to people are the keys in the differences between the two. I never let Sneakers meet anyone, dogs included, and now he's quite aggressive when he encounters strangers, home or out and about.

With Becca, I took her everywhere when she was a puppy, didn't let her come into contact with other Dogs until she had her full series of shots. But would take her in a Shopping Cart, carry her on my arm, let people pet her ect, and that definitely made a difference in her attitude about accepting strangers. She still follows Sneakers lead here at home, as far as "alarming" if someone/something approaches. I always praise when they alarm here at home for the right reason, I sorta see that as their "job" for me.

HA, I've always thought a Dog needed a Job. :rolleyes:

I had to rehome one of my females for my alpha female did not like the other female. The other female attacked my older one and ripped into her pretty well. my alpha is a 5 1/2 lbs and the other was 8. Although the 8lb one was just defending herself from the alpha. I homed her to a friend with a male, had her spayed too, and they get along very well and im thrilled. I personally could not leave the home without caging them for fear of a battle while i was away from them. My alpha gets along with her daughter fine but not other females other than her own. I cut back on my yorkie hoarding:( and am currently having my last litter too:( Im just too busy at this time in my life for breeding and fighting. Perhaps when the children go to college i will have a house full again:(

Make sure that they are both spayed for certain!!!! that will help in 90% of cases. I wanted another litter from my alpha so that is why i rehomed my other larger one.

I have an 11 yo yorkie, a 5 yo mix, and a new baby 4 months old. They are all males and the baby just loves to play with them but he bites them in a playful way.
I love having 3 dogs and it is a lot of work but the love I receive is priceless!! :)

I'm looking forward to getting a third Dog. It will be a Male this time. I like to alternate gender. Hopefully later on this year.

I had Sneakers(M) for two years, when Becca(F) arrived, and he thought that She was HIS PUPPY ! :D

Though Becca can be a total pest at times, I see a deep love between them, and it's something that is beyond what could be related to human influence. Becca is approaching 2 yo now, and I KNOW She's going to be as good a Mom to the new one, as Sneakers was a Leader for her. He's taught her SO much, it's really better when you have a strong (well established) Alpha to lead the Pack.

Maybe its jealousy? 2 females fighting over a male? I don't know never been in that situation but have heard about it before from friends.