Establishing a pecking order?

[GinaB]

People I know have had a huskie for a few months now, I believe she is just under a year old (original owners ended up pregnant and didn't want to keep her) and so the breeder took her back and offered her to the people we know. All fine and dandy (except she's a nutcase, sweet dog though)

The same breeder has now given them another huskie that is 5 year old that someone did not want. (She will always try and rehome dogs she bred)

This breeder has told the owners to tell the new dog that she is a bad dog now and tell the younger one that she is a good girl all the time to establish that Cody (the younger one) is the dominant one.

This I can't understand as surely the dogs should be left to establish their own pecking order with no interference? I would have also though the older dog may try naturally to be the more dominant one.

 

[Tia]

She shouldn't be telling the other dog that it is a bad dog....however you can alter the pecking order within a dog pack. She needs to treat and reward the young dog before the other, she needs to pat the young dog first at all times. It should always be the dog you hope to be top-dog, that is dealt with first. The other dog which you want to be down the order somewhat, should always be handled AFTER the top one.

I've successfully changed the pecking order with my dogs, so it can be done. But I certainly never did it by telling any of the other dogs that they were bad!

 

[Blackhawk]

No I don't understand why you would tell the other one off either, if anything it could cause agression and resentment.

I'm planning to do the same thing Tia mentioned. I have a puppy arriving next week and my dog arriving the week after. Though my dog is very sociable, she'll be unsure of the pecking order with a small furry thing already established in the home.

 

[hadleigh]

Worked with my dogs and I have three. The dog who was here first always get fed first spoken to first and touched first...if possible! Dog who was here second gets fed second etc down the line. They all know their place and are all quite happy together. We never have fights or even mild disagreements. However they are also not in doubt about who is top dog and that, of course, is ME!!!