Slyfuturedobydad

hey guys, so i got to thinking,
lets say you bring a pup home, and you start training etc, he gets to see you as the Alpha, leader of the pack, but you have other dogs too, and one of them doesnt have to "sit" before every meal, or "down" when you tell it too, does this affect the pup at all in his eyes seeing you?,
i ask this because my mom has an 8year old grumpy,stubborn, food,physical agressive lhasa apso, that doesnt take orders from anybody, if anyone even tried to teach her you'd get bit, bad, my mom refuses to take her to see if theres something wrong with her, (shes bitten everyone in my family, including me it was a gash under my arm!), it sounds harsh but i tell my mom this dog should be put down before it bites the wrong person, and weget sued, but anyways, will this affect me being a alpha in my dobes eyes at all? the other lhasa is 1, and im just starting to train him now, (knows sit, and down, but can be stubborn about doing them), but the 8 yr old forget it, i value my limbs, i dont feel like gettin them bit off!

bleh60

I don't believe that behavior should be accepted in any dog regardless of size, and your mother should just be happy its not your doberman otherwise a dog like that biting everyone in your family, well i think she would think twice about not taking her to a behaviorist.

No I dont think your pup will lose respect for you if the other dog is being PITA, but 3 dogs is a pack and you need to establish yourself as the leader. Don't let the pup get away with crap because the other dog does. I think it would be beneficial to get the older dog under control better before you bring in a another, not to mention a big goofy doberman puppy, that will sure get bit if she pisses off your other dog.

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momtoarmani

Sly,
I don't know your mom, and so please don't think I'm bashing HER persay.... but I see a few problems here.

First, the lhasa apso is totally out of control, and a lawsuit waiting to happen.
Secondly, if you value your limbs more than teaching it control, then you're not going to be seen as an alpha in this small dogs eyes, and certainly not in a dobe's eyes.
What does the lhasa weigh? 10lbs? Times that by 8, and you've got some serious problems if there is an altercation. A doberman is a very kind, gentle and loyal dog, but pushed to the limits will act in anger like any of us. And then what do we have? A doberman who is named a "dangerous killer" all over again when in fact it was the lhasa's fault.
The lhasa has got to learn some manners before you bring in another dog such as a dobie. You get a dobie in there with testicles and you've got outright WAR on your hands.... and family members could be thrown into the mix making a nasty scene.
Why not wait until you're out on your own and stable before adding another inocent victim in with the dog who needs to be shown what is, and is NOT acceptable behavior?
I know this isn't your fault in any way, and I'm sorry to sound like a thoughtless person, I just don't see this working out in your favor at this moment with the situation as it currently is.

Just something to "chew" on....

ReDobie4xtina2

Alpha should be Alpha no matter what.

It definitely helps when the little dogs abide by the rules, but your Dobe should still respect your decision. Alpha decides who does what and when they do it.

Anyway in terms of pack order, he will be last at all times and he must know that. Even if the little dogs don't behave like him, they are still first in line for anything, your Dobe should always be subordinate and expected to behave.

There will be a time that he will try to move up in pack order (Doberteens for example) and you have to be that Alpha that barks in his face and says "Oh no you don't".

Having two b*tchy dogs myself, male and female, I know what you are going to go through.

Good Luck! Study training techniques and dog behavior extensively, that kind of knowledge is priceless when you get into the Doberteens!!!!!

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Slyfuturedobydad

thanks!, yeah.. the old lhasa isnt out of control or anything in terms of like running around,etc , she keeps to herself, doesnt bother anyone but if you startle her, or take food from her she'l start growling nastily, and if you dont back off.. expect a bite.., shes usually nice, she keeps to herself, doesnt beg for food, or anything, im just glad my doby wont look at the old girl and be like "hey.. how come she doesnt have to sit for her food, but i do?"

Slyfuturedobydad

i think you misunderstood my question, and what i said, i refuse to touch this dog, because well yeah shes got many behavioraly issues, but she also keeps to herself, and is usually nice, but CAN get nasty if you mess with her, she doesnt beg for food, she doesnt really get off the couch, she just gets up to go outside, then comes back in and goes to sleep, my question was, will my doby still see me as alpha, if im makeing him sit for his food, but later on he sees my mom giving the old lhasa some food for not doing anything

alwayshadpets

No it does not affect the pup. Our Copper (lab) is 1o years plus, has had 3 knee surguries and is a little stiff at times. I can make him sit for dinner, but I don`t. He does wait patiently, sometimes with a little saliva going. Tamora always has to do something and she loves it. She is in the best working mood when dinner is around and not yet served.

Slyfuturedobydad

ahhh, exactly what i was lookin for in terms of an answer

momtoarmani

Sly, I didn't misunderstand the question, and I'm trying really hard not to offend or put you on the defensive. Please know that this is not my intention before I say anything further okay?

What I hear you saying is that you refuse to touch her because she has behavioral issues. If she is usually nice but has the potential to get nasty when you "mess with her", then what do you think a puppy will do to her? Mess with her. They are rambunctious balls of fur and legs that are incessantly moving. As the puppy grows, he/she may get sick of the nastiness, and that is when all hell breaks loose.
I'm in no way cutting on you, just merely pointing out the potentials here.

The flip side is that the lhasa may put the puppy in it's place and always remain alpha with no problems. Then we go to the original question of whether you'll look like alpha even though the other dog doesn't give a rats behind. Having consistency/love/discipline with the other two... will make you pack leader/alpha with the two of them, which is what you want.

I hope I've not upset you? Keep firing away with questions, this is how we all learn.

TracyJo

I don't think the pup will have a lesser amount of respect for you; however, I know from experience that other dogs in the house train puppies as much if not more than we humans do.
We have had our share of behavior problems with Chi - partly because she's poorly bred and was taken from her mother and litter too early, partly because of the many mistakes I've made (and I've made a LOT) and I really think that part of the problems comes from my neurotic Chihuahua mix. I think she picks up on his vibes when we're walking them together. If it's just she and I, we have no problem but you throw Petri in the mix and WOW - heaven forbid someone walk another dog anywhere near us - he'll start and that will get her going and then the battle is on!
Your job to train and socializing a future pup will be more difficult IMO if you have a nutty little dog setting an example. However, if the pup were around another stable dog, things might just be a bit easier...

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