Problem:
Puppy aggression
Hi
Shannon,
I
have recently purchased a female Dobermann puppy, born
on 4 October. I have reserved another Dobermann puppy
(male) born on 23 December, and should get him by 17
February. Is it too soon to get another puppy, is the
age gap too small?
The reason for my concern is that my brother purchased
a male Dobermann puppy last week while visiting us,
which meant that the puppy stayed at our house for a
day. My female puppy (all of 3 months old!) tried to
dominate him, which resulted in three full blown dog
fights in the space of a day! I can only assume that
this means she is a very dominant dog. With the family
she does not try to dominate.
I am starting her on puppy socialisation classes next
week. Will that maybe help her relax and accept other
dogs?
Kind regards,
Puppy
Lover
--------------------------------------------------
Hi
Puppy Lover,
Thanks
for your email. Your questions raised two very important
points, which I would like to address separately, so
please read those articles too (Dominance Theory &
Habituation vs. Socialisation).
Instead
of assuming your pup to be 'dominant', which is a very
complex concept, rather first have a look at more straightforward
potential causes for this behaviour such as health,
diet, environment etc. It is critical to assess these
areas first, as they may give some insight into the
problematic behaviour, which could then be easily managed
by adapting your husbandry (so to speak) instead of
'putting her on the behaviour couch'.
Having
said that, it is very unusual for a young pup to have
a proper fight as you describe. Most of the time it
is elevated ritualised aggression and although it may
sound and look very violent, not much damage is normally
done. Young pups do not really have the equipment to
inflict serious damage. Although their teeth are very
sharp, their jaw strength is relatively undeveloped.
But
it is still cause for concern that your pup appears
to be abnormally aggressive. Yes, puppy classes will
definitely help her accept the presence of other dogs,
but it is a pity that she is starting so late at 3.5
months. The main canine socialisation period draws to
a close at around 16 weeks, so the prime time for puppy
classes is from 8 weeks onwards.
When
introducing another dog to her I would suggest that
you make this introduction on neutral territory. Apart
from the fact that this can reduce possessive aggression
and thereby remove a barrier to an effective introduction,
it also serves the purpose of distracting the pup and
not making the introduction such a big deal. The neutral
territory may also reduce the pup's confidence somewhat
and 'take the wind out of her sails', so to speak.
The
best age to get a second puppy is a much-debated topic,
but it is generally agreed that an age gap of least
six months is suitable. The problem with two pups being
of such similar ages is that they tend to 'canine-bond'.
What this means is that they tend to have a closer bond
with one another than with humans. This can cause problems
such as overdependence on one another and difficulty
in controlling them once they are older.
In
order to minimise this problem I suggest you give each
pup quality time on their own and try to keep their
routine somewhat inconsistent. The only really consistent
feature in their lives should be you. This may sound
strange - we are often told to keep puppies on a good
routine - but in my experience this strategy can be
very helpful in reducing the phenomenon of canine bonding.
Another
problem area is lack of social distance between them,
which could lead to problems with aggression. Dogs do
not operate on democratic principles (although recent
research is challenging the view of a strict pack structure)
and the 'relative standing' of individuals in the group
actually diffuses conflict and thereby avoids aggression.
In general no dog wants to fight - it is a last resort
when all else fails. However, by removing the 'relative
standing' of individuals by reducing social distance,
one can put the dogs into a position where they have
no tools to avoid conflict and aggression thus occurs.
In your situation a male and female do automatically
have some social distance so this aspect may not be
a problem.
In
dealing with any kind of aggression it is important
that you receive qualified assistance. Please visit
the ABC
website for an accredited consultant in your
area .
Best
of luck!
Shannon