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

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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