Nala & Duke

[Kfamr]

As some of you know, Valerie/dukedogsmom, lives very close to me and comes over once in a while. Ever since we've met, Duke and Nala have NOT gotten along.

Now i'm not sure if it's something we can fix, but if it is, i'd love to work with them.

At first I thought it was just Nala being a brat, but it's pretty clear now that it's mutual. They can't even walk in the same room without growling and staring eachother down.

It seems like a dominance thing to me, like both of them want to be "Top dog."

I'd love for all three dogs to get along, and Valerie is coming over this Thursday to spend the night.


Any advice is appreciated, thanks!

[aly]

Are they usually on leashes when they initially greet each other? Sometimes it is better if they aren't because the leash can be mistaken for threatening postures.

When Duke comes over, I'd take Nala to a neutral place where she's never been and have Valerie meet you there. If you can get them used to each other on neutral ground, then walk them into your house as friends, it will be less threatening for Nala. I would take Simba to the neutral place also and introduce him into the mix after Nala and Duke are okay with each other. Then you can make sure she won't be protective over her brother.

It may come down to teaching Nala and Duke to just avoid each other. Sometimes 2 dogs just don't like each other and there's not much that can be done. Nala is so young though, so hopefully it can be worked out.

Has Nala ever had any problems with other dogs? I know she goes to dog parks so it seems like she's usually pretty easy-going?

Do Nala and Duke actually fight or just growl?

[Kfamr]

Nope, they're normally off leash.

Nala and Duke met at Valerie's hotel room. It probably wasn't the best "meet" because Nala and I just walked in.

The most Nala has done to other dogs is bark/whine at them, because she wanted to play.

We've never let them get to the point where they fought. The only incident I remember is when we were at the dog beach, and Nala was walking by Duke and he went after her. They never bothered eachother once when we went to the dog park.


Maybe they're just fussing over Simba's love.

Thanks for the advice.

[aly]

Hehe. Yeah maybe try letting them meet without Simba there. Then you can at least pinpoint the problem.

Nala honey - be a good girl so you can all play!

[Kfamr]

I've been working with Nala.
She does get a bit food/toy aggressive towards Simba. Not horribly, and she's never snapped, but she growls/ raises her lips. I've gotten to the point where she allows him to take a treat off of her paw. I'll continue working, but I'm not sure this has anything to do with what's going on with her and Duke.

It's the only problem i've seen from her though, she just wants to be alpha I guess.

[Toby's my baby]

Do Nala and Duke get along if you leave them alone and go somewhere else?

Boo Boo gets along with other dogs as long as I am not outside with Boo Boo and the other dog.

Maybe Nala thinks she has to protect you?

[Kfamr]

Originally posted by Toby's my baby
Do Nala and Duke get along if you leave them alone and go somewhere else?

I wouldn't do that, I don't want to take chances.

[carrie]

Hi - I have not read any other responses to this so if I upset anyone by resaying, or going against what they say - it is not intentional.

In this case you have to give the dogs a BIG wake up call!

It is up to owners to be in control. Dogs simply do not understand the human world enough to be allowed to be in control. Would you let your dog go to the pet store on its own? Take your kids to school? Drive your car? Excersise on his/her own? Go for a walk?

Ask yourself, "Why?"

The answer is that the dog is not able to function as a human in a human world. It is a dog.

It can function only as a dog.

Without a good Alpha (or leader) the dog will feel that IT has to be the Alpha. Because it is a dog ina human world it has no hope of leading a pack with any kind of order, sense or safety. On top of all that pressure the human part of the pack, that the dog thinks it is the leader of, keeps going away (to work, to lunch, to visit) without permission. The dog then understands that it is a weak leader and increases it's aggressive, trying to prove that it is up to the job.

Once the human owner takes charge of the pack in a quiet and understandable (to the dog) way and starts talking the dogs language all anxiety melts away.

If newcomers are accepted by a strong leader then there is no reason for lower ranking animals to fight or be uncomfortable - what the strong, confident, boss says - and does - goes.

Both humans here need to have a really good look at who is in control of the situation - if the humans feel that they REALLY have the ALPHA staus then the dogs will be able to sort themselves out - first in neutral territory - then at home.