Carrie, you are so clever! I try to read books and articles on dog/animal behavior and apply it to Duncan but I can't seem to get my head around it! I know it's because I want him to have feelings/thoughts/emotions. It takes an intelligent thougtful special type of mind to work it out, especially with all the conflicting info floating around!
You really hit the nail on the head again! I feel like you've been to my house!! Jack will be 4 next month and Duncan is only about a yr and has lived with me since July. Jack is a very easygoing dog usually. Duncan is very headstrong and energetic, a typical teenager for the most part. Jack doesn't portray a very strong alpha, sort of like an "alpha with his mom holding his hand" or an alpha who talks the talk but can't back it up. I'm sure it's just a matter of time until Duncan takes over the role. He's much larger than Jack(not that size always matters, right?) but he is gaining confidence every day since I rescued him. I certainly wouldn't call their relationship as friendly or stable. It's very turbulent with squabbles occasionally breaking out and some stress on both sides, for the dogs and my roommate and I! I've read things about how the alpha should be fed first and let outside first and so on... It's very hard to practice this with 2 caretakers with 2 very different dogs...If we leave them be, will they work it out? One more thing, when I first brought Duncan home, he had to be housetrained. He probably went on the crpet 3X total 2 pees and 1 you-know-what. He's perfectly trained now, always goes to the door or comes to get me with "that look". Jack, on the other hand, has regressed. He has lost control in the house 10 times since Duncan has been living there. (Duncan is crated during the day while Jack is not. This was a very hard decision for me but I didn't have any option) Jack will sometimes do it while Duncan is crated and even when Duncan isn't even home. Any relation? I could think of a million questions I would love to ask you...but enough free advice and time! Sorry!! Thanks again!