Why do dogs........

[jennifert]

So Carrie, what about this situation...my roommate's dog never hides anything. Duncan hides most things. They live together. Jack, the roommate's dog is very possessive about toys. He thinks everything in the house is his and will get very upset if Duncan takes a toy. Duncan on the other hand will share his toys. If Jack takes the one he was playing with, because Jack ALWAYS wants the one that Duncan has...Duncan will just go get another one.
Because of Jack's possessiveness, I can never give Duncan toys. Jack just steals them! I did give Duncan a buddy glow ball that he loves. If Jack tries to take that, a fight breaks out. As a result, I never give Duncan any toys unless Jack isn't home or Duncan and I aren't home! It stinks!! Basically, Jack is a spoiled brat right! I mean if this dog loses his ball under the couch, he will bark until you get it for him. No other ball will do. It has to be THAT ONE!!!!

[carrie]

Jack is behaving totally properly for a dog in his position - his owner has allowed him to believe he is the Alpha in the house. He does not feel too secure in this role and knows that he doesn't really match up to the job so is desperate to reinforce his position. He is using the toys as trophies, objects of desire that lower ranking individuals like Duncan can not be allowed to have control over.
This behaviour has progressed to the next level where he has trained his owner to fetch on command. Point out to your roomate that the dog has trained her very well.

You are wise to not give toys to Duncan unless you are there to supervise because until Jack is relieved of the Alpha role this will continue. If Jack's behaviour is taken in hand sensibly and the pack order realigned he may well still be more dominant than Duncan but at least his owner will have the rank to make it clear that it is unacceptable.

[jennifert]

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!

[carrie]

No problem - it's one heck of a buzz to have people come back and say things are better and they have happier dogs. To me that is the bit that matters. The fact that people find they can enjoy their dogs even more after changing a few things is a bonus, taking the stress and worry out of doggy life is the ultimate reward.

There a couple of things you can do to see some improvement straight away but it will only work if you can perrsuade your roommate to do them too. It must be total commitment or you run the risk of sending out even more confusing messages to the dogs and the situation will deterioate further.
First off you MUST take pressure and stress away from Jack - he isn't coping with trying to be the leader and is panicking. He is scent marking (Yep poop too!!) when the pack is split. He feels like he has been elected leader by the pack and it is his job to protect and keep the other members together. He doesn't know how to cope when the pack he should be in control of splits up and leaves. To ease his stress he turns to making the den safe, secure and strong so that if the lost members come back they will be safer and less likely to get lost again. To a dog this means smelly messages! He simply can't help himself.
On top of this he has a young pretender to contend with and an owner that follows his instrunctions rather than directs him.
Things need to change for this poor boy - does he chew? Does he self mutilate or is he destructive at all? If not, then he is probably heading that way.

The two humans in the house must start to take control of the pack. Take the responsibility away from Jack and let him relax and just be a dog.

You must also, once you begin the process of destressing Jack, sort out the more dominant of the two dogs. If left to do it for themselves, especially with two pretty well matched animals, there will be trouble. If Jack is still marginally above Duncan then he needs support in that role. If he doesn't get it then Duncan will constantly challenge.

Have a chat with your roommate and if she agrees to give things a go - suggest trying it my way for three weeks - let me know and I'll give some things to get you going. Both dogs will benefit greatly and the whole atmosphere will change, I promise. But, you must both agree to stick to it.

Good luck!