Hi we have normally a 12 yr old bichon (female), who for the first 8 years of her life shared our home with a older GSD (male), we lost the GSD and until just over a year ago she was an only dog. We bought another male GSD as a pup he is now just over 1 they have got along great 99% of the time, the only problem been the older girl doesnt like to play, never has, so there was a little noise when pup tried to play but it soon sorted itself. Up until Oz (GSD) got to 6 months there was no problems, then first thing in a morning or during the day when they were been let out he would start to bark at suzi (bichon), as our lounge in upstairs and they have to go down stair this would happen all the way down the stairs and out the door, it then took a further step as he would grab her by the scuff and pull her out the door, because she would not accept this she would snap back and a couple of times he has picked her up and carried her with her screaming. As soon has we have shouted or banged on something it has stopped.

I had almost got this under control by making him be quiet and sit before i let him out, altho not everyone in the house could do this. Then about 2 months ago my eldest came back home and brought with him his 2 year old staffy bitch. The 2 younger ones have been friends since Oz was a pup and have played together great all the time, they sometimes seem to be getting nasty but they know how far to go. Evie the staffy has tried to play with Suzi but shes having none of it. Suzi is very small compared to both the younger dogs but she will stand next to Evie and quietly growl this has a couple of time turned into fights, we cant work out if Suzi is trying to say shes boss but as  this started about 2 weeks ago around the same time the letting out trouble started again but this time with Oz and Evie (but it get nasty very quickly and its harder to get it under  control) and Suzi barks at them both as if she was mum telling them to behave. Poor Suzi is now been turned on with Evie really going for it, the worst time been first thing in a morning when they are all desperate to get out. This morning i became a victim of the 2 girls as Evie actually bit me whilst i tried to spilt them up.

I am so sorry this has turned into a essay but just need some advice as to how we can get this under control and bring calm back to this madhouse.

Hello! It sounds to me as though it's a fight to be top dog. Has any of the bitches been spayed? Because this can add to the problem!
Iv got 3 bitches 1 spayed 2 unspayed and 1 of mine is always attacking the smaller 1 and that is always down to my Rottweiler wanting to be 'top dog' over the border collie.

Not so worried about your GSD they do play and show excitement by grabbing the scruff, not comfortable play for many other breeds, especially a 12 year old Bichon (poor girl) no wonder she is resistant and cross about it, it would not be allowed at all in my home, you need to protect your Bichon until your GSD matures. Don't have them going down the stairs together or all let out at the same time when excited for now.

It's not his fault it is how he interacts but your girl should not be the brunt of this behaviour. Keep him away from her until he is calm, distract the behaviour and stay vigilant. Maybe you could pop a ball or dummy in his mouth when excited to keep his eyes off a good scruff with your Bichon. He will grow out of this. :-)

Also again with the SBT, your Bichon is not a toy for the other dogs to play with, she is the elder bitch who needs respect the alphas and older dogs often do not wish to play with younger dogs, of course she will try and stand her ground by growling at the younger upstart, trouble is and this really is the trouble.......... if the SBT decides she wishes to be top dog here, and at 2yrs she may well wish to, she'll turn on your Bichon, not a breed known for tolerance of other dogs especially if pecking orders are at stake. Your Bichon may well hold her ground and is obviously trying to do so, it is not always about the strongest dog, but it looks precarious and you need to be vigilant here.

Don't take things for granted because they have got along previous, things can change with a click of the fingers, particularly with bitches.

If fights are happening I would keep them separate, I really would, even if I thought your Bichon may hold her ground the fact that the SBT could kill her with one shake would be enough for me. If the 3 need to live together then I would only allow them to be together that way if I were always present and then it would depend on reactions.

Sorry not to be more helpful, but I'm scared for your Bichon.

I can only agree with the other two, your little dog is in real danger here, with excitement and potential dominance issues.  I know what it's like - I have shelties and GSDs and one sheltie is determined to be 'top bitch' so flies at the GSD who defends herself and unless I keep them separated there's only one outcome.  So they never meet - they are walked separately and play separately.  You are not at this stage and hopefully it wont get to that.  Make sure in excitement the two youngsters don't overpower the bichon and also that you stop any arguments.  I wouldn't leave them together unsupervised, ever.  Having small dogs has made me realise just how vulnerable they are, with no dog truly aware of size, my shep thinks she's tiny and I have a tiny sheltie who thinks she's a wolf... (not the one who thinks she's the bee's knees)

It's difficult to advise on aggression without seeing the dogs, but from what you are saying, it simply comes across to me that your little dog wants to be left alone and the other dogs aren't taking no for an answer! If this is the case, you need to back your little dog up and tell the younger dogs to back off and leave her alone; if you can give her a space somewhere where only she has access to so she can get away from them if she wants to she would probably relax more. You and your younger dogs need to respect that Suzi doesn't want to play or get too much involved with them - and that's fair enough. :-) 

Thanks so much for the replies,they are a bit of an eyeopener and for all of today we have not used the words that usually trigger the excitment of the dogs going out, and whengoing down to make a drink we have done it sothey dont know what we are doing and just opened the door then shouted them and it has been a lot calmer. Suzi does have a spot under a cabinet in our bedroom (next to the lounge) down the sideof our bed that neither of the other 2 can get to and also she sleeps on the back of the sofa so she has her safe spots. My son did think till today that it was all Suzi's fault but then he saw his dog start it so he has started been a bit more stern with her and has made her a similar spot for her were she can get away too. Neither of the girls have been spayed sothat might be adding to things but will be looking into Suzi been done if its not too much for her at her age.

Thanks again

OK, so I am trying to be calm here but would you let your son punch your mother as she came down the stairs? Same difference.  You shouldn't look to get your bichon spayed, you should be putting the other 2 upstarts in another room and giving the bichon a bit of peace in what was once her sanctuary.
I had a shep who did the same to a small breed dog and I eventually re-homed the shep as she was better off in a 1 dog home where the excitement wouldn't bring out the terror in her.  The smaller dog had been living in total fear of the shep(un-known to us) and was a different dog when she left.  All was calm again after she left for both of the dogs and I figure that it is better for her to have a new family who adore her than a half life with us.
For the time being I would let the shep and staffie out at different times to the bichon and I would try to exercise them more to tire them out.  I would also try to give them a bit more time in the garden to burn of excess energy and all that time outside will give the little bichon time to relax in her home.
Edited to add: Once the shep started the grabbing game and broke the skin we decided enough was enough.  She was giong to really damage the smaller dog if not kill her.  I think you should really think about that.

Have a look at Feeling Outnumbered? How to Manage and Enjoy Your Multi-dog Household by Karen London and Patricia McConnell.  It's smallish booklet rather than a book but it's full of the sort of common sense advice and training techniques the authors are known for.  It would be a good idea for your son to read it too as he has a role to play in the taining of his own dog.

Do I gather you live in an upside down house - living areas upstairs?  A layout like this brings it's own problems as your dogs need to use the stairs far more frequently than most.  If your dogs have a long walk to the back door which involves lots of narrow gaps and obstacles you are increasing the chances of a scuffle along the way.  I'd suggest having a gate at the top and bottom of the stairs and only allowing one dog at a time to navigate them.  I'd also put your GSD on a lead to walk him downstairs.  It's a bit of extra work but from the sounds of it you need to ensure your older dog is allowed to avoid the others when they are over excited, and the youngsters need some more training.

Plenty of safe spaces and barriers will enable you to manage their interactions in safety. Perhaps your older dog might like a crate or a puppy play pen to sleep in?  That way you can avoid the mad dash outside in the morning, and she can learn to relax knowing she cannot be disturbed.  I'd also ask your son to consider the same for his dog - your house, your rules!! :)