i found this very interesting so thought i'd share it with you :)

here

Edited to say :- does anyone think its the correct way to handle things?

Wow i liked that, it sounds about right doesn't it? Or you could see some sense to it? Either way....Very interesting reading!!

Sarah

yes it makes sense but what if you had a large breed and a toy breed? you couldn't really leave them to fight it out could you? i wouldn't be brave enough :)

It sounds a lot like my two, except Im not sure that they've sorted out their 'ranks' yet, they both seem to take turns being submissive :)
I usually leave them to it, but in all honesty I would rather Teddy be the dominant of the two as he is the more obeidient one, lol.

I'm fascinated by this with a lab and 2 Bichon pups. My lab is a sweetie and we have never even heard her voice until the arrival of the 2 pups 8 weeks ago. I'm obviously keen for her to take the top dog slot but one of the Bichons is a little madam. The lab has begun to asert herself and she even gave a warning growl last night to the stroppy pup when she lingered near her while chewing her bone. Nevertheless I'm sure that they don't have the order sorted out yet and what would I do if a fight broke out? Large golde lab V tiny white furball...I doubt I could wait and see.

i have a 5 y old shih tzu bitch who thinks she is a madam, A 2 y old shih tzu male who is a scoundrel and a 9 month dobe bitch..
Shiddie bitch rules the roost as she lies around doing nothing and if dobe goes near her or her bed or her dish then male shiddie chases the dobe away.
Male shiddie and dobe have endless hours of tig, tug-o-war,hide and seek and who eats who's dinner ( though harder now i have a raised feeder for dobe so shiddie just barks till dobe knocks it down for him)

We have endless fun with all three especially when bathing shiddies and getting hair dryer out as dobe go's nuts if it blows near her but her big black nose is always nudging in and interfearing.

Pamie

Sounds familiar. My lab hates the hair dryer :D

I suppose that is a great concept for two dogs. But it gets more difficult when you have 13 living in a house. I mean, you get ful out brawls. When one pup is old enough, and wants to take over, he/she fights for the position. But it can't just be the Dom and pup, it has o be 3+ other dogs, and the Dom and pup. It's not quite as simple as they imply. I've had nine dogs beating up on my sub Goldie bitch, and HAD to break it up. There would be nothing left. As none of my dogs are old, or have severe health problems, I'm not sure what my bunch would do with an older dog. Most of the time though, they have their pecking order worked out, and live fine together.
RudyandMum

Wow - do you have 13 dogs I'm wondering if I'm going to cope okay with 2 :)
That's very interesting reading Jackie - it does seem to make sense to stay out of any fights that may occur - but I don't know how easy it would be during the fact !!
Sharon

this is all sounds like a great read but i have had to add it to my favourites to read later, kids are homeeee ahhhhhh :-D

Cordelia

I agreed with it on principal. The girls know who's boss, but the boys are all the same age. OK they don't all live here,which is the problem, I suppose. Chance is the boss. No two ways about it. But Moss and Mitch? They come to visit regularly, several times a week. Moss, being my daughters dog, stays overnight quite often, so wants to be 'second' dog. Mitch comes for a few hours and doesn't want Moss to boss him, but is happy for Chance to be boss. I tend to open the back door and let them get on with it, with an ear open. After a few minutes they come back in quite happy, tails wagging. Who's second? No idea. Chance will always 'butt in'.