As many of you will know from my previous posts I am having a bit of trouble with fighting between 2 of my 5 dogs (Lottie a 3 year old Dobermann and Winnie a 2 year old Sussex Spaniel). All their confrontations have started since Lottie had a litter earlier this year. Up until then they had been getting on fine. Lottie seems to have become more dominant recently, whereas before the litter she was very easy going. Is this a usual reaction to becoming a mother, do their temperaments change and, if so, is this likely to be a permanent change?

In the wild when an animal has a litter there status in the pack becomes higher - this is probably what has happened and the younger dog is having trouble accepting it - she will learn her place eventualy :-)

My bitches invariably seem to increase in "rank" when they have pups and they don't always feel they should give it up when the pups leave.

I only have the one breed and if they start to spat I now separate them as it is safer and cheaper in the long term

I have certainly noticed that bitches that have had a litter can become a bit uppity, and assume they are entitled to a higher status. 

This can result in friction between that bitch and whoever is normally above her.

In my case I back the higher ranking bitch and demote the upstart.  I do think that with there on;y being a years difference in age betwen the protagonists that the raising of status has made them more equal and that is why there is friction.

Thankfully my girls are pretty laid back so when I come the heavy they all back down.  I have had a little bit of adjustment and feeling of feet since my oldest ex alpha highest ranking for some decided to reinforce her position, and her daughter wasn't happy about being bossed about (she had a litter in July), though she has no ambition to take over. 

I did have to tell them both off, and things are back to normal.

Winnie is already spayed and I was planning to get Lottie spayed early Feb 2006, do you think this will make matters worse? Hattie, the pup I kept from the litter is now 7 months old and of course will be due in season soon so will be the only entire bitch in the house, she knows her place now but do you think this is likely to change or will she still respect mum and Spaniel "Aunt"?

Has anyone got any views and would like to comment on my last post please?

probs the best thing to do is to decide which of your bitches you want as your top dog and is able to hold this position without stress.
once you have decided this then your top dog must get everything first - food, fuss, lead on, out of car first, treat first etc ...
we started to get the same problem with my two where the younger had not been spayed and therefore had a natural advatage. after 3 weeks of continuous work to keep pesto (mongrel) as top dog they got on much better and have had no probs since. we did catch this early on so you may have to work for longer on them.

i am not too sure about your pup and whether she will try to be top dog but if you keep this routine up she will have no choice other than stay a lower rank in the pack.

i am not the most experienced but i hope this helped.

Do you think this could be what's happened with my bitch?  That she has made herself higher in the ranks, and thinks she is above me?  Maybe that is why she's a bit growly since the pups.

i don't think that dogs belive that they are higher in rank then us i just think they learn that they can  get away with things.
if she doesn't want to be disterbed she may growl and you move away - therefore she has succeded. i am not saying you should continue to disterbher.
anyways i would need a few more details to give you any more advise so email me or PM me and i will try to help