I may take this to my behaviouralist next week, but I am just getting over a throat infection, so to try and converse over the phone with my terrible voice is futile at the moment.

I am not sure why but my 7 month old GSD has started to attack the Pom we recently rescued.  I thought initially that it was just them sorting out the heirachy, as it was a general disciplining thing and I could always see why it was happening (usually the Pom wanting a chew bone of the Shepherds etc).  More recently I cannot fathom it.

The old Chi I took on as rescue that had a heart murmur has now been rehomed (he went on Thursday) but the morning I was going to meet the prospective owner I was cleaning and medicating his eyes, and I always have 2 bits of chicken as reward for him on the table.  The other dogs were milling round and getting excited (they thought it was the start of the teeth brushing routine) but I moved them away and carried on, when the GSD pinned the Pom down and was being quite ferocious.  I let them get on with it thinking it was just the usual "I'm above you in the pack" etc but then after the Pom had just got up and moved round (I think to be nosey to see where the chicken was) it happened again and was more severe this time.  It was under the kitchen table and right next to me so I could see exactly what was happening.  Because the old Chi on my lap was actualy shaking with fear I eventually called the GSD off the Pom.  I thought she was being over protective of the old boys food, as she's always seemed to know that he's a bit more fragile than the others.

That evening when I got back home my daughter said that the GSD had attacked the Pom about 4 more times, for no apparant reason.  I took it with a pinch of salt as sometimes children can be over dramatic.  The following day it happened several more times, unprovoked attacks, I thought initially the GSD was looking out for the Chihuahua's (Pom is much bigger than them) but it seems to be a jealousy thing, just when the Pom was walking over towards my daughter on the sofa, the GSD got up specifically to pin her down and snap in her face.  The Pom over a period of a matter of days is now to scared to walk around the GSD, also she's been on Norocarp for the past 10 days for a leg injury she did out walking (and on rest) her leg had improved, but she's only 9lbs (she's underweight) and the GSD is about 22kg and in pinning her down and with the Pom wriggling to get away, the GSD seems to have aggravated the healing of her leg now and the Pom is limping.

Aside from jealousy I cannot associate it with anything, but I am quite concerned for the Pom.  Equally, I don't want to not pick up on what it is with the GSD as it seems to be a jealousy/over protectiveness, and I am wondering if this may be replicated in other areas.

I don't know what the answer is to the behavioural question but it occurs to me that this Pomeranian is in extreme danger merely from the roughhousing that a near full size GSD can give it whatever it's intentions might actually be and indeed it seems to me that leaving them to sort it out risks the possibility that the GSD's idea of sorting it out is to finish it off not to mention the suffering that must be occuring due to the already existing leg injury!  If they were my dogs I would keep them strictly apart until I had had expert opinion on how to ensure nothing serious occurs and certainly until the Pom's leg was totally healed.

I have to agree with Isabel,

Your GSD bitch,  is showing her heirachy status your Pom could be killed as she does not seem to be challenging your GSD your GSD just seems to have it in for her and wishes to be Alpha, sometimes the house is not big enough for more than one bitch, it depends on the bitch, which is very dangerous for your Pom seperate completely when you are not there, and you may possibly have to do so even when you are and call your GSD off immediately if showing any signs of attack, you have to control your dog now.

By the way 7 month old GSD's do not discipline other dogs, they are still babies themselves and will be for a good 2 years, your Pom could be in serious trouble, come down hard on her behaviour it is not acceptable, you need to step in immediately.

I croaked my way through a conversation with my behaviouralist this morning, and he's given me some advice to try and is happy to come out and have a look at them 'in action' if need be.  Fortunately he knows all my dogs as three of them have trained with him, and I've taken the Pom to the informal training sessions he runs at an animal hospital where all the proceeds go to GOSH.

I always keep the dogs seperate when I can't watch them.  My kitchen looks like 'Prisoner Cell Block H' with all the crates - fortunately I have a large kitchen!  My house is over three floors so I can seperate them even for the interim without a problem.  I will post back and let you know where I am at with trying to resolve this issue.

Thank you for your input.

Edited to add: Just thought I'd mention, 2 of the other dogs in the household are Chihuahua bitches.  The older Chi bitch appears to be higher in the pack than the GSD as I'd put her at the top.  My GSD has always rolled over to her (and at present anyway) seems to accept her place under her.

:-D  Just imagining the Chihauhau bossing the GSD around, I certainly believe it!  It is nothing to do with size is it? And if that isn't proof enough.

I'm really pleased your behaviourist is coming around as Lindsay may have a good point, you will have to wait and see why she has a problem with your Pom whether it is a bitch problem or resorce problem, (have you had the Pom long by the way?) having 3 floors will certainly be a godsend for you in keeping them apart and for now that is what you should still do.

Wishing you all the best, I hope everything works out.

Most GSDs are terrible bullies, they love to pick on smaller, weaker dogs but like most bullies are cowards who back down to bigger, stronger dogs.

You've already got some great advice and seeing your own behaviourist is the best course of action but please think about these things...

I thought initially that it was just them sorting out the heirachy, as it was a general disciplining thing and I could always see why it was happening (usually the Pom wanting a chew bone of the Shepherds etc).

I let them get on with it thinking it was just the usual "I'm above you in the pack" etc

I thought she was being over protective of the old boys food

I thought initially the GSD was looking out for the Chihuahua's

Its one thing to allow dogs minor grumbles and scuffles to protect their own food, or a chew bone (if the GSD is using it at the time) but IMO a 7 month old puppy shouldn't be sorting out the heirachy and if the chihuahuas can't look after themselves or their food its YOUR job to look after them.

I love all dogs but even I would be furious if, in the future, your fully grown GSD lunged at my dogs because she thought she was protecting your other dogs.

I hope this doesn't sound too blunt because you sound like a good owner who is doing the right things. :-)

Most GSDs are terrible bullies, they love to pick on smaller, weaker dogs but like most bullies are cowards who back down to bigger, stronger dogs.

Wow what a statement & IMHO totally off target, but then I've only had GSDs since 1958 so what do I know ?

Our last GSD was a very very big girl rescued unsocialized at 8 months-she was however impecibly(German)bred-from the very start of her life here she never tolerated bigger dogs that were aggressive towards her(she was never allowed to do anything BTW), but my BC's & Cavaliers were give leeway akin to that of a mother & her young puppies.

All my GSDs allowed smaller dogs far more leeway than bigger or similar sized dogs & my GSDs included real working bred dogs with lots of prey drive, in fact the bigger the GSD the more tolerant they were of small dogs

I have a slightly different take on this - just a few thoughts really, but it appears to me (only from your brief description) that the GSD may be resource guarding - food, treats, her humans. With possibly some controlling or even herding behaviour in there (question mark).

It's not the same as hierarchy squabbles etc and, if I am right, needs a very good behaviourist who understands how to work with this kind of problem - if you get someone who doesn't assess this correctly they will make the problem, possibly, worse.

Lindsay

x

my GSD boy is actually really good with little dogs, he seems to really like them even though many run at him barking and chase him, he is regularly chased by a chihuahua, but anything medium sized and larger he seems to think might want to play with him, hes usually wrong! underneath it all he is the biggest coward, all bravado etc.

but then I've only had GSDs since 1958 so what do I know ?

It wasn't a personal attack questioning your experience moonmaiden. :rolleyes:

Could be resource guarding but its an extreme reaction - if one of mine has something and doesnt want the others to have it, he gives a horrid growl and a snap, rarely makes contact, and his position on the matter is clear.

Id be inclined to think that the gsd is getting older and is having a go at being a boss dog, but given there are other dogs higher up the ladder than her, shes practicing on the one she CAN dominate.

If she truly was naturally a dominant boss dog, others would defer to her wtihout her having to go overboard, and she is definately being OTT about it, suggesting she really feels that its a struggle to assert her desired position.

The situation needs to be handled carefully - punishing her for trying to dominate the Pom could result in her upping the ante if she associates the pom with her punishment, rather than her actions.

Em

Just a thought. Could your GSD be coming into season? If so, any possibe resource guarding could be magnified (in her eyes!) enormously.