Hi all

I've been wondering about something for a long time now, Kiara has Never been picked on by other dogs even the same dogs who attacked or picked on Diesel are fine with Kiara and it does make me wonder if its because shes a girl are females less likley to get attacked or picked on by other dogs? In my area i think it help for her that nearly all are males so shes not encouted females that often and the ones she has have been fine with her. Were Diesel gets  picked on all the time by intact males. (Diesels been neutered)

Yes.  off property with outsider bitches have little to prove to one another.

With males, many males are same sex aggressive as they want to ensure they are cock of the heap, as nature tells them to make sure they are the top dog who gets any available females.

I always tell new male pup owners that when their boy reaches puberty and adulthood that they should avoid meetings with males of more than the initial 3 seconds.  Also males are more likely to pick on young males whose testosterone levels are very high, as they need putting in their place.

The only females that I have found aggressive with their own sex (no self respecting male picks on girls) have been bull breeds, and then only the odd one.

Of course you get some dogs that are so screwed up they are generally aggressive.

It depends very much on the dog - on the breed concerned and also on the specific individual dog(s).

For some reason male-male aggression when it's about looking like being 'the best man around', gets a lot better when dogs enter adulthood.  If you think about it, human boys are the same way - it's all about risk-taking (who's got the fastest car; who can stay on the railway tracks longest etc etc) as a form of competition and about being COOL and desirable in the presence of peers and girls.  Adult men don't really behave like this... It's something to do with the sudden onslaught of testosterone at puberty, on a largely immature brain which isn't equipped for it(!).  But - for people and dogs - it usually resolves at adulthood.

However, some male dogs can learn (through being attacked by others during this time) that other male dogs are a threat.  And if they learn that in a cognitive way, they won't necessarily unlearn it when they reach adulthood - it's a cognitive piece of learning through association that's occurred.  Those male dogs may continue to anticipate an attack from other intact male dogs even in adulthood - and become defensively aggressive to see off the threat, before the other dog has done anything wrong and even if the other entire male isn't reactive.  They then pass this on, to whatever poor young male they just attacked... who then views other males as a thread... and so on.  To some extent, there's an element of contagion in it(!).

One huge thing people can do, is protect their adolescent entire males and try to keep them away from these negative experiences with other male dogs during adolescence.  If they can do that consistently, they will reach adulthood hopefully with positive associations with other males and you've done a great job...

Lastly, although males may have a scrap on occasion, they are usually all noise and not much damage done.  If bitches do fight, the same isn't usually true.

"One huge thing people can do, is protect their adolescent entire males and try to keep them away from these negative experiences with other male dogs during adolescence.  If they can do that consistently, they will reach adulthood hopefully with positive associations with other males and you've done a great job... "

There are some snippets (like the one above) that are so valuable when trying to raise a nice dog and can be seen as contrary to the socialise socialise socialise mantra.  Timing is key...

> contrary to the socialise socialise socialise mantra

Unfortunately, socialisation has been impressed upon the public's mind as "meet and interact/play with every possible human and dog" when really, it's about some exposure to teach a pup that other dogs and humans are part of the scenery and nothing to be fussed about, and meeting some for appropriate play.  So, many dogs have ended up totally OTT or aggressive or bullies because they've had to deal with all of these interactions.  Some learn horribly inappropriate ways to interact, which affects others.  Some simply become obsessed with playing with every dog they see because they've been encouraged to which again, causes problems, because they are then OTT when they do meet them and can overwhelm the other dog.