Dog standing over other dogs?

[Rotthead]

I have a 2 year old male Rott that has this urge to stand over our other dogs when they are laying down. The other 2 dogs that we have are a 1 and a half year old male lab and a 4 year old female coon hound. They are all inside dogs. When the dogs lay down on the floor our Rott will stand over top of them like he is garding them. Is this a pack order thing or what? He stood over my wife the other night when she was laying on the floor. Whenever I see this behavior I tell him to lay down. Is this something I should be worried about? He has never done it to me though.

[RAVENMOM]

I'm certain there are people here who'd have more specific knowlege than me. But I'm fairly sure it's a dominance thing and is considered "bad manners" even in the doggy world. Standing over your wife should NOT be allowed.

Is he not neutered? 2 would be about the right age for him to be a bit bold, I would think. I agree with you about making him lie down when he does it.

[K9-man]

This is dominant posturing. It’s ok if the underlings don’t object to it. I wouldn’t let him do it to your wife, though.

[Sharon Marples]

My advice is that you stop this behavior immediately. He is assuming the "alpha" position when he places himself "above" other dogs (or your wife). This can lead to other alpha behavior and to him thinking he is above your wife in the pack order of your home which can lead to dominance and temperament issues.

Put a stop to it immediately. I would also suggest neutering if he is not already, since it seems that you may have some dominance issues that can be dealth with much easier in a two year old male that is neutered rather than intact.

[Bruce Lanthier]

I would say it is the behavior of a dominant bully and you should make him stop. It may work with a submissive member (you REALLY need to do something about your dog's relationship with your wife) but if he pulls that on the wrong dog there will be a dogfight I'm sure.

[Rotthead]

He has been neutered for about a year now. The younger lab who is much bigger has no problem with it but the female coon hound does not like it to well. As far as my wife goes that was the first time he tried it and I stopped it as soon as he started so I hope that nipped that situation. He does it more with the male lab rather than the female. Our female is kind of the boss when it comes to things around the house.

[K9-man]

Originally Posted by Rotthead

the female coon hound does not like it to well.

What does she do when he stands over her?

[Rotthead]

The female growls and the male just lays there and gives that I have no idea look. Needless to say when the female growls he backs off. He knows she means business.

[Rotthead]

I have read on some other threads on here that pack order is always being tried everyday. Is this what he is doing?

[K9-man]

You read correctly. If your female is the clear-cut alpha of the four-leggers, this shouldn’t be a problem. Keep an eye on the other male, though. As he matures he might not be so acceptable to this.

[TrishB]

Originally Posted by Rotthead

As far as my wife goes that was the first time he tried it and I stopped it as soon as he started so I hope that nipped that situation.

No it won't. Your WIFE needs to stop the behaviour. By him acknowledging you and stopping the behaviour, he only feels that you're alpha. What about when you're not there?

Start getting your wife to handle the dog, control the food - everything. She needs to work with him and establish herself - without you 'encouraging' or 'enforcing' it. SHE needs to do it or the dog won't acknowledge her as alpha.

[Rotthead]

thanks for the advice Trish B. My wife and I share duties on the feeding and the other stuff. Like I said before this was the first he did that to her and I will make sure that she needs to stop this herself if it ever happens again.

[TrishB]

Originally Posted by Rotthead

thanks for the advice Trish B. My wife and I share duties on the feeding and the other stuff. Like I said before this was the first he did that to her and I will make sure that she needs to stop this herself if it ever happens again.

You're welcome. :) It's a common mistake that people make - correcting an action against another person, when that person should actually do the corrections.

I'd also recommend that you don't put yourselves in situations where a challenge may be understood. i.e. don't lay on the floor, don't let the dog through small spaces before you, don't let him eat before you do, don't let him demand attention, etc.

If you do place the dog in situations where he may read that he should be alpha over you - he will take you up on the offer! ;)

Best of luck

[Mary Bouchard]

I've seen each of my rotties do this and I put a stop to it immediately.

Like my kids I tell them you don't have to like each other just get along....

Interestingly enough it was my female 11 month old that tried this most times not the male or the older female.

[Overthetop]

My my 8 year old female does it quite often to my younger female, places her head on her back when they are standing, very firmly. No biting, just places her head and stays there. I usually tell her to knock it off and it is usually enough to end the stand off. But it is her way of reminding the younger female of who is the boss in the house. Never has this happened with a person as I would never ever tolerate that. My male can get a way with murder with my older female and she could care less, she will not allow my younger one to slip up an inch though, it is very interesting the dynamics.

Tina

Aries (8 yr female Rott)
Zoe (2 yr female rescue Rott)
Moses (1 1/2 yr male rescue Rott)

My boys...I miss so much....
Apollo (Lab at RB) (2/93 - 7/03)
Thor (rescue Rott at RB) (11/96 - 11/02)