Reptile & Amphibian Forums

When my wife and I bought our first home three years ago, I finally had to come through on my promise to my wife for a large breed dog. In addition to our other two, a female britney mix (Rio) and a male aussie mix (Taz), we got a female rot/malamute cross-breed (Sky). Rio and Taz accepted the pup very well. At the age of one, Sky challenged Rio for alpha and has ruled the threesome ever since. All three dogs still get along fine.

Two days a go we added our fourth (and last) dog to our pack. An eight week old lab/weim cross breed. Once again Rio and Tax were very cool about it, but are a bit old now to go romping with a pup. But much to my surprise Sky, three years old now, hates the little guy and is furius with us for bringing him home. She has become willful and avoids the pup completely. When the pup tries to play she growls when the pup comes near.

Sky has always been the playful sort and has been disappointed as the two older dogs aren't as interested as they used to be, especially since she's twice their size. We assumed that Sky would welcome the pup as a playmate for years to come. I know that Mals can be a very dominant breed being closer to the original wolf blood than most other breeds, but I'm still very confused by her behavior. We are taking steps to train her that being around the pup is a good thing and we are hopeful she responds. Can anyone with some behavioral insight offer an explanation?

It's only been two days since bringing the new pup home. Things will eventually work out but it could take 4 to 6 weeks or more for the pup to be fully accepted by the pack. You're right in your assessment about the Mal being a dominate breed and with your's also being the Alpha it will take longer for her to integrate the new dog into the order. It also all depends on the initial introduction and how the new dog was brought into the house to meet the other dogs. I would suggest for now to get a crate if you don't have one to keep the new pup in, just to keep everyone safe... especially when you're not at home.

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Bob

If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.

Don't overlook the Rottie part of your Malamute mix. This dog may not get along with same-sex other dogs, especially when they mature.

Read the article Same Sex Dogs in the Home at the link with my signature--the article titles are in alphabetical order, and there's no need to register at the site. You might also read the article Choosing the Right Dog to Join Your Pack. and Multiple Dogs: What is the Right Number for You?

It is very possible you will not be able to keep all these dogs together. Keep in mind that it is much easier for you and better for the puppy to be placed in another home while still very young. If you wait until the pup starts to mature and is no longer cute--and may also be scarred from attacks as well as no longer being able to get along with other dogs of the same sex herself--her ending could be pretty grim.

Three dogs is a lot with this breed combination. Four may not be possible without serious fighting down the road. It is also very expensive to take good care of four dogs. Just the cost of heartworm and other worm control is high for that many, and there is so much more to pay for, expecially as the years pass.

Once fighting starts, even giving up one dog may not stop it. You could wind up having to give up two, so you would have just one dog of each sex. You are right to be very concerned about the dog behavior you are seeing. It is probably very significant.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47

I just reread your post, and noted that the pup is male and you have one other male, an Aussie. As the male pup matures, the two males will have to decide who is boss of the males. My guess would be the Aussie. So that is something else ahead as the pup matures.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47

It seems like you haven't given her any time at all to adjust. One. Two, Sky is the dominant bitch of the pack and you plunked down a puppy.....probably not really something she had planned. She is gonna take time to adjust. Depending on how socially correct the pup is she may work into accepting it. But if it is too pushy she may push back, as is her right. You will need to monitor without interfereing unnecessarily.
As Kathy says, get a crate set up to preserve some sanity for all while the puppy settles in. Allow the adults lots of puppy free time. And tire out the puppy so that it isn't full tilt when it is with the older dogs.
Also, how much experience does Sky have with playing with other pups or young dogs? How social is she? Does she play or is it just bullying the others? Besides the puppy having to learn it's place the adults will need to adjust to having a high energy baby in their face.
I think your trouble has less to do with breed and more to do with general pack dynamics and socialability of Sky and the pup.
Certainly more time is involved. Initial response could have been much worse and being snarky certainly isn't grounds to worry just yet.

One more very important detail. Never leave a puppy alone with an adult dog until the puppy is a minimum of 4 months old. Prior to that, the puppy's social instincts are not mature enough, and it is entirely possible an adult will kill the puppy.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47