hierarchy weirdness.

[Evania]

So the dogs have settled into a strange hierarchy. 

Evania Defers only to people.  She believes she is 100% alpha.

Komite Defers to Evania and people.

Cleo will Defer to Komite (to the point that one growl from him has her on her back and submisive urinating) and People but not to Evania what so ever. 

It's very strange to watch

[Paula N.]

That sounds hilarious!

You should see a dog trying to be alpha - i.e., Sweet Pea.  She so wants to shove Angel aside and be Top Dog.  Angel lets her do her thing - just ignores her.  She knows that she is No. 1 with me.  For instance, neither of my dogs is welcome in the bathroom when I'm in there, hence I shut the door when I go in.  Angel almost always lies right outside the door and waits for me.  Every now and then Sweet Pea decides that she will usurp this Place of Honor, but when I open the door I always speak to Angel first ("Angel, baby, it's time to get up" - first thing in the morning). 

So Sweet Pea will give up for a while and then in a few weeks, she is back at it. 

[JimmyThy]

Too funny about both your packs!

I've heard that, as long as dogs clearly see 1 leader (seems like both of you are it and none of the dogs are), the rest of the #s are interchangeable.....

[snowballsmom]

they're working out pack order.
as long as you are alpha, it doesnt matter if the order under that is changing amongst them.

[Kathy]

Yep, I agree with Thy and Jen.  I'm #1 and I treat my dogs equally. There is no benefit to trying to be #1 dog because it has no meaning with me. I think it creates less anxiety for the dogs if you just let them determine their own ranking in their little world.

[Paula N.]

Yep, I agree with Thy and Jen.  I'm #1 and I treat my dogs equally. There is no benefit to trying to be #1 dog because it has no meaning with me. I think it creates less anxiety for the dogs if you just let them determine their own ranking in their little world.

I couldn't treat my two equally at first because in order to get another Eskie, I had to use Craig's list and travel way north of Arlanta to get Sweet Pea.  Therefore, I arrived back from being away with a new dog which Angel had never seen before.  Thankfully, Angel accepted things maybe because I treated her as #1.  Now it's too late to change - especially since Sweet Pea is so determined to shove Angel aside.  But I certainly do remain Alpha and they know it.

[BanaerEskies]

Yep, I agree with Thy and Jen.  I'm #1 and I treat my dogs equally. There is no benefit to trying to be #1 dog because it has no meaning with me. I think it creates less anxiety for the dogs if you just let them determine their own ranking in their little world.

I couldn't treat my two equally at first because in order to get another Eskie, I had to use Craig's list and travel way north of Arlanta to get Sweet Pea.  Therefore, I arrived back from being away with a new dog which Angel had never seen before.  Thankfully, Angel accepted things maybe because I treated her as #1.  Now it's too late to change - especially since Sweet Pea is so determined to shove Angel aside.  But I certainly do remain Alpha and they know it.

Not sure any of that statement has any bearing on treating the dogs equally other than you choose not to

[snowballsmom]

i kind of agree with nancy. i didnt understand this. but, whatever works for you in your own house, then go with it.

[Kathy]

Yep, everyone should do what works for them. But since there are many people who read our postings, I just have to add that you might consider that the reason Sweet Pea tries to push Angel aside is because you are favoring Angel. If there are no favors to be gained, then there is no reason to push or quarrel.

I'm not saying this works for everyone or every dog. There are dogs who don't seem to have the logic gene and are just plain quarrelsome or aggressive or whatever.

[Paula N.]

Sorry - I thought it was plain as water.  Because Angel never got to meet her "housemate" prior to her arriving I was afraid Angel would be offended, so I always treat Angel as #1.

I think Sweet Pea never was inside a house before (except for the 1 week the Craigslist people had her) so she didn't know how to act.  (But believe me, SP is no shrinking violet.)  She copies Angel as that is the only model she has.  Since Angel gets the #1 places of honor (right beside me, or as close as she can get) SP must figure that she should do the same thing.  It has taken SP almost 2 years to become accustomed to living in a house which has neighbors nearby.  She is slowly getting used to it. 

Not only the house -   Angel rides on the front seat beside me (I had an Avalon with bench seats when I acquired Angel, which accounts for that) and it was hilarious when I would take the two of them to the Park.  SP saw Angel jump up into the front seat, and being smaller and quicker, SP jumped up there too, but before Angel, so Angel collided with a small furry creature when she went to take her accustomed place for a ride in the car.  SP quickly found out that she wasn't to sit on the front seat!  It was too funny.      

It has all worked out just fine.  Angel is glad to have a playmate, and Sweet Pea just loves everything here.