How long does it take to establish the pecking order? Need more answers than I got this morning.?

Question

Ok, got my third dog last weekend. The other 2 were by themselves for 4 years and not handling the new dog all that well. Most times is fine but every now and then there's a fight. It seems that it's mostly the 2 existing dogs fighting, not the new one. Also, the new one weighs less than my pit but is about 25% bigger than her. When those two play, the new dog is really rough and then the second dog tries to pick a fight to break them up. So, how long should I expect this to last? I've never owned 3 at once before. Also, how can I get the new dog to not play so hard? I think she's starting to hurt my pit. The pit has arthritis (which I treat-poor baby is only 5 yo) pretty bad and i don't want her hurting. I break them up when things get too rough but can't be with them all the time.

Additional Details

The new dog isn't a puppy, she's about 2 years old. She stays locked in a room during the day to help keep the peace. The 2 existing dogs have the run of the house. The new kid was a rescue from the shelter. I believe she had a home once. Is fully trained already. She just likes to throw her size around.

Answer 1

I think the 2 existing dogs are fighting to see who is the alpha male(when it should be you)... so if you do "know" that you are the alpha male of your dogs then, whenever you come home look them in the eye... do not worry... the reason you are looking them in the eye, is to remind them of their place(that they are behind you), and won't fight over the alpha position

check out this helpful link http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/topdogrules....

P.S. Dogs think like wolves, so in the wild, if the Alpha Male sees a member of the pack, going out of order, he gives them " the stare", it means " go back to your spot"

Answer 2

Developing a pecking order doesn't happen over night.  It takes a while.  Yes, there will be arguments over who is the Alpha of the pack.  Yes, there will be fights.  But the fights are not to the death, they are just testing each others strengths & boundaries.

When I bring in a new dog I spend time just watching them so that the original dogs do not attack the new comer.  There will be a lot of bickering & a few squabbles but no body has to go to the Vet to be sewn up.  Minor wound happen & that is to be expected.  It isn't all peaches & cream.

Let them figure out the pecking order but if the fights get really serious you may need to step in.  You may from time to time see two dogs on one in a fight but again, they are just seeing how far the other dogs can be pushed.  They will figure it out.

You can do nothing to help them develope the pecking order they have to do this themselves.

Answer 3

is it really fair to your existing dogs especially the poorly one  to bring home quite a feisty dog by the sounds of things?

You can stop them fighting but if you are not there all the time and she has to live separated from them, what is the point?

Answer 4

By adding a new dog, you have shifted the pack order and it can take weeks to months for the dogs to sort out their dominance arrangements. You can help matters by reaffirming the existing alpha dogs role in how you treat all three.

It is up to your Pit to let the new dog know when she has exceeded her boundaries in rough housing. You intervention will only confuse matters as the new dog isn't receiving the correction from the dog she is playing with. If your Pit feels that the play is too rough, she will growl and cease interaction and then you can step in to separate the new dog if the dog persists in failing to read the Pit's signals.

Answer 5

hmmm, interesting question. It takes several weeks or even a month or so to really feel out the NEW pack order.  you might find that the new dog is going to be the alpha female, or fight it out for the 2nd spot or something.   Its not up to you, nor do you have any control over if the dog is naturally dominant or submissive, but you can curb rough play and ease integration.

you are doing the right things separating the dogs for now.  When you are home and can supervise, then its ok to have them all together but for the immediate future, keep the new one separated when youre not around.  Its one of those things only time can fix really... time to adjust to the new place,the other 2 dogs, the new life etc.... tryin to force it will just cause stresses and problems for the dog.

As far as the rough play.  its just repetition.  EVERY time the new dog throws her weight around with the arthritic dog, you must correct.  Scold and remove the new dog from the other dog.... over and over again.  Eventually she will learn that " if I go roughhousing with this dog...momma will scold me and Ill feel bad..... so Im not gonna try it anymore".  Discipline and repetition is KEY.  

Keep doing what youre doing, and give it another 3 weeks or so.