What to do when two out of three pugs act like alpha dogs?

Question

I have a three, one and 1/2 and a five months old pugs. The little one bullies the middle one and is food aggressive with him. I've watched him fight with the other two without backing down. How do I change that.

Answer 1

This is easy but it will take some effort on your part as well as everyone else you live with.   You have 3 dogs.  If they are all the same s*x, or not, please have them all spayed/neutered.  

Okay, ready?  Whenever you are around them, you must always speak to, pet, feed, give a treat or toy to, touch, say the name of, etc. the OLDEST dog first, then the second oldest dog then the youngest dog.

This will sort it out for them.  However, if only one of them is a female, SHE must be the first dog you feed, touch, etc.  If you have 2 females and 1 male, the older female is number 1 and the second oldest female is number 2.  The male would be number 3.

If they fight, don't try to stop them or separate them or the fights will only get worse over time.  Also, you could get bitten.  Even a little dog can break your skin and cause nerve damage.

Answer 2

You need to be the pack leader - simple as that. Why are you letting a 5 mo old 15 lbs dog bully anyone??????

Answer 3

"...With most dog packs, it's easy to see who's boss and how the rest of the dogs fit within the order. Watch your dogs interact -- which one takes the best toy, goes out the door first, gets to eat first and takes the best sleeping place? This is the "alpha" dog, the leader of the canine pack. The alpha dog achieves his (or her) rank by being smarter, stronger or sometimes just more domineering than the rest. Some dogs are born leaders, others fall into the alpha role because no one else wants the job. Most dogs don't mind holding a subordinate position and seldom challenge the alpha dog's authority.

Trouble starts when a lower ranking dog tries to move up the pack ladder or "forgets" his place. This can be a young dog entering his adolescent (teenage) stage or a subordinate pack member that senses the alpha dog is getting older, weakening or losing his authority.

The alpha makes and enforces the rules. Alpha dogs enforce their authority by the use of stern eye contact, growling, dominant body postures and if that fails, biting and fighting. If you watch your dogs closely, you'll see examples of this eye contact and posture in their daily activities.

Your dog's "pack" includes his human family as well as the other dogs in the household. You are alpha in this pack. You have the right to make the rules and it's up to you to enforce them. Hopefully, your dogs recognize your alpha status and you've reinforced it through training and consistent discipline. As alpha, you have every right to make and enforce this rule: "There shall be no fighting!"

When you see one of your dogs "talking trash" to the other, correct her in a firm, deep, sinister voice: "That's enough!" or "Leave it!" If you enter the scene late and don't know who started it, scold them both. If you catch them while they're still thinking about arguing, you'll be that much more effective. If your dogs are a little more serious and aren't responding to your verbal correction, you can leave short leads on them so you can give them leash corrections. Don't be afraid to sound tough; you want them to understand that this behavior will not be allowed, period. Make it clear that if they want to fight, they're going to have to fight with you first!

If your dogs are fighting when you're not home, it's safest to keep them separated at those times. Most fights, though, occur in the presence of the owner and are a result of competition over attention, food, toys and of course, pack status. You can help prevent these disagreements by recognizing the highest ranking dog in your pack and favoring it with your attention. This is the dog you should pet first, feed first and let out the door first. Giving alpha privileges to a lower ranking dog, even if it might be your personal favorite, confuses the others and can lead to fighting. All the dogs will be more secure and comfortable with each other when they're clear on where they stand in the pack..."

http://www.canismajor.com/dog/feisty.htm...

Answer 4

they will figure it out themselves.

Answer 5

are any of ur dogs fixed?? if not i highly recommend it.

I have 3 male corgis at home, 2years, 1 and a half, and 1 year old, they will also show aggression if another one tries to take their food in the beginning, i stepped and showed them I was boss by pinning which ever two who was fighting to the ground, the moment they calm down i give them back their food, but the thing u want to do is intervene before it even escalates into a fight, continue to feed them together - but keep a close eye - you can tell even a stink eye from dog to another needs to be reprimanded, they need to focus on what they are doing and not steal the other dogs food,  The moment i see one of the dogs walk to the other one eating i stop him in his tracks - now they no longer fight over food, i can put it down and they will all finish it within 5 to 10 minutes without a fight breaking out.  Remember, intervene before it even escalates, you can always see signs if you look for them

Answer 6

there's nothing worse than a smug pug. get yourself a yorkie to set them straight. you wanna know about alpha dog's, just ask me about Lovee the alpha yorkie

Answer 7

Ok, this wasn't answered the way you need.  Get on the floor and play "doggie" with them.  Bite them and hold them (not hard) on the underside of the neck and growl.  This shows that you are the Alpha dog.  It takes a few times to prove to the new pups, but you will get your point across.  Then, when they are bad, growl at them.  I have four dachshunds that I still have to keep in line.  I have had rug burns on my knees for 7 years, but it works.

Answer 8

they'll work it out

Answer 9

There is only one alpha dog. Your dogs are trying to become the alpha dogs because you have not established yourself as the alpha. The behavior you are describing comes from them battling for the top position. If you put yourself in the top position and take charge, there is nothing to battle over and a lot of this will stop. You, however, need to take training lessons to learn how to become the Alpha in your household. In a house where humans and dogs exist, a dog should never be the Alpha. (Alpha means top by the way... that's why there can only be one)

EDIT: If you are the Alpha, you should be able to place food down with the middle and younger dogs in the room and keep the little one from eating it while the older one eats.