I'm surprised the pet forum people aren't being helpful - usually they are full of ideas and help.

It's hard to teach dog training in one little post. There are some books available at the library that could be of help to you. I wish I could remember the name of a book I read that addressed this kind of situation, but I've totally forgotten.

There are some basic things to do to teach him who's boss. First and formost, don't feed him anything unless he does a command. It could be sit, stay, lie down, anything, but he must do a command. Don't pet him or give him attention unless he does a command. It seems harsh, but it will tell him that he's not boss. Keep him on a soft lead all the time while in the house. This will help you keep control of him, and when you call him, you can pull on the lead to get him to come. Praise him anytime he does what you want. (of course!)

Take him on vigorous walks a couple of times a day. That will get those endorphins going, and also tire him out.

You might consider crate training, as well.

I know you have your hands more than full, but see if you can enroll him in basic obedience classes. That might help a bunch. If your little one is old enough, maybe she could participate, too. Even if you don't have time to go to obedience classes, at least talk to some dog trainers, to find out if they have any books they recommend. I spoke once with the trainer at the Pet Smart in north Garland. She was very helpful. She was the one that told me about that book that I can't remember the name of.

I'm no expert, and I'm sure there are people out there that know a lot more about this than I do. Good luck with it.

Sally

Barb, did you post on gardenweb's Pet Forum?

There are lots of knowledgeable, helpful people over there.

Best luck!

sylvia

Here is a link that might be useful: Gardenweb's Pet Forum

Barb, I just re-read your message. For some reason, I was thinking your baby girl was your granddaughter. Silly me. Well, the same advise applies, up to a point. Definately, the neutering will help, but it won't happen over night. It takes a few weeks for those hormones to leave the system. I think there's probably some sort of feeding order that might help - feeding him first or second, after the girl, but I don't remember which is considered best. That's definately where the experts need to come in. Again, sorry for the mix-up.

Sally

Sally, Oh goodness I didn't think of someone thinking it would be a child but can sure see where they could take it for being one.
If it was a child the dog would be in the dog pen for good and not allowed around any child till he was trained and I knew that there would be no trouble.
I take of my darling little baby dog as my child she gets the best treatment and spoiled rotten.

Of course! Is there any other way to take care of a sweet little dog?

Sally

I'm sorry! I have the same problem despite thinking I was doing everything right! (My older dog is getting senile and a younger one now wants her alpha status!) I had to separate my "girls". Now I'm going to muzzle this girl up. I hate doing it but it's either that or getting rid of her.

Your baby girl dog is a real sweetie! I'm doing everything Sally suggested and it does help. Neutering will help to a point but I'm guessing this is a mature dog.Neutering decreases aggression in relation to how early it's done. Is he drawing blood on the Golden? Or just bullying her? What breed is he? Was he an only dog or was he socialized to other dogs? He may actually have no "doggy skills". This should be helped with dog obedience class. PJ

I have 3 females also, one rotty (13 yrs old and very fragile) and a boxer who is now 3 yrs old (and my lil mutt puppy which has never been alpha so no problem w/her letting them argue). And my boxer is doing the same thing as PJ mentioned, she is wanting the alpha status and will "occasionally" jump on the rotty, never drawing blood, but she gets a time out when she does it.
Whether going INSIDE (she is an inside dog but loves being outside anytime I am) or locked on our back porch (we have railings around the porch but have a gate that will close also)while on the porch she can see that she was bad and the other dogs gets to stay outiside with me. It has helped alot but she will still do it... just not near as often as she was doing it.

Good Luck!!
Dena

i just watched a program on this very subject. the technique that was used by the 'dog whisperer' was to immediately make the dominant dog lay down on his back when he showed aggression to another dog. this is a position of submission for dogs. he forced the aggressive dog to lay down, rolled him to his back and held him there for a few mins, allowed the other dog to sniff if it wanted. with editing one can never tell how long the process took, but it seemed to work. hth --jo

Forever! I've done that but my lil girl's a bull headed snot!
Barb, if you're gonna alpha roll a big,male dog(or any dog) that hasn't been raised to accept the alpha roll you are at some risk for a bite to the face.(I'm doing research on this and read this warning!) You'll have to muzzle him first!Good luck!PJ

PJ!! I swear, I just spit my coke all over my screen dangit!!!..LOLOL!!!
That was so funny!!!
Dena

wow pj that's kinda scary. i assumed the aggression was toward other dogs - not humans. i've trained dobies and danes and, male or female, there was never a question who the alpha was - that would be me!
i should have mentioned in my earlier post that the dogs were leashed, and brought together while walking down the sidewalk in order to "provoke" the situation so that it could be controlled as descibed. further info on the technique would be advisable as pj mentions.
but i just have to say, that that if you must muzzle a *pet* you may want to consider putting it down...aggression between dogs is not uncommon, aggression towards humans is unacceptable, imho.
jo

It is aggression towards other pets that I was talking about.However, with a grown dog that's new to her(late uncle's dog) it might react BADLY to being "rolled". If the other dog is sniffing it etc... on it's back it also might freak out and bite what's handy...the handler. I would take that precaution with any dog I didn't raise. IMHO I agree that aggression towards humans cannot be accepted to a certain boundry. I don't count a bite if and animal is injured,cornered and has tried to get away from a stranger, or is being handled roughly by a stranger.My girls have to accept anything I do. Even break up a fight. As a trainer I'd have the owner "roll" a dog. The face is just too close when you do that! PJ

My dogs have all learned I AM The alpha!
When I got married my hubby had 2 dogs & I had 2 dogs. My old black dog and his black dog used to square off. Blackie attacked Frodo ONCE when I was around. I puffed up to my entire 5'1 1/2" and roared! Blackie took off running, Frodo looked at me like I was crazy. From then on if they even looked like they were going to misbehave I would just stand up tall & give them a dirty look. I'm great at raising one eyebrow and scowling.
As Frodo got older and more frail he would follow Blackie around and bark at him. Blackie just got up and moved. Frodo had a stroke at Mardi Gras and we had to have him put to sleep. Bo could care less who is Alpha-he just wants to lay on the couch. Pepe is too little and was a street dog-he's just happy to be in a home and is very much the non-alpha. Brownstone is the only girl and the rest give her a wide berth!
Good luck with your new guy. I'm sure he'll adjust. I do like the time out!!! Bo and Pepe can't stand it if one of the others is getting attention and they aren't.
The dogs used to chase cats when they first moved in too. Now alpha cat has them trained. They won't even go on the stairs if she's there. It's kind of funny to watch a hundred pound dog crying because an 8 pound cat is sitting on the stairs.
Tally HO!

LOL, beachplant, you and I think alike!

I have always been alpha dog around here. I do sympathize with Dena, as we also have a 3 year old female boxer. I call her my boxer/terrorist cross. She can be a bully, but I have about decided that is a boxer trait.

A loud roar when/if the new dog is assaulting your sweet little girl dog will signal your disapproval and let him know that you do not put up with bad behavior. You will have to assert your dominance forever. Neutering is going to help a lot. I would not attempt to roll this dog at this time. Did you say how old this dog is? I may have missed that.

A bit of positive training, along with the loud roar, helps a lot. Sitting outside with just him, petting him and giving a cookie on occaision will certainly help in the bonding process. Dogs want to please us more than anything. It is natural that if he loves you, he will want to please you. Assaulting sweet little dog is not pleasant for you, and he will learn that fast.

I have trained dobies, cow dogs, labs, labs, and more labs, boxers, retrievers and mixed breeds of all sorts. It really does come down to them believing that YOU ARE THE BOSS! They will learn what they can do and what they may NOT do!

Laffing at Tally's cat.....

Janie

I am happy to report that Bo was neutered and is doing well. Both doggies are doing good and I have noticed that Lacy is not flinching like she did before I started taking Alfa roll. Lucky for me he is an easy to train dog, only problem I'm having now is his shedding, any one want to make a coat with his fur LOL.
If you ever met him you'd fall in love with him cause he's more like a big cuddly bear. He loves to be petted so you could pet him all day long.

Yea Barb, Im so glad to hear they are doing better. Im with the one saying they only want our attention and love. Just my boxer is so jealous of attention given to anyone or anything but her...but all in all she is soooo loving!!
She's learning..
Congrats
Dena

That's so great! YOu're such a good dog mom!!! PJ

Congrats! Sometimes being bossy pays off. Even if my siblings don't think so, they should have been born first!
Tally HO!