mcardle3
New member
- Apr 17, 2012
- 122
- 8
- Country
- United States
- Bulldog(s) Names
- Custer, Maisie, Mosby and a cat who thinks he is a bulldog
Jim (daddy to the dogs, my fiance) and I are having a MAJOR issue at our home.
This all began when Jim was laid off two weeks ago and is now home all the time with the boys.
The boys. Sherman (4 years old...had been the alpha), Custer (almost 2), Stonewall (10 months old).
All three rescues. All three neutered.
All three got along very well. Cleaning and grooming each other, sleeping in a pile of bulldogs, and then dad got laid off. Their schedule changed. Dad is (3 weeks now) home all day. Custer (2 year old) loves Dad like nothing else on earth. HOWEVER...now that dad is home all day, Custer insists on being near him, and if Sherman goes near them the fight is on.
At first it was posturing and growling. It is now puncture wounds and tears.
We separate them, but as soon as they are together if Dad is in the room...its on. Sometimes for no apparent reason. When Dad is out of the house and it is just me and them...no fights. The puppy is never part of these fights.
As Custer is now 2 years old (or nearly) I understand he is getting more mature and may want to vie for dominance? I've never had t his issue in all the years I've had dogs.
We know Jim is the issue. We know Custer is claiming him or demonstrating dominant behavior in regard to Jim...but how do you stop this.
I'd imagine Jim has to stop it. They do not behave like this with me.
Jim has never been with dogs before, so this is a learning thing for him. They obey me, they think about obeying him. It just makes me sad.
This all began when Jim was laid off two weeks ago and is now home all the time with the boys.
The boys. Sherman (4 years old...had been the alpha), Custer (almost 2), Stonewall (10 months old).
All three rescues. All three neutered.
All three got along very well. Cleaning and grooming each other, sleeping in a pile of bulldogs, and then dad got laid off. Their schedule changed. Dad is (3 weeks now) home all day. Custer (2 year old) loves Dad like nothing else on earth. HOWEVER...now that dad is home all day, Custer insists on being near him, and if Sherman goes near them the fight is on.
At first it was posturing and growling. It is now puncture wounds and tears.
We separate them, but as soon as they are together if Dad is in the room...its on. Sometimes for no apparent reason. When Dad is out of the house and it is just me and them...no fights. The puppy is never part of these fights.
As Custer is now 2 years old (or nearly) I understand he is getting more mature and may want to vie for dominance? I've never had t his issue in all the years I've had dogs.
We know Jim is the issue. We know Custer is claiming him or demonstrating dominant behavior in regard to Jim...but how do you stop this.
I'd imagine Jim has to stop it. They do not behave like this with me.
Jim has never been with dogs before, so this is a learning thing for him. They obey me, they think about obeying him. It just makes me sad.