Need Some Insight Into Male Dog Behaviour...

Now I know this is going to be difficult given my lack of insight into the problem, but I'd really like some fresh eyes on this situation incase there's a problem I've missed...

Many of you know my dogs Isla and Oscar go to my parents 3-4 days a week as I work 12 hour shifts. My parents own another Spaniel called Rossi. First some salient points:

Isla is nearly 5 and has been neutered for just over a year.

Oscar is 18 months old and entire.

Oscar has a nervous temperament, has been well socialised with dogs but is fearful of strangers and anything "unexpected".

Rossi is 16 months old and also entire.

Rossi is very "bold" and is not really under control due to little training or teaching of manners.

Isla appears to be "boss" when at home with Oscar.

I'm not sure what ranking Oscar and Rossi have between each other.

When out walking Oscar has recently started to pin Rossi to the ground when playing. There's a lot of noise, but Rossi appears to submit by lying on the floor until Oscar releases him.

Oscar likes to carry things around in his mouth in the house, but Rossi will immediately remove any item. 99% of the time Oscar will allow this, but does protest by growling before releasing the item.

They have free access to toys etc.

Now, back to the point!

My parents have informed me that Rossi has started attacking Oscar. They tell me that when this happens Oscar squeals and cowers in the corner and they feel that Rossi would do Oscar serious harm if they didn't intervene. I've never witnessed these attacks and Oscar has no injuries on him, inspite of them insisting Rossi is hurting him.

It has happened 2 or 3 times now and when I went to collect my dogs they had Rossi attached to a chair stating it was the only way they could keep Oscar safe. Oscar and Rossi mingled together while I was there and Rossi was eventually let off the lead. Rossi appeared to want to play with Oscar, but Oscar didn't seem keen. Rossi took several items off Oscar in this time. Oscar growled as usual, but gave it up quickly as normal. They did not fight for the half an hour that I was there.

What are peoples opinions on these "attacks"? I'll be honest - I do feel my parents over react (especially my Mother who is not only a panic'er but also extremely stubborn ) and that if Rossi really did want to hurt Oscar he would've done by now. That said my Dad is also concerned and I have no way of knowing how bad it really is as I've never witnessed it.

It'd be very helpful to get some opinions from those who are more experienced in dog behaviour as none of us have a clue what's caused this problem (other than becoming mature males) or how to solve it!

I suggested removing all toys to prevent resource guarding incase it was a factor, but this ended in a huge row as my Mother insisted it was nothing to do with toys!

I've been considering trying chemical castration with Oscar to see if it helps even out his nerves, but I'm very aware that fearful dogs can be made worse by castrating them so don't want to do anything permanent!

Does anyone think castration would help this situation?

Thanks for looking and sorry for the lengthy post! Any other questions please ask.

Number of points:

1 Ranking of dogs may differ in differing environments, eg a dog may be top dog outside but not inside etc.or in their own territories etc.
2 The arrangements include two males and one female, irrespective of their sexual entirety, this can be a flashpoint in some cases. The bitch may be another resource
3 Whilst at the moment no serious harm has been done, both dogs are entire and practising to be bullies and in one case being bullied. What happens when they want to practise this on other dogs?
4 Toys should really only be available when a dog is interacting with a human IMHO except in certain cases, this just provides another potential flashpoint
5 Castration alone will not necessarily solve the issues without behavioural modification and in any case from your post it sounds as though the dogs are too even to call at the mo..........

So no solutions, just some considerations to ponder........

I personally agree with the "flashpoint" points, but it's very difficult to get my Mother to see this.

I want all toys removed as I can only see it as being another cause for problems, but she insists it's nothing to do with toys! My point is "It isn't a problem - yet!" I mean why take the risk, or at the very least, why not try removing them incase it does help???

In all honesty Rossi has a total lack of direction from either of them and is pretty much out of control, but whether this has anything to do with this latest problem is anyones guess.

My Mother mentioned she feels Isla might be involved, but from what I can gather Isla is never anywhere near the two dogs when it kicks off. They stay in the kitchen together most of the time with my Dad/Mam/Brother, while Isla likes to lie on the sofa in the Front Room on her own. I do think My Mother is just going for the stereotypical solution - boys fighting over a girl!

That said Rossi is more interested in Isla than Oscar when we first arrive, bordering on obsession to start with.

I don't feel their temperaments are in danger of attempting to bully strange dogs. Oscar will always choose to run from strange dogs and Rossi is very well mannered when greeting/playing with other dogs (only time he is!).

I wonder if it's worth trying Suprelorin to see what difference it makes?

I think a behaviourist would help, but I know my Mother is very reluctant to try anything new and is against ideas that aren't her own!

IMO dogs rank on different enviroments.

Indoors here Reah is in complete control, she doesn't even have to grumble....the ''eye'' is enough to make all the others submit, or just walk away.

Outside Bruce is control, watching his ''bitches'' balls etc., the protector....and Reah hands over the reigns willingly only time she comes into play is if an attack happened and as mine watch each others back they would fight in a pack order

Rossi is in his own home (hope I have the right one) so its his rules his territory.
Toys I feel should only be available when supervised/human training etc.,
Not sure about the chemical castration making alot of difference if only one dog is undergoing it.
Plus one dog you suggest has not had much training.....maybe a few manners are lacking.

Not much help there I know just thinking thoughts in what I read in your post xxxx

hope things get sorted

imo.... i think the dogs know your parents are uneasy about the situation...i also think its noise and bluster and to a certain extent your parents are interfering and not allowing them to sort it out..if your parents keep doing/acting that way it could lead to trouble
...imo castration will not help...i think his 'bits' are not the problem

I agree with Tupac.
I think maybe your parents need help to manage or change this situation - would they agree to having a trainer or behaviourist in? (The dogs will behave differently if you are there so I doubt your intervention will be enough and you say they have rejected your suggestions.)
Even if your mum is panicking, it still needs something done about it as it`s affecting their life.

Thanks for that, kind of tally's with what I'm thinking really....

I honestly don't think it's as serious as they're making out. I do know how they feel, I've seen a fair few dog fights and some of them are horrific, but the majority are as you say just noise etc If Rossi meant to hurt Oscar, he would've done it by now I think....

The major problem is that I've not witnessed it so I've no real right to comment.

I do agree with what you say, problem is what the hell do I do about it!

I agree something needs to be done, I just wish my Mam would listen, but it's all about her pride unfortunately - she will never admit to being wrong etc

I'm going to suggest a behaviourist, but even then I'm pretty sure they won't follow through with the advice They're just too lazy "ignorance is bliss" is the motto in their house! I've given so many tips on how to train Rossi, but they've just never bothered. They seem to think if they ignore it it'll go away!

Now then, how to find a good behaviourist......

Could it be that Rossi is the more confident and that he is telling the more nervous dog to settle down and stop pacing around with a toy in his mouth?

Perhaps just coming over in a bolshy teenage way instead of controlled looking (especially if there is someone 'panicking')?


Everyone is different and I'm no expert but have had a few males and sometimes (as all dogs really) need a 'boss'

For example, my dog knows that inside is not playtime. I'm sure he would love another dog to come in and go around with toys but excitement may come, then the 'tiff'

As much as I don't subscribe to the whole pack leader thing, I really do believe that all dogs need "guidance", in that they need to understand who's in control. My parents struggle with this really, they make a lot of noise but don't follow it through. For example they'll ask Rossi to sit, if he doesn't do it they just give up and let him do as he pleases! Raised voices controls my two no problem, but Rossi couldn't give a monkeys.


Rossi has always taken toys from Oscar, it appears to me just to be a case of "I want that because you have it!". As soon as he takes it from Oscar, he totally loses interest and then toy gets discarded. Oscar has a very strong retrieving instinct so even if the toys are removed he will find another item to pick up and carry about in much the way many Labradors do.

I'm not sure what you mean by "controlled looking"?

It's a difficult one really, I just need to work out how I'm going to witness one of these attacks to see what the problem is for myself. The way they tell it, it's like the attacks come out of the blue and for no reason whatsoever. One minute Rossi's attacking Oscar then 10 minutes later they'll be best buddies again....

I just meant that some dogs when you see an adult tell another off, it looks like that, sometimes teen dogs are doing that but it comes accross a little more 'wired' looking (reaally not sure how to describe well enough...) and noisy, especially if the person that is there is a panicker, how its interpretted..if you know what I mean.

Does sound as if they just need rules whilst your not there tbh, but as I said, I'm no expert.

Just how I though initially whilst reading your post.

Had male dogs around for about 26 years, give or take and if your parents dont do something about the situation sometimes males will just go 0-60 one day and then its a real struggle having them together, but when they think someone is in charge and its 'not up to them' can be ok, totally depends on the dogs etc though.