How true! Bitches are just ... well, bitchy!! Which is why I always have boys, although I have owned bitches in the past, and now little Coco has come into the household, aged 8 weeks. My personal opinion is that, just like with horses, the boys are much more straightforward and easier to handle than the girls, but it is just my opinion of course, nothing scientific!!

Interesting idea! Thanks for you input, much appreciated.

But this dog is actively seeking out other dogs and puppies. And grovelling to them. She is not getting involved in existing interrractions as such, she is simply forcing herself upon any passing dog.

I have seent eh type of dog you describe, inded I have owned one, I calle her the happy clown, but that is not what this dog is doing I don't think.....Unless it is the immature version of it???

Sadly, not true. They hunt for pleasure as well. An F1 owned by a friend mine killed everything he could lay his paws on, but with the exception of snails, never ate his prey. He was just like a cat, he would play with his prey and then be very surprised when it expired! It was this fact and the fact that Hal would eat rabbits alive when he caught them, that was the final straw that broke the camel's back for me re fox hunting. I became an anti as a consequence.

I am pretty sure that this is not a confidence thing. This dog is actively seeking out other dogs and has not shown any sign of nervousness or indeed, lack of confidence.

She persues them...! o matter what their size or status.

She even persues my very senior ranking bitch who heads up all group activities and is used to resolve all my agression cases. All other dogs keep out of her way! But not this pup.

Curiously, not wanting to hurt the pup, but finding her very annoying indeed, my bitch has now adopted a "your not there" approach to the pup as much as possible and is learning to ignore her as much as possible though if the pup actually gets in my bitches way, she does get very cross.

I wouldn't have thought so. Was she taken away from her mother at a very young age do you think? Or did she miss out on puppyhood, like my poor Ben, who was kept on a long line in the back garden for 3 years so never had a proper puppyhood? Does she lick and bite at their muzzles, as if asking to be fed?

This is the sort of thing we will start doing soon in a priavte lesson situation.

Unfortunately this dog goes into grovel mode from many metres away and immediatly begins displaying on the very sight of a dog, so this might not ever be achieved. it will certainly be a long term training excercise for sure!

The balance between keeping a young staffie well socialised with other dogs and stopping her getting attacked, is a very fine one indeed.

I will let you know how it pans out.

I've just read this further post, and it could be that actually she is a true omega. This is exactly what Gucci does as well, he pursues all other dogs, however large, however small, however dangerous, however benign. He can be a perfect pest, and because he is so small, my husband often notices that he is not there and when he is out walking him with the big boys, Gucci gets lost. Gucci was taken away from his mother too soon, so I do think this could be the answer for this behaviour, but it could be something to do with being an omega as well. Maybe its because they are ingratiating themselves with all other dogs who live in their environment, as a sort of safeguard for the future? In an effort to protect themselves from the beating up that they know they will probably get, being omegas?

Thanks for your comments. But I disagree.

I see a huge number of puppies every week and have seen thousands over the years interact at class and this one is not like any of the others.

I am also very lucky enough to mix with three large groups of dogs on a regular basis and strongly believe as a result, that there is most definately rankings within the dog world that are usually evident from early on and grow with age and experience. Indeed I rely on my senior ranking bitcch, to resolve many many conflict situation, because of her natural power, just because her very presence, is respected automatically by so many!

I believe there is no doubt that social structures exist within dog packs. Non whatsoever. As they do in humans. They may be fluid at times, and completely chagne at other for a length of time, and they certainly are not often related to the old thinking of who eats first and goes through doors first and that sort of stuff. But they definatly exist. There are certainly groups of dogs amongst which structure is easy to define and some within which it is not so. Often this depends on one one one interaction with owner. But dogs which regularly run together or live together, with little human interaction do establish quite obvious structures, at least at the higher end. At the lower end it is sometimes hard to see what is going on. I have a friend who has 15 dogs and she keeps them in small groups that she rotates and fluctuatues. In this group, rank is much harder to define as the group is continually fluid as dictated by the human.

I don't know if the term omega is appropriate to this particular dog, but she is certainly of a type that is rare in the dog world.

I think the terms Alpha, beta and omega mean very different things to everyone, and Im certainly not wanting to fall out with anyone over it. Everyone's view is as valid as the view as everyone else and I thank you for taking time to offer yours! That it doesn't match with my own, is fascinating, but not I hope a cause of any conflict! Denise x

I personally would NEVER stop another dog from approaching. 1) she will view this as a reward for her negative behaviour, you want to boost her confidence, not destroy it and 2) she will just start to think that all approaching dogs are dangerous, because you stopped them from approaching. Far better would be to ask the owner to bring their dog up to say hello - assuming it is a friendly dog of course.

I know that---but Jodee is saying that is not right. I am trying to find out in what way it is not right but I am not getting far!

rune