They all look like they're having so much fun together. Do you get many fights or niggles amongst them? I'm just wondering with that many I imagine they really do form their own little pack, is it difficult maintaining the alpha dog position?
Yes, yes and um definately YES. Some dogs will only play with certain other dogs, and yes we have squabbles. Those squabbles always escalate into a full blown fight IF it involves Punkin and I don't jump RIGHT IN. Lord that dog vexes me so! She is not the oldest one of the group, but she was our first dog and she holds these other dogs against us.
The only one her highness Punkin wants to play with is her beloved Daddy. She will only chase a ball if it involves getting to keep it away from Peanut or someone else...she has issues. She is the ONLY one that gives ME problems with alpha dog position which is MINE, and strictly enforced when needed. She never gives hubby any problems with not listening to basic commands like sit, go lay down, ect...but the other girls do sometimes, but just basically being a pain in the butt stuff like not getting out of someones face and they are licking or jumping up on someone. Too much of that and the squirt bottle comes out and I spray them in the rear until they go lay down. They ALL know that if they are getting squirted, to immediately go find a bed and lay down...unless you are laying in the bed barking, then if I take aim "you better be quiet or RUN becuase I am going to squirt you!"
Well wait let me say she does give hubby problems if he isn't paying attention and she starts making stiff tail at someone she feels is getting too much attention. Then I jump in and 1st offense is a stern NO, second offense is you get stuck in the kitchen...but I will be darned if she hasn't learned to jump that stupid gate that I about killed myself on!
So last time we had visitors she bit Peanut in the butt 3 times, yes 3 different times...the last time I stuck her butt in the crate, since after the second time I dicovered she can jump that stupid gate...and didn't let her out until the visitors left.
She has settled since but I have to ask her..."DO YOU WANT TO GO IN THE CRATE?" and she will immediately go lay down by my husband...yeah like thats gonna save you!
It is funny...I recognize all their growls and what its about almost immediately. if I hear one growling and its just a play growl and I know its just playing I don't say anything. If one hits a higher tone that lets me know it is serious or is going to be...then I will say something, if it doesn't stop...out comes the squirt bottle, if it still doesn't stop you get sqirted.
If I hear one growling and its Punkin, nope stop the train...she never is being playful when she growls so I make her stop.
Sophie has being a bit more growly and I have had to tell her to stop, too...but I know she is just establishing pecking order so if someone is just out and out trying to pick a fight with her even in play...and she doesn't want to play, I will let her growl for a few seconds, then I tell them to both knock it off...you stop growling and you go play with someone else!
I have some that always have to have the last word...tell them to be quiet and they have to get in that one last bark but other than that none of them (besides her royal highness) ever out and out try to defy me or are BAD per say.
I am pretty firm with them, but putting them in a crate or a shot of water with the squirt bottle is as far as I will go.
We have only had maybe 5 fights that involved bloodshed and none that were too serious for some aluminum spray...nothing too deep or needing stitches. All of them have involved Punkin and its been when I am in the bathroom or am outside and by the time I get in (YELLING the whole way to KNOCK IT OFF PUNKIN because its always her) its over and Punkin is on her way to hide from me because she knows that fighting gets you a long time out in the crate.
All the pics are honestly of everyone playing...as you can see Daisy only plays with Casey (or me hence the pics of her right in front of me) and Casey will play with anyone, and so will Raven and Ginger. Mostly you see Raven trying to get Daisy to play with her, but Daisy ignores her to chase Casey around...she will lay down and play with her a bit but not romp like she will with Casey. Ginger, Heidi, Dolly, Raven and Gypsy have their own little group, and sometimes Ruby will play with them...mostly Ruby plays with Kikiyo and annoys Shippo.
Shippo usually only wants to play with me, he wasn't properly socialized around other dogs in that important young age and he will very rarely try to get one to play with him, but he loves to play with me and sometimes he will join in and play with Ruby and Kikiyo as long as Ruby doesn't want to play too rough he will chase them around all day.
Some of them do have honest to goodness best friends...and I wonder what I would do if I wanted to place one or the other. I don't have any plans to place anyone or anything like that, but it has crossed my mind...like heaven forbid what if something happened to one of them if they would adopt another one of the dogs as a BF in place of the other.
I am glad they all have so many other dogs to play with but the thought has crossed my mind...actually when the subject about Locky came up I started thinking about it.
I am glad that Casey and Daisy are close in age and that the others will hopefully be very long lived so I don't have to worry about it anytime soon!
They can all be a royal pain especially when I am tired in the morning and they are all just giddy and read to go outside and sometimes I just have to laugh because I just don't know what I would do without each one.
All of them bring so much to the group...we are indeed a pack...we have a peace keeper, the guardians, the clowns, and they are a joy. :rainbow:
I am happy to say that while they can be a handful I really wouldn't want it any other way!:rainbow:
