We were contacted by a listener, Katarina Anthony, with a problem with her three dogs. You can see the text of her email below.
Her German Shepherd, Bismark is constantly trying to be top dog, and Katarina is beginning to despair of her dogs ever living in peace. For help with this difficult problem, I turned to aggression specialist, Susie Aga.
Susie always gives great insights into canine thinking, and this interview is no exception. She has advice for Katarina on establishing which of her dogs is really the alpha dog.
She also has tips on how to handle life - particularly those flashpoints like dinner time - to ensure the dogs avoid situations that set off competition between them.
Susie Aga is a Certified Canine Behavior & Training Specialist who received her certification from Triple Crown Academy, a world leader in pet education. She has 20 years experience with dogs and is recommended by over 45 Veterinarians in the Metro Atlanta area. Susie was chosen by Turner Broadcasting to be their featured "Pet Expert". Susie is also the "Pet Expert" for- Pet Doctor Online. She is interviewed by veterinarians regarding many behavioral issues and their solutions. The discussions are directed towards behavioral problems such as separation anxiety, cage aggression and other hard to define issues facing many owners and their dogs. The shows are also archived for your convenience. She has six rescue dogs of her own and donates much of her time and services to Rescue Organizations. You can truly say her life has gone to the dogs and that is just the way SHE WANTS IT!
You can find out more about her at her website.
Did you know that many owners are swapping bones for broccoli in their dog's diet?
Many of us are trying to improve our own diet at this time of year, so it makes sense to overhaul what our dog is eating too. Do you give your dog vegetables? Or vitamin supplements?
We talk to Emma Holyer from Liverpool Victoria about some research they carried out on canine cuisine. Their results may not be quite what you expected.
In the DogCast Radio News, Princess Beatrice's dog Max went missing over Christmas, her uncle Prince Edward has been investigated by the RSPCA after allegations he hit his Labradors, and we hear about puppies who made the journey from Atlanta to Florida to find new homes.
Our fiction feature is Be Careful What You Wish For. It's written by Kate Coldham and read by Nick Coldham.
It's a New Year, and we have new opening music for DogCast Radio. Is it change for the better or the worse? Let us know what you think.
It's still the same great mix of dog related interviews, news and more - so start 2009 as you mean to go on, and listen to DogCast Radio.
Here is the text of Katarina's email discussed above:
I have been listening to your podcast and have really enjoyed the advice and information that you have been sharing. In particular, I liked your recent show on separation anxiety - a problem we have experienced in the extreme with our German Shepherd, Bismarck. It took about a year for him to get the point where we were able to get out of the house without anything being destroyed - he is significantly better in this respect at least, but we still have problems with him in other areas.
First of all, let me say that our Bismarck is wonderfully behaved when he is by himself. However, we have two other dogs - a Belgian shepherd and a Great Dane/German shepherd cross. He is constantly struggling to gain more power in the pack - but with little success. Hercules, our Great Dane mix, is the primary recipient of a Bismarck's aggression. Every single time we let the dogs into the garden, there is a - sometimes violent - struggle as to who goes first. Usually, Bismarck barks incessantly while I sneak the other two dogs out. This happens five or six times a day, and the neighbors have started to complain about the barking. Unfortunately, Hercules does not challenge Bismarck over who goes out the door - which he doesn't seem to think is very important. However, with food, Hercules is constantly dominating Bismarck - and doing so successfully. Whenever they get into a fight, which sometimes can last up to an hour with bloody injuries to treat afterwards, Hercules comes out the winner. But our German Shepherd continues to believe he has a shot at the number one place.
My question to your team is this: is there a way to deal with dog-dog aggression/fights for dominance that we do not know of? We consistently make sure to reward Hercules first, to let him out first, to give him the extra treat, to take him in the car instead of Bismarck - but message is just not getting through. We are at a loss, and at the moment I am considering taking Bismarck with me to London while I study in order to remove him from the equation. But it really would not be fair to him, as he needs to have a garden.
I love this site! I don't
I love this site!
I don't think you can do much about dog aggression except be firm about your expectations. I have four dogs in my house at one time and three cats. All have positively differing personalities. I also have owned several dogs during my lifetime, my family are doglovers who regularly have multiple pets, etc. Dogs, as far as I am concerned, have their own personalities and, just like people, you have to learn how to deal with them. And be patient. It doesn't happen overnight.
My daughter brought Daisy home, a one year old part Jack Russell rescue dog. She had been rescued from who knows where and ended up in my single daughter's apartment in Toronto. A complete basket case this dog. Aggressive, too energetic by half and snappy to boot. We kept her away from Molly, my new big Dutch Shepherd who is Territorial according to the vet, by locking the door to the basement and only letting them in the garden separately. As you can imagine, this was a pain in the ****. Especially when Anfield, a cross Border Collie and Dalmation - hyper; and Shadow - a cross German Shepherd - protective; came to visit. Fun fun fun. I came home one night from work and was greeted by my husband (obvlivious to any dissention) and Molly and Daisy who ran out to greet me TOGETHER. I asked "how did you do that?"
"I don't know" he said, when I came home they were upstairs so I let them out in the yard.
Needless to say, spats and happy families later, they now share everything - food, toys, beds, couches, people.
Not without grumbles, of course. BUT if you think of them like children, very simple children, only use simple words they get to know and understand....NO....STAY....HERE....GIVE ME THAT....PUT THAT DOWN....NO WAY....THAT'S MINE.....dogs and cats can live very amicably together for all time. But don't expect them to be perfect. And don't expect to have a pristine house or garden.
When I was adopting Molly, (who took the place of my muchloved, forever friend, born a dog died a gentleman, leaving me lonely and miserable, Foster), I was asked on the Adoption Form....How do you stop the dog digging in your garden?
What kind of question is that? You own a dog, for goodness sake...your garden will never look like paradise!!!! Get over it!!!
I grew up with dogs and we
I grew up with dogs and we never had much money so my mom would by bones and offcuts of meat to stew for them. I understand why bones might be considered dangerous for dogs.....little bits of sharp bones, etc. However, I honestly believe it is what type of dog you have. Heinz 57, for instance, are garbage cans. And most of my dogs have been rescue Heinz 57. I regularly feed them bones - not chicken bones, not sharp edged bones, but knuckle bones and heavier. All of my dogs (and cats) live to almost 18 years of age and are considered puppies or kittens by everyone they meet????
I myself feed both my lab
I myself feed both my lab and collie and raw diet of fresh veg and meat, they also have garlic tablets for worms and occasionally have orgainc cider vinger added to thier water for cleansing. It is a personal choice what you feed your dog on, but both mine are full of health and are living life to the full. It doesn't have to cost the earth in fact I have found it cheaper to feed raw than buying commercial foods.