[three ring circus]

Shadow would like to think he's the boss but never has the opportunity as Sampson won't allow it. Shandy however is little, deaf and blind and does a lot of wandering. Shadow growls at her if she is too close when he has a chew or is lying on the dog bed. However because she doesn't hear she is oblivious so she just continues on and he moves out of the way. The other day he began growling because she was too close and then rolled over and showed his tummy. Talk about mixed messages, what does that mean? (He does get a verbal reprimand when he growls but he has never snapped or bitten)

[zookeeper]

I'm hoping one of the trainers can comment on this too - almost sounds like he wants to guard his space, but is too well mannered to actually act on it? Maybe he understands Shandy's limitations, or even with limitations she is still the alpha female?

Indy used to try to push Lady around, and she would tolerate his foolishness to a point, then with a look or a low growl she could have him back off in a heartbeat.

We have a similar situation with Missy - now that Indy is older and completely deaf, and the hound in him is continually scrounging for crumbs, Missy will warn him but he won't see/hear her, and she has set him straight which has been kind of scary for everyone.

[mss]

zookeeper, on 10 March 2010 - 08:34 AM, said:

almost sounds like he wants to guard his space, but is too well mannered to actually act on it?

This would be my guess. I've never had a deaf or blind dog, but maybe Shadow needs a bed/place that's more out of the way, or enclosed, where Shandy can't inadvertently trigger a reaction from him.

[three ring circus]

Well mannered really is not a term I would use in reference to Shadow LOL. He is pushy and has a Napoleon complex which is one of the reasons I had such a hard time understanding him taking a submissive position. It could be because she's female and older but at other times he tries to play/chase her or stand over top of her and it completely terrorizes her. I try as much as possible to not leave the two of them together unsupervised. There are a number of dog beds/mats in the house but both of the Shelties as well as Sam, my Golden need to be as close to me as possible, so it limits the choice and ends up with the three of them in fairly close proximity to each other. I think that he does know that she gets special privileges, ie gets her food first, he has to wait till she's finished to check for leftovers, she's allowed out first and he's not to bother her outside, as well as being reprimanded if he growls at her so maybe he's trying to apologize for his behaviour???

[mss]

Apologizing in anticipation of a scolding?

[Gypsy]

Does Shadow have any terrier in him? Keifer (my Napoleon complex dog) is so much more impulsive than my other guys are, sometimes he acts first and thinks second. My guess is that's what happened here with Shadow - he really does think Shadow is an idiot but doesn't want the pack leaders to kill him for being mean. Not a reaction I'd rely on every time of course, a momentary lapse can always turn into more with a bit of adrenalin and seeing a moment's weakness, but this reaction sounds like he knows it isn't ok snark at Shadow. Although I'd hazard to guess the reasons pretty much mystify him.

I also find my boys get shorter with each other towards the end of a long winter . . . spring fever, the novelty of more cuddle time / less walks has long since worn off, they're basically getting on each others nerves. More exercise almost always helps. I haven't had good luck with giving Keifer extra 1:1; he comes back with a HUGE head and then snarks even more. But I have had good results taking the 2 that are on each other's nerves (assuming that's all it is . . . when Saxon & Hogan were both intact & Saxon was being a pecker this was not a solution) into a mildly stressful situation together as an outing. Something where there's nothing to guard or compete for . . . a car ride with each of them in their own crates & a stop at the drive through (my dogs literally get excited when they see the golden arches), for example.

[three ring circus]

I must admit that Shadow does get the short end as far as positive attention. He is purebred Sheltie but came to me through rescue at a year old (almost two yr. ago now) with many, many bad habits. Shandy is 16 yr.and my baby (also a Sheltie. She obviously is not going to be around a lot longer and I do everything I possibly can to keep her comfortable. Sampson, my Golden, is an incredibly good boy who everybody loves and plays with and takes places. He gets to go to the cottage (can be off lead with no problems), goes out with both my sons. Shadow has improved tremendously since he came to us but is still a work in progress. Perhaps I need to work at giving him his own special place in the family with more individual attention. I would really like to try agility with him but can't rely on him off lead. Maybe another round of obedience, just him and me.

[Izzee's Mom]

Another round of anything where you concentrate just on him sounds good. Do you have any Rally classes in your area?

[three ring circus]

Yes we have an excellent dog training centre in the next town over, about 30 to 40 minutes away. He did Obedience Levels 1,2 and 3 there and the third level did include some Rally work. They do have beginner rally classes, maybe that would be the route to go.