Change in the Dog Pecking Order

I have a male rotti (Brutus) who is 9 a boxer that is 10 and a new addition, a male boy who is now 1 this month (sampson). Sampson is Brutus' son. My rotti is the dad and his mum was american staffy cross johnson bulldog. They have all lived together great until now. Sampson does seem to be favoured as he sleeps inside and gets to come in and out. The older dogs have accepted this but now sampson thinks he is top dog. He is already as big as brutus and now they have begun to seriously fight. I am now stuck in a position where I want to put them all outside equally but am afraid to leave them out unsupervised but keeping them seperated and sampson in with us it is making it worse. Help!
Posted: 09/02/2008

Answer: Change in the Pecking Order
Due to the age of your older dogs, it?s normal for Sampson to take over the roll as top dog as he has entered the family. It may have been a different story if the other dogs were 5 or 6. Creating separation between Sampson and the others will defiantly create havoc. You really do have to treat them equally, particularly with you little one being so young. They must be treated equally, and with this basis there problems should clam down.
Posted: 07/03/2008