Help with a rescued dog behavior!

[cshives]

Hi everyone!

We adopted a new dog yesterday, and I need some help from dog savvy people. Brief info about him: He's a 1-2 year old doberman pinscher, VERY skinny (obviously neglected) stray, not food possessive, not fixed. We named him Slim.

We already have a German Pinscher, the spoiled baby of the family, named Ace.

Slim seems to like people (and understands the word "no,"), but he is constantly following/bothering/annoying our dog, Ace. Though Slim will stop for a pat on the head from us, he basically ignores us totally and pays attention only to Ace. Slim always follows him and paws at him. Also, Slim keeps humping Ace and climbing on him.

Now, I know humping is a dominance thing, but will he do it less once he gets fixed?

Also, Slim's constant attention to Ace--is this because he probably didn't spend a lot of time around dogs before and Ace is a new thing? Or is it more likely that Slim has never spent a lot of time around people, so he doesn't view people as part of his "pack?"

Both Slim & Ace seem to be vying for position of top dog, as Ace snaps at Slim whenever Slim tries to mount him. I'm worried a fight may break out, and Slim (being twice the size) could tear Ace into pieces. Since he was a stray, we have no idea what kind of temperment Slim really has. I don't want to jeopardize the safety of Ace in any way.

Any advice?

[dawngirl]

My male dog is altered and still humps my female dog and my brother's male dog. Definitely a dominance thing, even though we know the female really runs the house.

My female dog will paw at my male and nudge him around to try to get him to play with her, could that be what Slim is doing?

ETA: She was neglected by the "breeder" I rescued her from and she's an attention hungry dog. Definitely didn't view humans as part of her pack. That took a lot of work, and we're still working.

[American]

Well he may slow his actin for the few weeks after bieing fixed, during which I recomend that you either wait to fix him and let them establish their pack order, or keep them seperated untill he has healed after the operation. This is why many people who have one dog and get another get diferent sex's. Now males are not as bad as feamals when it comes to dominance and pack leader, but you have some days ahead. Now the paw is also dominace, as it is a challange for the other dog to turn and fight...play fight or fight for status. Should they get down and actually fight...chances are it will last only seconds, but it sounds like ACE is giving up his position. Where do your dogs sleep? together, is ace sleeping elevated on your bed, if so kick him off, the elevated sleeping postition makes the new dog think ace is pack leader, and if the two are continual going it and ace has given his sopt up, the sleeping position could be negating each days work and streching out the problem. Odds are they will work it out. Oh, is there a big age difference? If ace is out of his puppy years, adn the new dog still a couple old...you wnat to consider geting the new dog a play mate of similar age....go for a girl this time. i hope this helps

[scareyvegan]

YOU can establish the pack order
which i do reccomend you do
and i would also reccomend it be ace rather than slim who is alpha

step 1, feed ace first. wait until ace is finished to feed slim

step 2, put aces leash on first when going for walks

when you give out treats, make sure they both do something to earn them and once again give it first to ace

neutered dogs will continue to hump each other
it may decrease when slim is fixed
but what you have to remember is that even female dogs hump

but one good snap from ace may help with it

dog training will help too, but what you need to do is bring (or work with) both dogs at training at the same time, regardless whether ace needs it or not

i wouldnt worry about slim being constantly attentive to ace as long as they play friendly. dogs rough house a bit, but you should know when it gets out of hand

g'luck