[Sherie Broekema]

We have had a male & female daschunds. The female just died and we have just purchased two 8 week old puppies. Our male dog is 12 years old. We just introduced them and our male dog has tried to bit the necks of both puppies several times. Is this to establish the alpha dog or would his intent be to kill them? All dogs are daschunds.

Thank you.

[labman]

If it was dominance, more likely he would roll them on their back. If he is bristled up and growling, he may injure them. More likely he is just trying to make them leave him alone. Most dogs past about 3 years old want nothing to do with sharp toothed little puppies. Allow him to run them off with snaps and yelps. Support him, offering them alternative chews and praising them when they leave him alone just like other things in the house they need to leave alone.

For the fourth year in a row, we just subjected 13 year old Aster with a new puppy. She is not happy, but we try to keep the puppy away from her as much as possible.

[tre_cani]

We just introduced them and our male dog has tried to bit the necks of both puppies several times.

I've always believed that as long as the aggressor does not draw blood, it was best to let the dogs establish their own place in the 'pack'. If that means a little nip here and there or, as labman said, 'a rollover' to assert one's place at the top, so be it.

Hopefully it's just his way of establishing himself as the leader and nothing more.:)