[ddforke]

I have 3 dogs, a 7 year old male Cocker Spaniel, a 4 year old female Weimaraner, and a 2 Year old male Wiemaraner, all in excellent health. The problem is with the Cocker Spaniel (Jack) and the male Wiem (Tucker). The male Cocker has been the undisputed pack leader since Tucker join our family, however Tucker seems to be trying to assert himself as the leader and it is causing problems. First they get into fights frequently but the most bothersome is the male Cocker is urinating all over the house, even my foot once! I plan to take him to the vet for a check-up but I'm afraied it runs deeper than that. Is there anything I can do to curb this behavior? I love all the dogs dearly and don't want to put give them away, is there any solution?

ddforke

[RubyPitbull]

Are the males neutered? Usually neutering/spaying tempers dominant/aggressive behavior. Your male Weimaraner is maturing and your Cocker Spaniel does feel his place as the leader is being threatened and he is loudly letting you know it by peeing on you and everything else. So, please let us know if the dogs have been spayed/neutered and we will take it from there.

[ddforke]

Yes, both males have been neutered and the female has been spayed.
Thanks

[labman]

I waited for you to respond to RubyPitbull's question before answering. Thank you for being a responsible pet owner and spay/neutering them. It is an essential first step in cases like this, but often not the end. You must give them better leadership. The key to most behavior problems is approaching things using the dog's natural instincts. Dogs see all the people and dogs in the household as a pack with each having their own rank in the pack and a top dog. Life is much easier if the 2 legged pack members outrank the 4 legged ones. You can learn to play the role of top dog by reading some books or going to a good obedience class. A good obedience class or book is about you being top dog, not about rewarding standard commands with a treat. Start at Raising Your Dog with the Monks of New Skete For more on being top dog, see Establishing and Keeping Alpha Position, Letting your dog know you are the boss

You may have to crate them when you can't watch them. Other dogs may
Not be as bad as the young Labs I am plagued with. Still your house and dog
Will be much safer with the dog in a crate when you are away. The dog may be
Happier in its den than loose in the house. It relaxes, it feels safe in its
Den. It rests, the body slows down reducing the need for water and relieving
Its self. Dogs that have been crated all along do very well. Many of them
Will rest in their crates even when the door is open. I think the plastic
Ones give the dog more of a safe, enclosed den feeling. They are harder for
Dogs to open too. Metal ones can be put in a corner or covered with
Something the dog can't pull in and chew. Select a crate just big enough for the full grown dog to stretch out in.

Leave it some toys. Perhaps a Kong filled with peanut butter. Don't leave
Anything in the crate the dog might chew up. It will do fine without even any
Bedding. You will come home to a safe dog and a house you can enjoy.

A dog that has not been crated since it was little, make take some work.
Start just putting its toys and treats in the crate. Praise it for going
in. If you have been able to trust it with any bedding, put that in the crate.
Feed it in the crate. This is also an easy way to maintain order at feeding time with more than one dog.

When you are around, use closed doors or gates to keep the dogs in the same room as you. When you catch one marking, give it a sharp ''Ah, ah, ah!'' and take it out.