Pack order

[Frzframe]

At about what age does a dog decide to change the pack order? I know it will be vary for each individual dog but as it stands right now Mitzi just turned 8 months old and Emily who is 10 is top dog. Right now if Mitzi goes to far (which she does frequently) Emily lets her know and Mitzi immediately rolls to her back or side.
~Shonda

[Mark]

Hi Shonda,

I saw this last night, but didn't have time to offer an opinion . . . here goes.

I may not have said this a month ago, but now I am not sure there is an "age" and am coming to the conclusion that it depends on the dog.

Most everyone here has heard the history of our three . . . We got Duck Butter first and Masse is her daughter. Masse has ALWAYS been the ultimate Omega dog. When it was just DB & Masse . . . DB was the alpha dog and now with Top Spin in the mix, it goes Top Spin, DB and Masse last.

At the Vets recommendation we had Masse spayed at 6 months old, which I now believe to have been a mistake. I think we should have let her go through one heat cycle first . . . she just never seemed to mature. Never learned to play, etc.

So here we are and Masse is 4 1/2 years old and a month ago she started playing with a ball and other toys. Growling at it, throwing it and chasing it, etc. Last week for the first time ever, also . . . she started room-zooming. During this "awakening" she and DB got in a fight over a chewie and she "kicked DB's butt". I mean a "tooth & claws battle". Now this doesn't sound that amazing . . . except Masse has never shown a selfish or aggressive bone in her body. She now also has attacked Top Spin twice for getting too close to something of hers or being too annoying.

She does seem even happier than before, but we hooparents think there may be a pack order change in our future. IMO she could become the Beta and make DB the Omega . . . I do not believe for a second that she will be able to knock Top Spin down from his alpha position.

Anyway . . . that's what is happening here that relates to your question. I hope it helps.

Mark