Will my female puppy show same-sex aggression to my other dogs?

Not all dogs will like another dog. It is kind of like getting a random college roommate. Sometimes you are best friends for life and sometimes you can't wait to move out! I would recommend that you give them time to get to know each other. Continue to monitor them for signs of aggression or fighting. If your male just seems ambivalent to Lulu, that is ok. They may not want to play or snuggle together, but hopefully they can live peacefully in the same house.

It may take some time for her to accept him. If she is being aggressive toward him than you should not allow them to be together unsupervised, espeically around feeding time or any toys/bones that she may protect. Give her extra attention, praise, and treats while the puppy is around so she knows he is not there to replace her. You could also try an Adaptil collar or diffuser and see if that helps. If she doesn't start accepting him than you could talk to your vet about trying an anti-anxiety medication, like Prozac or Trazodone and see if that helps.

Dogs are generally good about regulating their own play and not pushing it too far. Even large dogs and small dogs can play nicely together. Supervise the play and if things do get too rough, separate them for 30 minutes to allow them to calm down. Both dogs will benefit from additional exercise (a tired dog is generally better behaved) and the aggressor dog would benefit the most. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Gradual desensitization, correction of negative behaviors and patience are required. Slowly introduce him to one pup at a time. Correct any aggression immediately and praise/reward good behaviors. As he acclimates to one pup, introduce him to another (slowly) then another and another. Be consistent in training and corrections. A pheromone product, such as the Adaptil collar, may decrease and anxiety or aggression. A structured puppy socialization class may also be of benefit. Contact the local Petco for a list of offerings.

Hi Carol! You're right that this behavior is somewhat concerning in such as young puppy - some lines of Presa Canarios can be quite dog aggressive, so this is something to keep an eye on as Karma gets older. Growling or lunging at another dog who gets close when she is sitting with you is a form of resource guarding - basically, she wants you all to herself. To improve this behavior, you want to teach her that good things happen when RaeRae approaches. If RaeRae starts to walk over to you when Karma is sitting on your lap, praise Karma, pet her, and tell her what a good girl she is. If she growls and RaeRae leaves, just say something like "Oh - too bad!" and calmly put her off your lap or on the floor. Basically, you want her to learn that if she growls at RaeRae, she loses your attention and the opportunity for snuggling - but if she allows her to come over without growling, you fuss over her and pay lots of attention to her. You could also try using a DAP pheromone collar to help reduce Karma's stress about this and encourage more social behavior. If you don't see any improvement in this behavior over the next few weeks, or if things seem to be getting worse, I would recommend making an appointment with a veterinary behaviorist sooner rather than later - early intervention gives the best chance of a good outcome with behavior problems in puppies, just like human kids.

Hi There. It sounds like Bobby is trying to establish his dominance over the new puppy. This is quite normal and provided there are no fights, may resolve with time. There are some great resources on Dr. Sophia Yins website (draophiatin.com) that discuss dominance aggression. You may also want to consider working with a certified trainer or a veterinary behaviorist. You can find one in your area on www.acvb.org.

Remember that all pets are different. It could indicate that he will be more aggressive or more dominant as an adult but it's too early to know. I recommend to get Milo in training and puppy socialization process. I also recommend to read about dog training and behavior. There is a trainer named Victoria Stilwell who has several good books. Be consistent in his training and focus on exercising him every day. Give your adult dog breaks so that he is not constantly bothered. I hope this helps.