Senior dog becoming a bully to other dogs after death of companion.

[Anonymous]

I used to have 4 dogs. They’re all senior small breed dogs. I now have 3 dogs as 1 passed away and was the eldest of the bunch and what I would call the leader or alpha of the pack. The eldest one alive now is 13 and toothless but is bullying the other 2 dogs when under the old dynamic he was what I would call the omega of the group/bottom of the pack. If one of the other dogs is eating or somewhere he doesn’t like he becomes aggressive with them when with the other dog that passed away she wouldn’t let that behavior fly. I know this sounds kind of ridiculous but true. Worth it to bring in a trainer or just try to correct the behavior at home? My husband suggested it would work itself out and isn’t a problem because he is literally toothless and old.

[Anonymous]

It sounds to me like the change in his life has exposed existing pain and I would take him to the vet to be evaluated for that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It sounds to me like the change in his life has exposed existing pain and I would take him to the vet to be evaluated for that.

This is possible but also OP you need to be alpha now, seriously

[Anonymous]

Natural reordering. Your husband is correct. Don't mess with nature.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I used to have 4 dogs. They’re all senior small breed dogs. I now have 3 dogs as 1 passed away and was the eldest of the bunch and what I would call the leader or alpha of the pack. The eldest one alive now is 13 and toothless but is bullying the other 2 dogs when under the old dynamic he was what I would call the omega of the group/bottom of the pack. If one of the other dogs is eating or somewhere he doesn’t like he becomes aggressive with them when with the other dog that passed away she wouldn’t let that behavior fly. I know this sounds kind of ridiculous but true. Worth it to bring in a trainer or just try to correct the behavior at home? My husband suggested it would work itself out and isn’t a problem because he is literally toothless and old.

The alpha dog pack theory has been debunked. Take your dog to a vet

https://news.asu.edu/20210805-discoveries-myth-alpha-dog

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sounds to me like the change in his life has exposed existing pain and I would take him to the vet to be evaluated for that.

This is possible but also OP you need to be alpha now, seriously

Don't you guys do any research? You do not need to be the alpha! Dogs know we are the boss.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I used to have 4 dogs. They’re all senior small breed dogs. I now have 3 dogs as 1 passed away and was the eldest of the bunch and what I would call the leader or alpha of the pack. The eldest one alive now is 13 and toothless but is bullying the other 2 dogs when under the old dynamic he was what I would call the omega of the group/bottom of the pack. If one of the other dogs is eating or somewhere he doesn’t like he becomes aggressive with them when with the other dog that passed away she wouldn’t let that behavior fly. I know this sounds kind of ridiculous but true. Worth it to bring in a trainer or just try to correct the behavior at home? My husband suggested it would work itself out and isn’t a problem because he is literally toothless and old.

The alpha dog pack theory has been debunked. Take your dog to a vet

https://news.asu.edu/20210805-discoveries-myth-alpha-dog

This article seems to be about humans acting as an alpha to their dogs not dogs having a hierarchy. In fact the researcher basically says wolfs are more egalitarian amongst each other than dogs are in the same home. I have definitely seen dogs “check” each other when they found behaviors to be unacceptable. I used to foster dogs too and many mother dogs would punish their unruly puppies and check their behavior by nipping, growling or laying on top of them if they acted out.

[Anonymous]

Wolves**

[Anonymous]

The dog needs anti-anxiety meds. It could be dementia as well as grief.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I used to have 4 dogs. They’re all senior small breed dogs. I now have 3 dogs as 1 passed away and was the eldest of the bunch and what I would call the leader or alpha of the pack. The eldest one alive now is 13 and toothless but is bullying the other 2 dogs when under the old dynamic he was what I would call the omega of the group/bottom of the pack. If one of the other dogs is eating or somewhere he doesn’t like he becomes aggressive with them when with the other dog that passed away she wouldn’t let that behavior fly. I know this sounds kind of ridiculous but true. Worth it to bring in a trainer or just try to correct the behavior at home? My husband suggested it would work itself out and isn’t a problem because he is literally toothless and old.

The alpha dog pack theory has been debunked. Take your dog to a vet

https://news.asu.edu/20210805-discoveries-myth-alpha-dog

Anyone who asserts that the alpha dog pack theory is false has never owned several dogs at the same time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I used to have 4 dogs. They’re all senior small breed dogs. I now have 3 dogs as 1 passed away and was the eldest of the bunch and what I would call the leader or alpha of the pack. The eldest one alive now is 13 and toothless but is bullying the other 2 dogs when under the old dynamic he was what I would call the omega of the group/bottom of the pack. If one of the other dogs is eating or somewhere he doesn’t like he becomes aggressive with them when with the other dog that passed away she wouldn’t let that behavior fly. I know this sounds kind of ridiculous but true. Worth it to bring in a trainer or just try to correct the behavior at home? My husband suggested it would work itself out and isn’t a problem because he is literally toothless and old.

The alpha dog pack theory has been debunked. Take your dog to a vet

https://news.asu.edu/20210805-discoveries-myth-alpha-dog

This article seems to be about humans acting as an alpha to their dogs not dogs having a hierarchy. In fact the researcher basically says wolfs are more egalitarian amongst each other than dogs are in the same home. I have definitely seen dogs “check” each other when they found behaviors to be unacceptable. I used to foster dogs too and many mother dogs would punish their unruly puppies and check their behavior by nipping, growling or laying on top of them if they acted out.

+1. Debunking the alpha dog pack theory is NOT the focus of that paper, rather it is the proposal of an idea of a “superdominant human” over a pet dog. In fact the paper specifically talks about the hierarchies among dogs:

“Overall, there is plentiful evidence that the social structure of dogs is both more flexible than that of wolves, with groups varying in size from solitary individuals to more than two dozen, but also shows signs of more extreme social hierarchy.”

[Anonymous]

The article states: "More simply put, there is no such thing as an alpha dog."

This is wrong based on my extensive experience owning multiple dogs over several decades.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The article states: "More simply put, there is no such thing as an alpha dog."

This is wrong based on my extensive experience owning multiple dogs over several decades.

It’s also not in the paper the article is referencing.