When To Intervene With Dominance Behaviour?

[Beaglelover:)]

My friend has a Lab that they have had for 2 years he is 3 soon. They have just bought a rescue staffy x who is only 10 months old. The Staffy is showing dominant behaviour around the Lab, ie front legs over the Labs shoulders, tail straight in the air, leaning towards and into the Lab. However the Staffy is also showing submissive behaviour such as licking around the mouth etc.

Not knowing the history of the resuce dog, my friend is stopping the staffy from showing any dominant behaviour towards the Lab. The Lab has growled at the staffy to back off and he has which is a good sign.

Should you allow both dogs to figure it out under supervision on their own or should you stop the behaviour from even occurring? If you keep stopping the behaviour can that cause tension and make matters worse? When I saw the Staffy interact with the Lab he seemed a little confused on what is the right behaviour to display. The Lab plays very rough at times and the Staffy sometimes sees this as a threat and will have a growl at the Lab. Will this sort it's self out? They have only had the Staffy for a week...but the family is just a little worried as the Staffy is very strong and they dont know its background.

Any feedback would be great

Edited November 14, 2009 by Beaglelover:)

[luvsdogs]

It's for this reason that I would only get a puppy when I got Tilba. Sooty my son's dog isn't used to other dogs & can be a little too forward to say it mildly when she sees other dogs.

In your friends case I think I would have a behaviourist come & see the 2 dogs together & assess the situation.

Edited November 14, 2009 by luvsdogs

[Her Majesty Dogmad]

Definitely DO NOT allow the dogs to work it out amongst themselves.

The staffy's behaviour is totally unacceptable and must be stopped. This dog is NOT suitable to mix with other dogs, especially in places like dog parks because it will cause a fight and not necessarily just between two dogs. Dogs can act as a pack and all attack one dog and so on. Although you don't say they take this dog to a dog park, so many people do so I feel it it prudent to mention this.

I would also recommend a behaviouralist is contacted - I can recommend a few different people, including a couple on the central coast.

Let me know.