Sch dogs playing with other dogs - Page 3

Don C. I think he used the word "archiac"...one of many that are hard to interpret ;)

wow. this sure took off. i don't personally think that a dog will bond less with his owner if he plays with other dogs. i do feel that a young dog should be socialized with other dogs to keep the agression level in check (but very supervised) i feel that every working dog should feel he's the alpha dog (after his master of course) even if he isn't the strongest... the dogs mind set should always be he's the best. but when you allow him to be with other dogs that dominate him he feels less-than. when i'm on the field with my dog i want them to think nothing can stop them. i just feel that allowing them to be dominated is detrimental to a working dog. when you have more than one dog living in the house, kennel... together a pecking order will always happen. it's nature.

Ramgsd I guess you can say that I am somewhere in the middle. I do seperate my dogs at night, when I'm at work, or if I am working one of the dogs. If they are out together I am with them. I DO like to be the alpha of the pack. If your dogs get along, I don't see a problem with them interacting as long as you are there to establish order. I agree with you that every dog, if this is a serious competition dog, needs to feel like he is alpha. The genetic/breeding issue is actually the opposite from what someone earlier mentioned. A well bred dog for work should always strive to be on top. Thus, you will have an issue or two. Especially if they are the same sex. Can you imagine having 10+ high drive and aggressive dogs running together. Sure it can be done if you don't care if the weaker dogs get punked down.