Any idea why? - Page 1

I'm sure others have experienced this before and it's nothing new, but we have what seemed kind of odd (to me anyway) starting recently.  I had left for Florida, and someone from my family came over and stayed with my dogs (we only have males now), they brought their spayed female with them, and my dogs all are good with her, no issues whatsoever.   But ever since that dog was over here (this happened while I was gone too I was told), my two oldest males have been sniffing the youngest male.....almost as if it was a dog in heat.   I tend to keep them separated, but they sniff certain spots on the dog, want to mount, etc......  This does not seem like a "dominance" thing, at all.  The oldest male (who is an experienced breeder) whines, gets anxious, is possessive of, wants to mount, etc....just as he always did when it was a female in heat.  Any thoughts as to why the sudden change? And the fact that both of the older males are reacting to the younger male this way? 

Hey Guy! Long time no see! Good to see you posting again.

My guess the dynamics were changed when the female was presented to the pack. Now, they have a new dynamic to work out. It could be the youngest exudes the most interesting smells even with her exiting. So, the the old guys want to put him back in his place.

Mojo, I have seen, will try to hump Beau. Not all the time but at times, he does and I tell him to knock it off! lol I will try to notice if it is more or less so after a friend's female spayed Rottie-mix comes visiting. Just to test my hypothesis.

 

Your dog sitting friend by bringing a female has upset your apple cart, it is a dominance response of sorts.
The younger male is at the back of the pack that's why they chose him.
It was a mistake to allow the female to come, now things have changed a bit, in time some of it will blow over, all except the pecking order.

I see much the same behavior in my females.

Thanks you guys.  Any idea why it just started this past time though? He's brought that female here numerous times in the past, that dog has even stayed here in the past for over a week at a time (I was here though).  Could this partially be because I wasn't here? I mean it never happened with my dogs......until I was gone.  My dogs do as I tell them, and there has never been an issue like that when it was myself and the dogs (with that female here, and even after she left). 

Did your friend's dog stay a longer period of time than usual? 

Animals change over time, same as us, ages come into play, everything changes over time, there's no pat answer as to why, so many things can contribute to various behaviors.
It's not serious unless the younger dog begins to challenge either of the two older dogs for position.
They will maintain a pecking order and my older female can be very hard on the younger female especially if challenged and during heat cycles.
There are times when I must separate them, with two females and a male all intact there's never a dull moment.
And sometimes what looks harsh to me is not harsh to them, they get along even when they're not.

 

Hi, Check your young male for impacted or ruptured anal glands and/or fistulas although if he is that young, the latter would be unlikely.

Could be they smell discharge/blood.

vonrivera, nope.  She's been here longer, but the difference was that each time she's been here......so have I.  The one time I haven't been here, and she has.....the dynamics seemed to have changed like this, but it's settled down quite a bit since I last made a post. 

Beetree, good to hear from you, though I probably won't be on the forum much after this post.  Hope everything is going well for you.  

Guy....Oh! Sorry your visit is so short! I have often wondered about Auggie! Your beautiful boy! If his eyes checked out .... That sheen you saw? Hope you come back to say he is okay!

@beetree- Auggie now belongs to a friend of mine, she's not had any problems with his eyes/sight at all, and he's a finished UKC/INTNL champion.