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When you bring a new puppy home and you have another pet in your home your existing dog is of course going to be jealous or dominate to some extent. Some more than others. And some have different issues with different things. But you want to nip all jealousy or dominate/bully tactics in the bud as soon as it starts. Knowing how to tell when it is proper correction and a problem correction is very important. Knowing your dog/pup and reading into body language is very important. Your puppy can learn a lot of things very fast. Just as it is important for your pup to learn from his mom/littermates he learns from you and your pack when he/she goes home - You are his mom/pack now. If you allow any bad behaviors to happen from either your puppy or existing dog it is only going to cause future problems possibly with your puppy learning these bad traits also. So being consistent and enforcing everything immediately is very important.

I am sure everyone has the basic concept - Nothing in life is free. "NO FREE LUNCH"
This means the pup has to do something for everything it gets or is allowed to do. Everything should be earned by your pets and nothing is given way for free. A duty or task should be required before anything is given. This includes food, toys, friends, playtime. Until they get the hint that everything that they get to do or have comes from there owner(pack leader) and not of their own free will. It is imperative that you are seen as pack leader for everything that your pup/dog needs.

But if you do experience these problems such as aggression with food at feeding time, stealing of toys, bones being fought over there are a few things that you can do.

Obviously some choose to free feed. So if you are having issues with feeding or food aggression then I suggest that starting to schedule feed until you get the problem under control. Feeding in different rooms or different times when you first get your new dog home is recommended. Remember that everything doesn't have to be taught in one day. And there is no set rules, each dog is an individual and you need to find what fits that dog the best. Each dog knowing its place and staying consistent is the key for you. Before you feed or give anything you can have the dog sit right there on the spot. Or you can use down or come so he knows you are in charge. This should include all things as simple as a meal, treat, walks, scratch behind the ear, even when your dog wants to go out to potty.

When I have my puppies it is sometimes chaotic when you have 5-10 puppies all arguing and positioning for my attention. I feel puppies have very short attention spans so I work very short intervals with them. Multiple times a day I go out with a small treat - usually a greeie or small hand treat. I make the puppies sit on their butts before they are rewarded with my attention. If they fight for that treat I do not allow it and I correct the dominate dog in that pack at that time. I am the pack leader and no one needs to be correcting in this situation but me. I sometimes hold a puppies nose and look them in the eye and say NO. I sometimes put them on their backs until they submit. And I ignore them after they have been corrected and pay a lot of attention to the dog that was being corrected by the other pup/dog. If that pup/dog comes out I correct again, send them to the back of the pack and only again pay attention when the ears are down, tail is down and they are in a submissive (I'm sorry) position.

I do not allow any of my dogs or puppies to jump on me either. These dogs are very big and although you might think it is ok for this big dog to jump on you it is not a positive thing. They do not understand that your little niece, nephew, neighbor child or grandchild that comes over is not as big or as strong as you and someone could get hurt. So my philosophy is if they can not do it with a three year old child they should never do it with you.

I would always supervise in the beginning when they have a bone, toy or fun things. If you get dominate behaviors be sure to correct that behavior immediately. Always remember you are the pack leader. I can't stress enough - "waiting" even one minute for a correction of bad behavior becomes ineffective. Everything has to be done right at the time the issues are happening.

The correction can be some or all of these things. Take the bone/toy away. Yell, NO. Stomp on the floor while yelling. Send to crate/time out. Sit in-between both dogs.

If one dog is more the dominate than the other then focus your attention on the dominate dog. You need to let them know it is your place not theirs to tell someone in the pack who will eat or play when they do. Do more activities with that dog like more walks or outside time to get some of that energy out.

I don't think any one person has a quick fix for any one dog. They all need to be treated individually. And my saying always goes "What you put in you will get out". The more you work on a behavior or problem the more success you will find. Always stay strong and always remember - There is no such thing as a bad dog only an owner that doesn't know how to handle a problem.

ALPHA TRAINING

You can start with one or two and work your way up as they become routine. The main thing is consistency! If you make a rule, you have to enforce it every time. Alpha training works so beautifully with young pups. They never get the control and thus don't fight it.

1. Alpha always eats first. Either change the dog's feeding time or grab a little bite of something before feeding your dog.(We make added advantages for the whole family by letting the dog have the last bite of whatever we are eating. He has to wait patiently. This way even my kids get Alpha! We also feed our cat first.)
2. Alphas always go through doorways first. This includes all doorways INSIDE the house. Either call the dog back to you or take her back and make her wait.
3. NO FREE LUNCH This means the dog has to do something for everything it gets. Most people have the dog sit, but you can also use down or come. This should include meals, treats, walks, pets, and anytime the dog wants out.
4. Alphas always have the highest position. This means don't let the dog on the furniture, especially the bed. While training, don't lay on the floor and DON"T ever let the dog stand over or on you. Don't let the dog put it's paws on your lap and stand with it's head higher.
5. Alphas always have clear passage. This means you teach the dog to move out of your way instead of walking around. Depending on temperament, you can walk up about a foot from the dog and say move and then keep walking. The dog should get out of the way. If this doesn't work at first, try luring with a treat or toy until she learns the command.
6. Alphas make the rules. This is probably the hardest! You have to show the dog that you decide when to play or pet her. Our rule was for every 3 times Kodiak asked to play or be petted, the 4th time we said no. You need to also stop a game before she is ready every few times. Don't wait for the dog to walk off and leave you
7. No rough play-At least until the dog is 12 to 18 mos and KNOWS it's place in the pack, you should avoid tug of war and wrestling. In dog terms (especially for young dogs), this is a way to test the other members of the pack to see who is vulnerable. In trying to let the dog have fun, we end up sending the wrong message with these games.
8. Alphas decide where and when to go. Use the tether(umbilical) system for bonding and Alpha training. When you are home, put a 6 ft leash on the dog and hook it to you. I used a leather belt and put the loop of the leash through it and buckled it around my waist even if I didn't have belt loops. To begin with, tell the dog when you are going to move. This teaches the dog to pay attention to you, that you are in control, and to wait patiently by your side. It helps a lot to talk to them and BE HAPPY! Make her feel she is helping by coming along. This worked great with Kodiak and now I can tie him to me anytime my hands are full and he follows right along.
9. Insist the dog obey first time, every time! This is probably one of the most important for independent breeds. Do not repeat yourself! Do not assume the dog did not hear you(they have excellent hearing for the things they are interested in!). Give a command, wait a few seconds, then put the dog in position or make him do what you said. If a pup is never allowed to ignore you, it will make training SO much easier and faster.

Here are eight great reasons to tether-train your dog:

1. Better bonding. If your dog is overly independent and doesn't recognize your leadership, an excellent bonding exercise is to tether her next to you every possible minute when you're home. If you have trouble finding an object to tie her to, attach the tether to your belt or ankle. This is known as umbilical cording.
2. A feeling of safety. Close tether training gives a fearful dog the security of knowing where she belongs. She'll also adapt more easily to new environments since she'll know the ropes.
3. Easier housetraining.. Dogs will avoid eliminating in their immediate surroundings, so tether-training can help you with housebreaking. Take your dog out regularly, and praise her lavishly for going in a sanctioned spot. If she doesn't do her business, return her to the tether and praise her for resting quietly.
4. A calming effect. Inside your car or at home, tethering will settle a hyperactive dog. If your dog gets especially wild around guests, designate a spot as hers and tether her there when you entertain. Set up a comfy bed there, so she can rest comfortably.
5. Soothing separation anxiety. If your dog gets upset when you leave or aren't nearby, close tethering is a useful technique. Gradually increase the time you keep her tethered, by just a minute or so each time and never so long that she shows signs of anxiety. Then tether her farther from you, gradually increasing the distance until you're out of her sight. Do this incrementally, so she's always comfortable (otherwise you could make the problem worse). When you need to go out, untie her, but ignore her when you leave and for a few minutes after you arrive. Making a fuss will undo this independence training.ä
6. No more demolition dog. If your dog chews your shoes or digs up your flowers, tethering can limit her ability to destroy your possessions. While she's tethered, give her a Kong filled with goodies or a ãchew puzzleä (another kind of chew toy with food inside). If you think separation anxiety might be causing the destructive behavior and close tethering isn't helping, consult a professional behaviorist.
7. You're the boss. If your dog behaves aggressively, give her a calming time-out by tethering her near you for five to 10 minutes. By immediately establishing your leadership, tethering dispels her confusion over her status in the household hierarchy. If necessary, have your dog drag a leash from her collar, so you can control any volatile situation.
8. A member of society. You can use the tether as part of a socialization program. It's a way to allow your dog to see and be involved in people's activities without being the center of attention. Remember, a dog who can be peacefully tethered possesses a skill that'll prove handy in countless situations over her life.
   from-petco.com