Conflict aggression, also called dominance aggression, can be a scary and difficult behavior for dog owners to manage. Puppies exhibit this aggression when testing limits and establishing dominance ranking within the family. They naturally strike out to see who is in charge of food, treats, territory, or toys.
Seperate. If the puppy is demanding attention that the older dog doesn't want to, or is not able to, provide, step in between your older dog and your puppy. Direct your older dog to his quiet place and distract your puppy by taking him to another part of the house and providing him with a toy.
It's far more likely that they're either pushing boundaries to see exactly what they can get away with, or that they're seeking a feeling of safety and comfort due to a feeling of insecurity (like if you've introduced a new dog into a household with an established canine presence or even a larger family).
Although dominance issues do occasionally occur in younger puppies, it most often develops as the animal reaches maturity, between eighteen months and three years of age, and is much more common in male dogs than female.
Most experts who have weighed in on the topic of a dog standing over you, or another dog, seem to agree that this is an act of dominance. Your pooch might be trying to establish himself or herself as the Alpha in the pack. Again, this goes back to their primal instincts from their days of living in the wild.
If left unchecked, serious fighting can ensue resulting in injury or even death. Fighting occurs because the dogs have not established a stable dominance hierarchy. Dogs have no sense of equality, so one must always be the leader.
That being said, it is entirely up to the owners whether or not their dogs fight. Two alpha females can get along just fine if the owners are true leaders or they may fight if the owners are not.
Don't Let the Dogs “Work It Out”
Years ago, people used to believe in letting dogs fight to work it out between them. This is dangerous for both dogs and for nearby people. Also, the dogs may never get along after such a fight.
Body Position. Your puppy's body carriage shows how it feels. Dogs bump, push, or lean against people or other animals as a way to communicate. Erect posture is a sign of confidence typical of assertive dogs.
Dogs in the same household can become aggressive toward each other for a variety of different reasons. Aggression may be dominance-related, territorial, possessive, or caused by fear/anxiety. Some dogs have “alliance aggression”.
Often squabbles between older dogs and puppies are due to the puppy pestering the older dog for play. It may therefore be a good idea to ensure your puppy gets ample opportunities to play with you, training and mental stimulation before being presented to your older dog.
It is simply a difference in age and therefore, in energy levels. What you need to do is drain the puppy's energy through exercise before it joins the older dog.
Forgiveness brings stress relief.
Both tended to spend more time together after the conflict regardless of if they had an existing relationship. While it seems dogs do forgive after a fight, there's still a lot more to learn about reconciliation in dogs. In some multi-dog households, it doesn't always work out.
Universal canine body language
Pawing is the universal doggie sign, “Hey you! I want to play! Do you wanna play with me?” It's how dogs communicate with each other. One dog pawing another dog is a sign it's time to play.
Don't punish your dog for growling at the puppy. Growling is normal dog communication, and he is letting the puppy (and you) know he's had enough. Instead of punishing this important communication, calmly separate them.
It is not wise to allow an adult dog to correct a puppy when the puppy was not interacting with the adult. You cannot give the adult too much power or you will set yourself up for future issues. The adult dog can stick up for itself, but it cannot make the rules for the rest of the house.
Alpha dogs are also more likely to hold your gaze rather than look away when they feel stressed, giving them a greater feeling of control over the situation. In social settings, you can identify dominant dogs by behavior such as mounting other dogs and being aloof rather than playful.
Domestic dogs must see their human as the alpha. This means that under your pup's love and affection exists a tremendous amount of respect for a dog to see you as the pack leader. If your pup shows certain signs, they have granted you the role of alpha.
Act like the alpha of the back and show him who is boss. Look him/her in the eye: When you give a command, look straight at your pet. Make sure he can see that you mean business and that it is not a command to be disobeyed. Always hold eye contact with your pet, no matter how big or small he or she is.