The Celestial Fleet of the Middle Kingdom
- Thread starter Taran
- Start date
I didn't mean that every person has to do the alpha thing.... just that some human has to have been in that role at some point. I don't know, I've known a bunch of badly behaved dogs in my life, and almost all of them have gotten better once in the keeping of folks who can lay down the barriers and be the top dog. Some have responded well to another dog, but all I've met have required a strong human as well. Note strong does not mean nasty to the dog, some have been very loving with the dogs, just clearly in charge.
Guess it could just be my experience...
Ripple
Guess it could just be my experience...
Ripple
I grew up breeding Chows, so I seriously have to tell you that Ripple has it right here.
I would guess by yours posts, darknight, that you never had to actually be the one handling a pack? Sounds to me like the wolves you dealt with were being controlled by their Pack Leader, your friend. If he weren't there...
Seriously, Wolves are genetically aggressive. This does not mean that they are mean. Just as Chows are not mean. But it does mean that if they ever sense weakness in you, they are going to try to make use of that weakness to become the Alpha.
This does not seem to be the case with your Innuit dogs (a breed I am unfamiliar with), which led to my question about how they bred the wolf's innate aggressiveness out of them while keeping the majority of the rest of the wolf's traits. It's not something they've been too successful with even with Malamutes (not the ones that are still within shouting distance of wolves, anyway; a lot of them have had the wolf bred completely out).
Then again, even the most aggressive pack animal can be starkly different if isolated among another species.
As has been noted by even people who know nothing about animals: the behaviour of a single animal, or even a pair (mated or otherwise) is surprisingly, and often dangerously, different from the behaviour of a pack of even the most docile creatures.
Which is why, even though I have only 2 dogs right now, and they are Keeshonden, a far cry from my agrressive, stand-offish, territorial, easily affronted Chows, I have spent a great deal of time and effort establishing myself as Leader of the Pack. Especially since I intend to get more dogs and will brook no challenges.
I would guess by yours posts, darknight, that you never had to actually be the one handling a pack? Sounds to me like the wolves you dealt with were being controlled by their Pack Leader, your friend. If he weren't there...
Seriously, Wolves are genetically aggressive. This does not mean that they are mean. Just as Chows are not mean. But it does mean that if they ever sense weakness in you, they are going to try to make use of that weakness to become the Alpha.
This does not seem to be the case with your Innuit dogs (a breed I am unfamiliar with), which led to my question about how they bred the wolf's innate aggressiveness out of them while keeping the majority of the rest of the wolf's traits. It's not something they've been too successful with even with Malamutes (not the ones that are still within shouting distance of wolves, anyway; a lot of them have had the wolf bred completely out).
Then again, even the most aggressive pack animal can be starkly different if isolated among another species.
As has been noted by even people who know nothing about animals: the behaviour of a single animal, or even a pair (mated or otherwise) is surprisingly, and often dangerously, different from the behaviour of a pack of even the most docile creatures.
Which is why, even though I have only 2 dogs right now, and they are Keeshonden, a far cry from my agrressive, stand-offish, territorial, easily affronted Chows, I have spent a great deal of time and effort establishing myself as Leader of the Pack. Especially since I intend to get more dogs and will brook no challenges.
oh yea, dont get me wrong i no what you mean you do need to be in charge of any dog, and a lot of animals, maybe i came accross wrong sorry,
we have had gun dogs, german short haired, trained by us to top standard, inc whistle trained for distance work, my wife trains people and horses to ride properly (not bhs) is a qualified equine therapist, and me,....well i spent 2 months working virtually allone to bring a pack of timberwolves into a better enviroment when i was about 30, so i have had a bit of expierience.
any way all i got to say is nice dogs taran, yours and mine, sorry again if it seemed like i was arguing, couldnt be further from the truth, i just love dogs (and horses) and hope people get on well with them
we have had gun dogs, german short haired, trained by us to top standard, inc whistle trained for distance work, my wife trains people and horses to ride properly (not bhs) is a qualified equine therapist, and me,....well i spent 2 months working virtually allone to bring a pack of timberwolves into a better enviroment when i was about 30, so i have had a bit of expierience.
any way all i got to say is nice dogs taran, yours and mine, sorry again if it seemed like i was arguing, couldnt be further from the truth, i just love dogs (and horses) and hope people get on well with them
