Sibling Rivalry A Troublesome Thought

Dear Miss Fifi.

Hi Fifi. We have a 1 year old Beagle, George. We got him from a breeder at 3 months old and for the past 9 months, he has been our 'only child'. Just yesterday, we adopted a 1 year old shepherd mix, Remy, and she is very sweet and loving. Before bringing her into the home, we introduced them twice and they had play dates and all seemed to go well. Last night, when we made her move official, George seemed to be very territorial and borderline aggressive with her ... biting her legs and tail relentlessly for hours and even into the overnight. He loves to play and gets along with other dogs. He's very social, so we cannot tell if this is play behavior or dominant behavior. Despite Remy's attempts to tell George that she doesn't want to play so roughly and/or that she doesn't want him biting her, he continues on. And even into the morning.

Also, when Remy picks up chew toys that George has never touched EVER, George barks at her until she drops it and then starts chewing. Interesting since prior to her coming, he didn't want anything to do with those chew toys. Even when we give them both a chew toy, he won't touch his and will go over and harasses Remy until she released hers. We need help knowing whether or not this is 'normal' and what the typical length of the 'transition period' is for these types of situations. We understand that George will display some dominance as he's been the only dog in the house his entire life, but we are fearful that this behavior will not subside. And how do we deal with it until it does? Any tips or guidance would be so helpful.

- Kristin O'Connor

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Dear Kristin:

Oh dear, dear. Sibling rivalry is always troublesome, particularly when it's so unexpected. Miss Fifi is an only dog, and my feline assistant Dilettante Dilly doesn't count in the same regard, so I would guess that talking with your vet would be the best suggestion. It most definitely sounds like George is having trouble adjusting to Remy's permanence in the family, especially since he's showing interest in items he previously poo-poohed. Unfortunately, I think each dog responds differently to new situations, so I don't think there's any standard timing on transition periods. Poor Remy ...

You could also try consulting a pet behavior specialist; WRAL.com has a fine listing and you'll likely be able to find one in your area.

Good luck. Woof!