Pack Aggression

[bnwebm]

If you believe the theory (I do) that pugs were bred down from mastiffs, a lot of their strength and behavior can be understood. Ideally, YOU should be alpha but because of the age factor and for safety, i'd separate for feeding and when you aren't home. Immediate correction when you catch signs of aggression may also help (eg: ears perk up).

Oh, and as far as cats, i've always had them around dogs and they're fine as long as they have a place to get away from the dogs (under something or over a baby gate into another room).

Just because they are pugs does not mean that they cannot do fatal damage. I know of several people who have/had multiples and came home to a dead pug due to "pack mentality" and it wasn't just the older pugs that were targeted. I'm glad to hear that Dickson is going to be ok.

[CountryPug]

I am dealing with aggression issues with my two girls. Roxy is the oldest and is usually the aggressor. If I accidentally step on someone and they yelp, that is all it takes for her to react. I keep a penny can or a spray bottle in almost every room The pugs don't respond to it very well, but Roxy does, which is good.

The problem is now that the pugs are mature, they have decided they are not going to put up with any sh$t from her. Roxy attacks, I restrain her and the pugs will gang up on her and not let up until I separate them. She still hasn't learned even after being bit.

I try to nip things in the bud when I can, such as....if the pugs get too close to her, staring at her or if they are getting too excited. I have to be very aware of my own behavior as she reacts off of it. Still unexpected things happen and that's when a fight will break out.

It's a hard road and I don't think there is an easy fix, let me know if you figure it out.

[pugpappa]

Lisa, I'm just going to throw this out there and you see if it makes sense...
With all the advances in the care of our pets they're living much longer lives (in general).
They live much longer lives with conditions that couldn't exist in the wild.
Always before "Mother Nature" would have taken care of a blind,deaf,old or otherwise impaired animal. Someone else said that the pack was weeding out the weak member, that's true, as much as we love our Pugs and as far removed from the wild as they are-they still retain their instincts to protect the good of the pack.
One of the worst things I ever heard of was a pack of spoiled,coddled Italian Greyhounds turning on one of their own.
My DW is typing for me tonight,having trouble with my hands

[Harley&RoxysMommy]

Mine do that when one of the dogs start acting hyper. But never attack. Its usually just a rumbel and a pin down for the dog acting crazy. Especially when the pugs start their Pugtonas the other dogs always want to tackle them.

The only real pack aggression Ive had is towards Teddy my Yorkie he is VERY unstable. He has a SERIOUS obsession with toys and especially tiny tennis balls. And he gets very agressive protecting his balls.

Seriously he weighs about 5.5 lbs and will LUNGE at Harley who weighs 24 lbs or Lizzie who weighs 23 lbs and hang off their faces. As soon as the ball is gone he is back to happy go lucky sweet little Teddy and everyone will snuggle and be fine with him. So when we play ball I always have to put up Lizzie and Harley because they are the only ones that could really injure Teddy when he starts acting crazy.

I really have no idea. I just keep them seperate when I KNOW there will be aggression and keep an eye on them when he starts acting nuts. But generally everyone else is very even mild tempered. I look forward to reading suggestions as well!

[Harley&RoxysMommy]

the females they say are the worst for being alpha and two alpha queens in the household does not help.

I agree its usually always the females out of my 6 my three girls are deffinatley more dominant than the boys and two of my females are the alphas.

[suepug]

Lisa I have five pugs that are all six years old they get along for the most part but one of my males Zeke who is the sweetest love bug they seem to gang up on him sometimes for no reason it is very scarey as trying to break up five pugs all at once is hard I make sure when I go out they each go in there own crate my ast group of pugs I had two females and a male well the two females were very jealous of each other and one of them lost a eye from a fight so I know they can do damage to one another I think it is a good idea to separate them when you go out

[LuLu_Cooking_Monstor]

I had this issue with LuLu and one dog we were trying to keep her with. She is super sweet of a senior and for whatever reason that dog got the worse of her. Did not like him and bit the hell out of him for the littlest things. It was a puppy,9-12 months, and she was 8years old. He set off other dogs too that way, so he was best for a only dog situation.

There really isnt a way other than being vigilant for the tell tale signs and correcting the jump before they jump him. Gweeb has a weird look in his face and a tense stance and I know to poke him on his side to snap him out of it before he does something stupid to Jezzy. Other techniques dont work like the coins or sprays or verbals so gotta just find what works best for the pack.....like others mentioned. One suggestion I havent seen is maybe work on the root of the problem. If somehow he gets aggressive and tense, before they jump on it, try to maybe find a way to relax him down. I know he has a lot of issues that could be setting it off thats not necessarily his fault since it's hard growing old, but it's still an unwanted behavior that can be toned down. Easier to calm one dog than fight off a pack.

Sorry that this adds to your stress....it's never easy taking care of many pugs, few of them special needs/seniors. Bless you for being such a wonderful pug mama.

[Wally 'n' Leto]

Lisa, I'm just going to throw this out there and you see if it makes sense...
With all the advances in the care of our pets they're living much longer lives (in general).
They live much longer lives with conditions that couldn't exist in the wild.
Always before "Mother Nature" would have taken care of a blind,deaf,old or otherwise impaired animal. Someone else said that the pack was weeding out the weak member, that's true, as much as we love our Pugs and as far removed from the wild as they are-they still retain their instincts to protect the good of the pack.
One of the worst things I ever heard of was a pack of spoiled,coddled Italian Greyhounds turning on one of their own.
My DW is typing for me tonight,having trouble with my hands

I have to agree here, just because the breed has been around for ages, bred-down mastiffs or not (I also agree with that, they are not called mini-mastiffs for nothing!), those lupine instincts are still there.

All of this has me worried; our boys enjoy a good rough and tumble but have never shown any aggression to each other -- but should we be separating them when they are alone???