Dog dominant posturing leads to a fight.

[Ddski5]

Freyja knows all my daughters very well and keeps an eye on them when they are home.

Kelsie has been off to college for quite some time, met a boy who has a female Boxer/Pit mix (Cha cha). She has recently moved close to home and been wanting for Freyja and Cha cha to meet.

They come over and I have boyfriend walk Cha cha one way and Freyja and I go the other way- on leash. We gradually get closer and closer, let them look and sniff the air. Do this for 10-15 mins until Cha cha calms down (not trained)- Freyja is fine.

We gradually get closer again and we let them be free on leash to smell each other and do their circling….never would have figured but Freyja is dominant posturing with hackles up- the boxer/pit is too. I watch them closely and am talking to both of them and hackles go down, tension in the air goes down and they sort of happily circle each other. Now we are following each other on the leashes for 10mins with no issues. All is hunky dory.

We go in the back yard and all is good so we them off leash so they can possibly run and play because Cha cha did a play bow. Well all was good until Kelsie comes out the back door- Cha cha runs to her and so does Freyja and dog fight ensues….my first time to be in the middle of a dog fight and that shit is fricking hectic and crazy. I am glad I was wearing my Apple Watch because I got bit on my left wrist while pulling them off each other. Two punctures on each side of the watch, the front incisors clamped onto my watch with the canines going on each side.

Finally got them apart. Freyja is fine with no injuries. I have never seen her in battle mode, aggressively fast and intense. I sent Cha cha home…no way that relationship is gonna work now.


Question:
If Freyja always demonstrates dominant posturing when in the act of meeting new dogs, does this mean she will always attempt to have the dominant presence?

Is it like a concrete one or the other? One dog is dominant and the other submissive? Can two dominants be around each other without it being a ruckus? I mean how is it that I see videos of 15-20 Dobermans running around and playing? There has to be a couple of dominants in that group….

I ask this because the young female golden across the street that meets Freyja in front yard always immediately play bows and submits. I mean, it is very obvious she has no aspiration to be queen bitch on Freyja. So Freyja doesn’t feel trespassed or disrespected and lets her guard down to play?

So when Freyja meets another dog that presents with dominant posturing, then it’s a no go and immediately shut it down?

I have no plans to push this or any dog meetings further. Really never did it in the past…I believe Freyja is one of those that truly does not need the presence or relationship of other dogs, she is fulfilled with me at her side. I also believe there is a difference in a loose untrained dog and a Doberman that is trained.

Who else has knowledge and experience with this?
@Gelcoater goes on his desert trips
@Katyusharocket meets Doberman groups
@LifeofRubie meets Doberman groups and Rubie is not too social

 

[JanS]

I'm glad no one was hurt! It seems to me that both of them are protecting your daughter and that's what instigated the spat.
I would try to introduce them again but have both you and your daughter present when you do so both dogs can accept that they have to share.

 

[Ddski5]

I'm glad no one was hurt! It seems to me that both of them are protecting your daughter and that's what instigated the spat.
I would try to introduce them again but have both you and your daughter present when you do so both dogs can accept that they have to share.

So zero issues when you had all those Dobermans together recently?

 

[JanS]

So zero issues when you had all those Dobermans together recently?

No, nothing. I'm guessing in your case it was because your daughter wasn't there when they were getting introduced and they both thought she was theirs. We had a Boxer before and he was very much like a Doberman personality wise.

 

[Katyusharocket]

I hope your wounds heal up ok, let's hear it for that Apple watch!

I really wish I had better answers to your questions about whether this is a concrete or fluid positioning when she meets other dogs.. In our Doberman meetups, our last one was the biggest. We had 10 Dobermans (8 female and 2 male). One male, Storm, isn't old enough to really care anything about dominance yet. The other one, Hawkeye, is, I think, 2. We don't know everything about Hawkeye yet, he is relatively new to the group and is also a rescue. Hawkeye puffs his chest out a little and gets a little "forward" I will say, with the girls in the group, but the way I read his body language i don't see it as dominance, really, maybe i would call it acting out a crush on some of the girls? Then there is Sullie. Sullie, even as a puppy, would have lashings out at some of the other female Dobermans, but it wasn't constant, it wasn't to all of them, and none of us could get in her head trying to find any reason why. Her owners are not amateurs when it comes to Doberman owning, either, and they are lightning fast at getting to Sullie and she gets a time out in a corner. Katyusha was one of the dogs she never lashed out at, until, one day, we were working on cars together and it was only Katyusha and Sullie in the room. No one saw what started it, but there was a fight. Katyusha 4yo and sullie about 8 months. That was the first time any of the dogs stood up to her, and she's never done it with any dog since. Other than Sullie as a puppy, we have never had an issue, even a slight one. But we had some factors at our 10 dobe meetup that you certainly didnt have in what you described. 3 of the attending dogs are full sisters and they see each other a lot, and when they do, its always some crazy off leash adventure. Of those 3 sisters, 2 are littermates. And, their mom Xena was in the park along with them. I'm no behavior expert, but i swear, when she's around, she's queen bitch without lifting a finger. When she left, since Katyusha is at more of the meetuos than her 2 sisters, the oversight job goes to Katyusha, and thats been evident twice, at 2 different meetups. We also had a separate set of 2 littermates, Zastava and Duchess.

I do think @JanS makes a great point about protecting or resource guarding your daughter. Trying it again under different conditions may give different results, but, if you have no overarching goal that these 2 dogs need to spend time in the same place together peacefully, then trying again is only worth it to get experiment results, so only you, together with the others there that day can decide how bad you want those, or, if there is the goal to have them in the same room together moving forward, and if that's the case, now it becomes training for a goal rather than just to see what happens when you change the recipe but use some of the same ingredients.

I will say, too, that I spend a lot of time in dog parks and dog social events, and I think it's very similar to being at a bar on a Friday night. We all have seen that one guy who just needs to be punched because he's not regulating himself, socially, very well at all. I believe this exists in the dog world too, and they're more willing to act on impulse because they don't have jail or other consequences in the back of their minds, like we do. Not implying that was your Freya and the boy's dog, just saying i believe it happens is all.

I've been feeling like there has been some slight "posturing" here in my pack in the last week. Zastava has become much more assertive in play, sometimes to the point where I don't like it, so I intervene. Im not going to let it get far enough that they get to decide on their own how much is too much. Luckily this happens only outside, never in the house.

I hope you'll keep us posted if they meet again, or meeting any other dogs comes about. It will be curious to see what changes.

 

[Ddski5]

Very insightful, thank you.

It is also questionable as to how much of a dog squabble is to check each others authority versus I’m gonna kick your ass and make you bleed/hurt.

 

[Ddski5]

 

[Katyusharocket]

Sell that photo to Apple, lol. Just joking, I do hope you heal up without complications or infection of any kind. Looks like it smarted.

It is also questionable as to how much of a dog squabble is to check each others authority versus I’m gonna kick your ass and make you bleed/hurt.

I think that's the part we will never really know, at least here on this earth. Of course I am no behavioral expert either. Someone more studied or experienced than me might have a better grip on it.

 

[MichiH]

Freyja knows all my daughters very well and keeps an eye on them when they are home.

Kelsie has been off to college for quite some time, met a boy who has a female Boxer/Pit mix (Cha cha). She has recently moved close to home and been wanting for Freyja and Cha cha to meet.

They come over and I have boyfriend walk Cha cha one way and Freyja and I go the other way- on leash. We gradually get closer and closer, let them look and sniff the air. Do this for 10-15 mins until Cha cha calms down (not trained)- Freyja is fine.

We gradually get closer again and we let them be free on leash to smell each other and do their circling….never would have figured but Freyja is dominant posturing with hackles up- the boxer/pit is too. I watch them closely and am talking to both of them and hackles go down, tension in the air goes down and they sort of happily circle each other. Now we are following each other on the leashes for 10mins with no issues. All is hunky dory.

We go in the back yard and all is good so we them off leash so they can possibly run and play because Cha cha did a play bow. Well all was good until Kelsie comes out the back door- Cha cha runs to her and so does Freyja and dog fight ensues….my first time to be in the middle of a dog fight and that shit is fricking hectic and crazy. I am glad I was wearing my Apple Watch because I got bit on my left wrist while pulling them off each other. Two punctures on each side of the watch, the front incisors clamped onto my watch with the canines going on each side.

Finally got them apart. Freyja is fine with no injuries. I have never seen her in battle mode, aggressively fast and intense. I sent Cha cha home…no way that relationship is gonna work now.


Question:
If Freyja always demonstrates dominant posturing when in the act of meeting new dogs, does this mean she will always attempt to have the dominant presence?

Is it like a concrete one or the other? One dog is dominant and the other submissive? Can two dominants be around each other without it being a ruckus? I mean how is it that I see videos of 15-20 Dobermans running around and playing? There has to be a couple of dominants in that group….

I ask this because the young female golden across the street that meets Freyja in front yard always immediately play bows and submits. I mean, it is very obvious she has no aspiration to be queen bitch on Freyja. So Freyja doesn’t feel trespassed or disrespected and lets her guard down to play?

So when Freyja meets another dog that presents with dominant posturing, then it’s a no go and immediately shut it down?

I have no plans to push this or any dog meetings further. Really never did it in the past…I believe Freyja is one of those that truly does not need the presence or relationship of other dogs, she is fulfilled with me at her side. I also believe there is a difference in a loose untrained dog and a Doberman that is trained.

Who else has knowledge and experience with this?
@Gelcoater goes on his desert trips
@Katyusharocket meets Doberman groups
@LifeofRubie meets Doberman groups and Rubie is not too social

Glad that everyone is ok and that you’re not too badly injured. I hope your bite marks heal quickly. So scary to be in the middle of that and thank goodness it was broken up.

From my experience with Pepper who is not dominate, she doesn’t like most dogs she’s met. Not that she’s met many, like you I don’t feel she needs dog friends and she’s content with me.

I will say from my small experience having my own Doberman, I’ve had Pepper react similarly. Meet and greet goes well, walk on leash together, then once off leash she’s not into it and will let the other dog know. I have noticed a same sized dog that isn’t trained annoys her and she won’t want to engage.

With your situation it seems like resource guarding too.

Glad you all are ok!!!

 

[Ddski5]

Meet and greet goes well, walk on leash together, then once off leash she’s not into it and will let the other dog know. I have noticed a same sized dog that isn’t trained annoys her and she won’t want to engage

This…

 

[Ddski5]

Reading back over this again, my title is somewhat misleading…

My original thought provoking quandary is- if dogs are showing dominant posturing against each other, is there gonna be a fight? The posturing is signs of I’m not backing down, I am the queen bitch here? does that ever let off and they become friendly to each other or it’s one of those things in which neither backs down until they fight?

 

[Two Dobes]

Wow, I know just the 'sound' of dogs fighting is real scary....and when you see them going at it; it sounds as though one of them is going to be badly injured. Glad your watch saved you from getting an artery knicked! That could have been very bad for you.
Years ago I had a male - and a friend of mine had his littermate, a female. We did not live near each other, but saw them at a dogshow once....we walked the dogs on leash together behind the show site, then both had e collars on, so we each threw balls for our dogs...so they were chasing their own ball, in a wide open space, and watching the other when they would go chase their ball. It seemed they were tolerating each other, so we walked closer to each other, and the dogs off leash, circled one another and it almost looked like they were fine - until they weren't. In a second, they both postured and broke into a fight. They both had great recalls, and broke apart quickly to come to us...but it was a mystery other than they were both dominant.
Look forward to more input on your questions

 

[Katyusharocket]

if dogs are showing dominant posturing against each other, is there gonna be a fight?

I don't think that posturing + posturing = fight 100% of the time. If you see it though, it's certainly a time to be watching and don't take your eyes off. I have seen two posturing dogs become neutral/semi friendly with each other, although I have never seen it overnight. It took time and work, lots of soothing voices from both owners in the beginning. I have also seen young dogs that had been best friends for 2 years suddenly have a falling out. That was almost scarier, because there was very little sign of it coming, it was just like a switch.

does that ever let off and they become friendly to each other or it’s one of those things in which neither backs down until they fight?

The two you have written about, I would say it's possible they now have it solved, like "oh that one's not worth it" or "I probably would have taken an ass beating without the intervention". Having said that, while it may be possible, I am nowhere near saying its probable. I think it's plausible that while these 2 may never become friendly with each other, they might be able to at least figure out to ignore each other.

I have noticed a same sized dog that isn’t trained annoys her and she won’t want to engage.

A calm, trained dog, simply may not have the patience for the untrained dog energy. I know this happened to me. New dog comes into the park and she comes in hot to Katyusha, who was just trying to sit by a tree. That energy was too much, and my absolute golden child of a therapy dog bit the comin' in hot dog. Opened her up just a little, but enough. The damage was done.. Luckily, I was able to text a .pdf of her vaccination records right on the spot. That person uses the same vet clinic as me, so I asked them to take their dog in and I would pay the bill. It ended up costing me some $16 ish to buy a round of antibiotics for them. It could have been much worse had the family not been extremely reasonable. You should have seen the look of disbelief on the faces of the vet clinic staff that I was there to pay a bill caused by Katyusha. So now 3 of us involved in the conversation have had unexpected or adverse results from the trained meeting the untrained. That might be the difference for our Doberman meetups, too, is that all the dogs that attend them have lots of work put into them for training, as seems to be the case for all of us here at DCF.

Now I want to bring blind Toby into the mix. He never got beat up before he went blind. In the 4 or 5 years since he went blind, he has gotten beat up to bleeding (not badly) 3 times and attacked one other. I honestly could see that the approaching dogs were posturing. But Toby can't see or know that about the other dogs, and I think his complete perceived disregard for the other dog's communication is what really set it off all 4 times. As though, "oh, you think I am irrelevant?". I think he would have fared better if he were able to see it, and then either posture back, or submit, but he couldn't. He couldn't see it. Just telling this story because in our experience, one dog posturing and the other not posturing, still ended up in violence. So, now if I see any dog approaching him that we don't already know well, I am there to quickly intervene.

 

[Ravenbird]

Just my opinions, but so much going on in your event. I'm going to guess at a lot of what happened, but there's things I would have done differently.

They come over and I have boyfriend walk Cha cha one way and Freyja and I go the other way- on leash. We gradually get closer and closer, let them look and sniff the air. Do this for 10-15 mins until Cha cha calms down (not trained)- Freyja is fine.

We gradually get closer again and we let them be free on leash to smell each other and do their circling….never would have figured but Freyja is dominant posturing with hackles up- the boxer/pit is too. I watch them closely and am talking to both of them and hackles go down, tension in the air goes down and they sort of happily circle each other. Now we are following each other on the leashes for 10mins with no issues. All is hunky dory.

Not sure I'm reading this right: you are going back & forth toward each other, passing and then turn around and pass each other again until they are more or less at ease? If so, dogs walking toward each other in itself can be a trigger for dogs that don't know each other. This is in your yard or street? This is home territory for Freyja, strange territory for Chacha, giving Freyja boldness and putting Chacha on defense. Even if they got along this would still be instinctive in most dogs.
I was taught to walk strange dogs together on neutral territory that neither dog "owns", and going the same direction and to totally ignore the other dog. You each remind your dog that you are there and no need to worry about the other dog walking along. So taking a 20 - 30 minute walk around a large loop in your neighborhood, preferably one that Freyja hasn't been on in a while, so both dogs are looking at new sights rather than each other.

If Freyja always demonstrates dominant posturing when in the act of meeting new dogs, does this mean she will always attempt to have the dominant presence?

I would never allow posturing in an introduction. Idea is that you are giving your dog permission to control or try to control the other dog and ignore whatever you might think about it.

Is it like a concrete one or the other? One dog is dominant and the other submissive? Can two dominants be around each other without it being a ruckus?

If both dogs are inherently dominant and you leave them to make decisions there will be a ruckus. You have to be the one to call the shots. As you pointed out, the golden doesn't pose a threat, so there's no reason for Freyja to hackle up or have any concerns. If Cha cha doesn't listen to her owner, then that already puts you and your girl in danger.

So when Freyja meets another dog that presents with dominant posturing, then it’s a no go and immediately shut it down?

Shut down the posturing, but that doesn't mean shut down ever visiting. Granted, Cha cha needs leadership and control also in order for this to work. I would not do off leash with a dog that I knew was not in control by its owner.

All that said, I'm really glad you were fast on your feet to take control when needed. Sh!t does happen even when you've done all the right things and done it perfectly. You had 2 females made up of 3 drivey dominant breeds. Yes they can both be at a backyard bbq together, but with these two, especially after a brawl, it will take some effort.

The day I took Asha on the hike with 5 other dogs, we were out of the truck already and Asha was sniffing around when Michelle unloaded the pack out of her van. Asha knows them all and happy to see familiar dogs, until the new Mal trotted by and she instantly hackled up. I immediately put her into a down and Michelle called the dog to her about 20 feet away so the new dog swung back to her. This put both dogs on an instant reminder that the human is in charge and their personal feelings take back seat. We had to hang out at the parking lot for a bit as M's elderly GSD was let out to go potty but had to be put back in the van as he's getting too old to do the longer hikes. So while Shorty was being tended to, all 6 dogs are milling around, Asha watching the newcomer but staying close to me. She was observing the new dog, but not using a hard stare and no hackles. The hackles were just the surprise factor I think when she realized one dog was new. The newcomer felt safer with the pack he came with so didn't approach us. Then as we walked and the dogs ran and played and chased each other there was never any animosity. All these dogs know they can depend on their handler to make the decisions. If that young Mal had not had Michelle in control, I would have kept Asha close to me. I've been on pack walks with her that her clients are handling their own dogs and they haven't learned to read the body language or (as you say so well "keep their heads on a swivel") and I simply can't trust some of them.

Hope some of this info helps. Your human girls are growing up and pretty soon they will have dogs of their own that they'll want to bring home when they come to visit. Keep in mind that dogs staying neutral to each other is the goal, playing and zooming together is just a bonus that may or may not happen.

 

[LifeofRubie]

I know that was a scary situation. Friendly reminder to grab the back legs and not the necks to break up a dog fight but I know how quickly it get's chaotic!

I think @Ravenbird nailed it. In many, if not all, of the above successful off leash scenarios, dogs and people were trained and attentive and a lot of those were on neutral ground. NOT saying you were not attentive! You were right there to insert yourself when needed.

I like to say that Rubie has low tolerance for non-sense and her definition of non-sense is pretty strict. Moo is wildly unproblematic which is why their relationship works so well. When she starts asserting a dominant posture or action toward Moose, we shut it down pretty quickly.

I don't think we've done many off leash things with Rubie since before Moo so she would've been younger than 2. She doesn't enjoy it and I don't trust other people. The hikes that we've done with larger groups of dogs were led by someone who has a leash reactive dog so she PREACHED respect of space for all dogs (unless two owners consented to let their dogs interact). Rubie thrived on those hikes! We've also been building a rapport with each other (Rubie and I) for over 9 years and I'd like to think she knows I'm going to stop someone from getting in her space before she feels like she needs to react. She'll observe, but preventing the reaction is my job.

Hopefully your daughter (and yourself!) isn't too upset but I can understand if she is. You take that stuff personally but learn and move on. Freyja may just not be a dogs dog and to your admission, there is no problem with that, at all!

 

[Ddski5]

It was not on neutral territory, Freyja’s house. I knew about neutral territory but this has worked twice for me in the past so I went with it.

Walking down the street behind one another (20-30’ apart) for a bit, then turn around. 30 mins and then gradually got closer.

All the posturing signs- I really thought this was part of the meet and greet process. Once they acted all badass in front of each other, somebody generally breaks with a play bow or a zoomie- then the tension is gone. Just didn’t know how to handle two dominants that don’t…now I do.

A major mistake by me was that I released Freyja from my mental hold. Hard to explain but I know that she knew she no longer had to be concerned with my expectations of her actions. I released her to do what she wanted to do. Again, I had zero thought she would get into a nasty fight. What did I think was gonna happen? Ehhh….they posture up and make friends, at the worse somebody growls, nips and then we get control and back it down. Nope, that shit went from 0 to 100 in .09 seconds.

It is a very uneasy unsure feeling when the two go nose to nose all postured up- nostalgia of being military over seas. My hair and senses are up waiting to react in a millisecond. Then it happens and all goes silent, slow motion and vision narrows to focus.

Never seen this savage part of Freyja and very surprised tbh…It was a snap bam and she was going at it.

Your human girls are growing up and pretty soon they will have dogs of their own that they'll want to bring home when they come to visit. Keep in mind that dogs staying neutral to each other is the goal, playing and zooming together is just a bonus that may or may not happen.

Yes. Which is kinda what was happening until asshat Kelsie comes out the back door all excited that the two were off leash together…..

Hopefully your daughter (and yourself!) isn't too upset but I can understand if she is. You take that stuff personally but learn and move on.

So true. I feel horrible that I didn’t prevent this from happening, I should have foreseen this scenario.

 

[Gelcoater]

Freyja knows all my daughters very well and keeps an eye on them when they are home.

Kelsie has been off to college for quite some time, met a boy who has a female Boxer/Pit mix (Cha cha). She has recently moved close to home and been wanting for Freyja and Cha cha to meet.

They come over and I have boyfriend walk Cha cha one way and Freyja and I go the other way- on leash. We gradually get closer and closer, let them look and sniff the air. Do this for 10-15 mins until Cha cha calms down (not trained)- Freyja is fine.

We gradually get closer again and we let them be free on leash to smell each other and do their circling….never would have figured but Freyja is dominant posturing with hackles up- the boxer/pit is too. I watch them closely and am talking to both of them and hackles go down, tension in the air goes down and they sort of happily circle each other. Now we are following each other on the leashes for 10mins with no issues. All is hunky dory.

We go in the back yard and all is good so we them off leash so they can possibly run and play because Cha cha did a play bow. Well all was good until Kelsie comes out the back door- Cha cha runs to her and so does Freyja and dog fight ensues….my first time to be in the middle of a dog fight and that shit is fricking hectic and crazy. I am glad I was wearing my Apple Watch because I got bit on my left wrist while pulling them off each other. Two punctures on each side of the watch, the front incisors clamped onto my watch with the canines going on each side.

Finally got them apart. Freyja is fine with no injuries. I have never seen her in battle mode, aggressively fast and intense. I sent Cha cha home…no way that relationship is gonna work now.


Question:
If Freyja always demonstrates dominant posturing when in the act of meeting new dogs, does this mean she will always attempt to have the dominant presence?

Is it like a concrete one or the other? One dog is dominant and the other submissive? Can two dominants be around each other without it being a ruckus? I mean how is it that I see videos of 15-20 Dobermans running around and playing? There has to be a couple of dominants in that group….

I ask this because the young female golden across the street that meets Freyja in front yard always immediately play bows and submits. I mean, it is very obvious she has no aspiration to be queen bitch on Freyja. So Freyja doesn’t feel trespassed or disrespected and lets her guard down to play?

So when Freyja meets another dog that presents with dominant posturing, then it’s a no go and immediately shut it down?

I have no plans to push this or any dog meetings further. Really never did it in the past…I believe Freyja is one of those that truly does not need the presence or relationship of other dogs, she is fulfilled with me at her side. I also believe there is a difference in a loose untrained dog and a Doberman that is trained.

Who else has knowledge and experience with this?
@Gelcoater goes on his desert trips
@Katyusharocket meets Doberman groups
@LifeofRubie meets Doberman groups and Rubie is not too social

My desert trips are a different situation than this. Is a neutral place, not our home. The only little disagreement we had that trip was one of the Rotts and the GSD became protective of their child humans when they were getting rough. A couple grumbles and quick verbal correction and it was over.

Having a strange dog over to the house doesn't happen very often, and when it does the introduction happens out on the street before we walk as a pack a mile or two. During the walk we let them get used to each other and some smelling. Millie isn't really dominant, and will be the first one to drop into the play bow.
She doesn't want to be the boss, she wants to play.

Rocky, he wasn't having it with any dog initially. Complete asshole, barking, growling, posture, pursuit if they run, etc, and that was on neutral territory in the desert.
The Rottweiller he met a few times chases bears up trees for fun, so she was not intimidated. She did run at first so he chased, until she was cornered. Then she reminded him of her size and breed and that was all he needed. I was told when we brought him home he needed a strong female lead, and that was spot on. Daisy was that

Daisy was more dominant, almost to a fault. She met many strange dogs during our adventures, and their attitude dictated hers.
Rocky, Daisy and I on an off leash walk in the hills came face to face with a pack of 4 also off leash. I grabbed Rocky, Daisy was 10 feet away. There was a long pause as they all eyed each other up, me calling her back repeatedly, which she ignored. I didn't get it at the time but now know, had she broken the stair or fell back it would have been a sign of weakness and they would have advanced.

Well, she kept the stair while both sides slowly kept stepping forward. Then one of those little dogs growled,she didn't like that and it was ON! 3 vs one, as their owner managed to grab one of hers.
Dust flying, all kinds of violent noise, a little dog went flying through the air.
Was the first time I'd seen her shift into Bruce Lee mode against other dogs (well, besides her being the boss of Rocky) she tossed one, nose poked another shoving it back about 2 yards, body slammed the third and managed to not draw blood on any of them. They all went squeeling back to their person.

I'd say in your situation I'd keep them on leash in your yard, and I'd walk them every time they are together before letting them interact. Make the first meetup of any future visits out on the sidewalk. Then burn off a mile or more. I'd probably police up any toys, dog food bowls, or any other high value items in the yard.

Walking Daisy one day a guy came out of his house with his young (6ish) son and a blue nose pitbull female. Both were intact 2 year olds. The potential for violence was very strong.
He asked if my dog was cool, I told him sure as long as his is. We let them sniff each other out on leash then walked about a quarter mile to the end of the street. Then we let them off leash about where I always let mine off. They instantly both went back to each other for another smell, and the pit dropped and rolled over, giving Daisy the belly. After that they went out running around chasing rabbits and squirrels together like they had know each other forever.
Daisy learned she could run faster than the Pitty, but the Blue Pit could turn and out corner her

 

[Gelcoater]

Oh!
On the Golden Retriever subject, Daisy was the same way as you described Freyja. They had not one dominant bone in their bodies, lol. All their interaction was positive, Daisy took to the pool because she couldnt let them have all the fun getting the ball out of water.

 

[BGpa]

Great story! I'm no behaviorist and a relative dobe noob, so paying close attention to those who are more experienced...in big dogs.

I am thinking about "hackles up".

Does that automatically equate to posturing as in dominance behavior?

Or is it on the continuum from relaxed, to fights on!

And how to positively redirect that?

 

[JanS]

Does that automatically equate to posturing as in dominance behavior?

Or is it on the continuum from relaxed, to fights on!

Our original trainer said that a thick line of hackles means they are on high alert and ready to defend whatever made them raise the hackles in the first place. A thin ridge can mean they're a little fearful of something.
Della sort of had both up here with the thin line on her neck and the thick line on her back.