The Queen B!
I should start off by explaining today was an amazing day for all the dogs. After the horrendous windstorm that happened yesterday, we had no rain and it was sunny for the first time in aprox 40 days. Whee!.. can put building the ARK on hold at the moment! Feeling particulary energetic, I took Merlin to a huge people park a few blocks from my home and we walked the entire trail together - just him and I for some bonding. The trail is aprox 3 miles and we socialized and met people along the way. Then Panda's turn, whom I took to the largest offleash park which is aprox 10 acres all for dogs! As this is a bit further from my home we hadn't visited since last year and usually Merlin is with us. Panda was in his element! There are vast trails where upright and furballs offleash can enjoy a walk and a number of areas which dogs can play with others. Not wanting to overdo it , due to his hips , I stayed a few mins in each place. Panda has a blast playing with so many new dog buddies. Panda as usual got along with all the dogs. I suspect this is what may have caused his new found assertiveness which leads me to the story. Next, came Blue for a walk around the neighborhood. He almost pranced, enjoying the one on one time. Arrived home and was thinking ahhhh they will all sleep good and be subdued when a fight amongst them broke out. I was making dinner and Panda was licking something on the floor which I must have dropped, and Merlin as alpha came over to investigate. All the other times Panda immediately relenquishes the spot to Merlin. This time he held his ground growled at Merlin and showed teeth. They started fighting! Merlin pinned him down and wouldn't let him up until I made him release. Now while this may seem frightening and it was alarming a lot of good things also occurred. Blue did not get involved, Merlin did not harm Panda but merely pinned him to show he was still the boss. Whenever I hold Merlin's collar he immediately sits and after a min he always lays down at my feet. He did so this time as well and didn't seem agitated or appeared to want to still fight Panda. He merely put him in his place. While I had Merlin sitting at my feet, I only said "sit". Panda sat down as well as did Blue all within feet of each other! My heart was bursting with pride as all three listened to my commands. I knew I had total control of all three even tho seconds before there had been chaos in the kitchen. I knew in that instant several things. They do view me as alpha of the household, It reinforced that Merlin is not aggressive but dominant as he did not harm Panda but merely put him in his place, and the relationship between Blue and Panda which changed last week as some kind of truce , remained even with Merlin and Panda fighting. Aprox 3-5 mins I gave the "free" signal and all three went merrily on their way as if nothing had happened!!!! I could have cried..it's taken almost 2 years to have this much impact on all three at the same time! I'm just hoping Panda won't continue to challenge Merlin or then I'll be in trouble! |
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| Totally cool!
Congrats! |
Way to go Marianne, woo hoo. And good that Merlin is still the boss of the pack & your Queen of the lot.  |
That's fantastic Marianne! You've worked so hard to get to this point, it must feel fabulous!  |
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I'm impressed. You're the head of the household! |
| Its good to be the master of your domain!!!!!!!!!! Did all the boys get a treat after a while for listening to mommy?? |
| Hey thanks everyone! Now everytime I even say something that sounds like a mere suggestion of boasting.."My dogs don't dig" or "Merlin and Panda don't fight", for example. That little Murphy guy just causes things to occur that brings my head back to normal size. I'm just holding my breath regarding all three of them...cause as soon as I'm complacent about it...Whamo! something is bound to happen!
Remember the photo of dirty faced Merlin...lol...and now this fight...urg! >>>Makes note to self...never say...Never.. Marianne and the boys |
| Way to go Marianne!
Want to come over and teach me how to be boss?  |
| that's awesome Marianne!!! I'm so glad the boys finally managed to get their pecking order straightened around, it's a real testament to how hard you've been working with all three of them! |
| YAY Marianne and YAY Merlin, Panda & Blue. |
| Marianne,
You are a rare person with remarkable gifts. You have to be just about bursting open with pride  |
| Thanks everyone! It does appear as if Merlin's status has been reafirmed as Panda has not attempted or continued to try to sneak food in his presense.
This is good ,and as top dog, Merlin, does try to occasionally counter surf (he feels he's the only one entitled to) and will prevent the others from doing so. As I've had Merlin as a pup and trust him implicitly, he allows me to remove bones, toys or anything else from him without a fuss. As a result with Merlin in the household it doesn't matter what was taken and by who, they relenquish it to him and I then can take it from him. Marianne aka Alpha B |
Hi Marianne, Just read your post! WIlloughby is impressed and so am I!  |
| My Merlin is the leader of the pack also!!! Well, under me of course - but he does control Daphne, that's for sure!
Congrats by the way! |
| Thanks Lynda and Allison!
Allison there's now a couple of Merlin's on this board - good choice of names! Lynda - good to see you back with us and recieved your mail. Can't wait for play dates with our boys! Seems as if Panda is continuing to view Merlin as the top dog as a few days after the incident my son left his sub sandwich on the coffee table...egads! Panda got hold of it first but dropped it when Merlin came over. Now I just have to work on training my son. Ha Ha! Marianne and the boys |
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