Two questions- jealousy and evil Rigby

[Anatresia]

I tend to personify my dogs and many people just look at me like I'm the crazy dog lady, but is doggie jealousy real? And the other question- why is Miss Rigby able to steal from Butters, when Butters is alpha?

This morning, Rigby went back to bed with Daddy and faithful Mr. B wanted me to play with him. He can only play with the B**** isn't around, because she takes any and all toys from his mouth and won't let him have them back.

So we played for about one minute before super ears heard us and comes running in to do her job of stealing everything she can from poor Mr. Butters.

I held her back with one arm and played with him with the other, while she squirmed, growled, carried on, etc. She then YELPS like I hurt her (I know I didn't) and I let her go- she proceeds to steal the toy (laughing at stupid Mommy who fell for the trick, I'm sure.)

Finally, I managed to tell her that NO it is NOT her time to play and she lays between me and Butters, blocking him from me, rolling over, kissing me, pressing her face and neck to my face- all kinds of cuteness- to stop me from paying attention to him. It was blatent jealousy, I think.

Is there anything I can do, besides lock her up somewhere, to stop her from bullying my boy when it's playtime?

[Lisa]

I am not a doggie phycologist, but I 100% believe doggie jealousy is real. Maybe not the same complexity as human jealousy...but basic, hey I want attention too...or I want that treat...or I want a tummy rub or playtime etc.

Pogo manipulates Pixel all the time to change the situation into his favor, and I think Rigby is doing the same.

And yes, if you want special time with each of them, you will need to separate them.

[Red Haired Girl]

She just thinks it is playtime! Dogs don't differentiate between fair and unfair. They hear playing and it is playtime. I can be playing with daddy and we have 2 weens trying to join the fun. They just have to be involved in all aspects of any activity within their domain. As for Mr B., does he act out when you play with Rigby? He is a bit older than her isn't he? Mitch was a PITA until he got through the terrible two's, now he is much better about things.

[K2]

It's quite simple Tracy~Rigby is getting back at you and Mr B for leaving her name out of the t-shirt business! :rotfl:

[Yolanda]

It's quite simple Tracy~Rigby is getting back at you and Mr B for leaving her name out of the t-shirt business! :rotfl:

:rotfl: :rotfl: , this sounds right to me.

Seriously, yes, I honestly believe dogs do and can be jealous. At this point I believe you will need to seperate them for special time. I know I have too or Brattypants would NOt let anyone else on my lap.

[Tex]

I officially agree with everything posted above........good luck!

[catstamm]

Agree........What would cesar say?????:duh: Cesar says they don't rationalize things....so how could they be Jealous? I think it just appears that way to us....just a thought!

[AgileOllie]

What makes you say Butters is alpha? It sounds as though Rigby is. In a pack of dogs, the bitch is almost always alpha. (Hence the derogorty meaning!!) A true alpha would NEVER let the omega take anything away. Sometimes we try to create alphaness in the dog that we want to be alpha. That's not always the way it works out in nature, though.

I'm not convinced that human jealousy is present in dogs. I do think that they have many of the same emotions that we have: saddness, grief, fear, happiness, playfulness, etc. I think that if one pupper sees another having fun, he/she wants to join in on that too. It's part of the pack mentality.


I tend to personify my dogs and many people just look at me like I'm the crazy dog lady, but is doggie jealousy real? And the other question- why is Miss Rigby able to steal from Butters, when Butters is alpha?

This morning, Rigby went back to bed with Daddy and faithful Mr. B wanted me to play with him. He can only play with the B**** isn't around, because she takes any and all toys from his mouth and won't let him have them back.

So we played for about one minute before super ears heard us and comes running in to do her job of stealing everything she can from poor Mr. Butters.

I held her back with one arm and played with him with the other, while she squirmed, growled, carried on, etc. She then YELPS like I hurt her (I know I didn't) and I let her go- she proceeds to steal the toy (laughing at stupid Mommy who fell for the trick, I'm sure.)

Finally, I managed to tell her that NO it is NOT her time to play and she lays between me and Butters, blocking him from me, rolling over, kissing me, pressing her face and neck to my face- all kinds of cuteness- to stop me from paying attention to him. It was blatent jealousy, I think.

Is there anything I can do, besides lock her up somewhere, to stop her from bullying my boy when it's playtime?

[catstamm]

Excellent reply Tonya......I couldn't agree with you more.

[Anatresia]

I think Butters is alpha because Butters tolerates Rigby to a point, then freaks out, corrects her by either biting her or standing on her (literally stands over her, not letting her move, until he's ready to let go.)

He's also more confident (an alpha trait) and never submissive to us, while she goes from aggressive to submissive spaz and back with strangers. (Though never aggressive to us.)

IT's like she's fighting to be alpha.

[Courtney]

I have read that the alpha spot is more fluid than once thought, so perhaps they don't really have a clear, permanent order. Also, it sounds like Mr. B is putting her in her place when he ticks her off OR trying to dominate her because she is in charge. In my house Clyde is adding some interesting stuff to the pack order. Napoleon has never been one to hump other dogs and I mean NEVER!! But he will hump Clyde like there is no tomorrow. Clyde is also terribly bossy and rough with Milo who is not a dominant dog and he will do that same thing to Milo - pin him and stand over him. And he will lick Blevins' face a lot. So I think Clyde is trying to be a social climber - an alpha wanna-be. Alphas are silent leaders and can control the pack order with body language so subtle you won't notice it. I think Napoleon is top dog here, but I don't really know. Well, the humping of Clyde makes me think so. Napoleon has never fought or been nasty with any other dog (silent leader) but in some situations will show submissive body language (again, why the pack order is fluid). But perhaps in the situation of our house, he tells the others that he is top dog. I don't really know!

[Anatresia]

Courtney- that's what I thought with Butters- he's so laid back and when he wants/needs something, he'll fight her for it with no problems- she gives in.

I think she's my pack climber. It would be interesting to add a third to the mix and she what would happen.

[Alex's Mom]

That was Maxe, the silent leader. It was kind of funny watching Alex trying to climb the pack hierarchy. The cat was definitely low furkid on the totem pole, and Maxe never made too much fuss, until Alex crossed the line. Then she'd put her in her place good! Sadly, when Maxe got old and feeble, it got pretty ugly; Alex did her darndest to kill Maxe one day...required 3 layers of stitches. But I'm not sure Maxe ever gave up her spot completely. Hard to tell with Mom (who's really alpha around here :rolleyes:) interfering!

[catstamm]

"Alphas are silent leaders and can control the pack order with body language so subtle you won't notice it."
OMG that is such a true statment....Jen never acts agressive or bossy at all.... But the girls know she is the boss, they respect her and look to her for guidance....and it's all silent. It is truely amazing to observe..... When we are around strange dogs or people...she watches me and the other girls like a hawk.....she will step in between if she doesn't like the body language of another dog w/ cami or carlee...and the other dog will usually walk away. Carlee always follows Jen in a strange enviroment....She is very much a silent leader.