Peering into Dog World

For the last few months we've had a problem with our dogs. We always have little problems, but this is a big problem. Fighting.

Beau, our big 90 lb. black lab, attacks the other dogs. Mainly, he attacks Tipper, but he has attacked each of them one time or another. But when he attacks Tipper, he is ferocious and wild. Beau lunges and knocks Tipper down, Tipper shrieking in fear, Beau's jaws around Tipper's neck. Often Rocky and REO will jump in and attack Tipper too. The dogs are all in such a state of arousal, that we humans are nothing to them, we don't exist. And Beau won't quit. It's not enough to knock Tipper down - Beau acts like he wants to kill him.

Tipper is the oddball, the social outcast. I cannot decipher why - it's a different culture and language - in Dog World. The other dogs have never liked Tipper. Sometimes when they are playing, he gets excited and forgets himself. He dashes to them and does a play-bow, then the others stop playing and stare at him, "Who invited you?" It's painful to watch. He's the weird kid on the playground, and he tries so hard to fit in. But my human feelings can't transform the other dogs. "Come on guys, play nice!" Dog rule may be fair in its canine way, but it's not the Golden Rule.

But generally the other dogs don't attack him. They just ignore him. Except for Beau. Beau hates Tipper. A human word, but it's the only way to describe what I witness. It's possible that Beau is jealous of Tipper - because I feel sorry for Tipper and I play with him when the other dogs won't. I give him attention, I tell him he's a good boy, even if the other dogs don't like him. I feel sorry for him. And there's Beau, watching this - trying to figure out why I don't get it, why is the human fussing over this dog-retard? In Dog World it doesn't make sense. On the other hand, I am supposed to be the leader of this pack. Beau's behavior makes me feel like he doesn't believe I'm the boss. Doesn't the leader decide who's worthy and who's not?

We have talked about "getting rid of" Tipper, or "getting rid of" Beau - both should probably be in one-dog households. But what does "getting rid of" mean? Finding a new home for each of them? I volunteer at a shelter - there are not enough people who want homeless dogs. How can I add two more? Our shelter is full of very nice dogs that nobody seems to want.

Just thinking about this is giving me a headache. I have to figure this out. I have to go read some Cesar Millan now.