Saturday, 4/22/06 was our tri-collie's birthday; he just turned one year old.

Nicknamed "the goofball" after the crazy antics he's been known to show, Douglas (a.k.a. "Douggie") has proven to be a much-loved member of our pack. He's assimilated himself well into the mix with our other three dogs, all Shelties.

But notice that we mentioned he's assimilated himself well; the other dogs sometimes beg to differ with that statement...

Douggie can be a bit over powering at times. He weighs three times as much as our Shelties, and I guess you could say that he's simply three times bigger than they are in every way.

When we wait to go out the back door, he sometimes playfully "clubs" the other dogs in his exhuberance. It's fun for him, but his legs are like tree trunks to the other dogs and they sometimes don't take too kindly to his actions.

One of our other dogs, Declan, has firmly established himself as the alpha dog. Of course, this means he's the "leader" of the other dogs. The Shelties seem to  understand this; Douggie was not present when this doggie ettiquette lesson was taught to the other. I watched as he received his "private" lesson the other day.

Declan and Douggie were running back and forth near our fence, watching as a neighbor walked by. As is their custom, there was barking and horseplay as they attempted to convince the interloper on the other side of the fence that they should leave the premises...pronto.

Douggie runs (follows) Declan and mimics his behavior, but adds one little action that caused the incident of which I'm relaying. Seems Douggie likes to playfully put his mouth around Declan's head as they cavort. This is (was) fun for Douggie but Declan, as noted previously, is alpha and didn't find it too amusing. I just happened to be watching when Declan said "enough is enough" and proceeded to tatoo Dougie. It wasn't an especially nasty lesson, but one flavored with just enough teeth and growling to deliver the messge that alpha decides what's fun...and what's not. I broke up their tete-a-tete as soon as it developed, but already I see changes in the way the two of them interact. Douggie just a wee bit more cautious, just a bit more reserved in his interaction with Declan.

The way it's 'sposed to be, I must say. I'm also happy that Douggie doesn't want to be alpha. At his size, his contests with the other dogs for the favored top dog spot could be disasterous for all involved, but especially for Declan. Remember, it's not the size of the dog in the fight but the size of the fight in the dog.

We don't condone fighting, of course, but the dogs have their own social structure that makes their little society in our house work. We love 'em & wouldn't let them take out ill feelings on each other. But their pecking order with Doggie the newcomer seems to be working.

Long live the (little) king, as I sometimes refer to Declan.