We just rescued a super sweet 2 year old husky/shepherd mix as a companion for our current 6 year old female husky. She loves playing with other dogs at the dog park, ones we meet on trails, and we often times have friends over who bring their dogs over for play dates. Our current dog, Bella has always been so docile and submissive, but since having our new dog, Scout here she has bared her teeth at him over toys (which she's never interested in before he came alone), and the couch. We are baffled!!

Does anyone have any advice on what we should do? I've heard to let the dogs figure out who is going to be alpha, and that they will work it out themselves. Does anyone have experience with this type of behavior? We want our new pup to feel safe and happy, but also want our current pup to feel less on guard.

When you run across dogs outside, your Bella doesn't have to be worried about them because they're here now, gone tomorrow (or at least shortly.) But you've done the unforgivable - you've brought another onto her turf!

But there is hope, I have three dogs - all rescues, all at different times and they generally co-exist peacefully.

By 'protecting her toys and her couch' she's saying "Look juniour, I was here first and you're going to do what I want!" or growls to that effect.

To help you get started, remove the toys - they're an unnecessary distraction. If Bella wasn't interested in then she won't miss them.

If she's allowed on the couch by you and he's not then you're sending mixed signals. It's going to solve a lot of problems if they have the same rights and privileges (as ordained by you.)

Beyond that, it is best to let them work it out themselves - oh, that doesn't mean you have to allow bloody, down out mean behaviour, that has to be unacceptable. Let Bella growl at him, let him nip her, that's the way things work. Eventually things will sort themselves out - and in a lot less time than if you interfere every time they even look cross-eyed at each other. Sibling have spats, parents generally don't interfere - in this case you have two siblings ...