When Ernie first joined the household, Rodney would get up and move away rather than be near him. His eyes would be pleading
"I hate him. He stinks. He pees everywhere. He steals my bed, treats and food. Give him away please! PLEEZE! I will do anything that you ask, just get rid of him." After one month, they became best mates and are now inseparable. Roddy is very tolerant and lets Ernie share his bed, steal his food, treats and be first for the cuddles. There is not an ounce of resentment or jealousy.
Dogs are hard-wired
from puppyhood to sharing space with other dogs. They learn to follow their lead and
mimic their actions. This mimicking behavior shapes the learning ability of dogs, especially during
puppyhood. An older dog becomes their hero and role model in life. Roddy defends Ernie the moment another dog comes near him.
Look and Learn
Dogs learn far more
quickly by observing others than by trying to do it on their own. Owners of adult dogs are often shocked by how easy training
becomes when taking in a new puppy. The pup comes when called by
mimicking and following his adult companion. The new addition watches as
the mature dog sits on command, and learns the trick with less
training. More complicated tasks can also be learned when one
dog watches another (such as walking down a staircase or swimming)
through simple demonstration and mimicking.
Something New
While
their ability to learn from each other is quite remarkable. Dogs not only learn by copying, they also
have an uncanny human-like ability for “selective imitation.” This means
canines don’t just possess the ability to copy other dogs’ actions, but
to selectively copy, based on the circumstances. In other words, they
only mimic each other’s behavior when they think it’s the most efficient
way to get something done. The older dog does become the hero and role model in later life.
The Flip Side
Understanding
dogs’ ability for selective learning also reveals why they sometimes
make choices we don’t approve of. Let’s go back to the example of a new
puppy joining the family dog. While it’s true the junior party in this
equation is likely to follow the senior to the garden and “go” with them,
it’s also true that the puppy will copy bad behaviour.
Many owners get nervous about replacing a dog with a new one when there is an established dog in the household. Stop worrying! The older dog will not harm a puppy. For the first few weeks it will be begging you with its eyes "Please give it away. I don't want it following me around and bugging me." It will snarl, growl and snap at the puppy but it will be the same sort of behaviour that an elderly person displays who think children are a total pain. An older dog will never, ever kill or harm a puppy. The moment someone or another dog threatens the puppy, the older dog will leap to its defence. From that moment on, that puppy becomes their puppy. Puppies can and do learn bad behaviour as well. One example would be the new puppy
watching wide eyed as the established dog opens the cupboard to retrieve a treat
for themselves, or sees the adult dog run wild as soon as it is off its
leash. Although a punishment from their human may come later, there are
immediate rewards that the new puppy experiences first. It is very gratifying seeing a puppy following their hero everywhere and learning how to cock its leg for a pee just like its hero and role model. If you have a puppy, let it learn dog behaviour by taking it to puppy training classes and by setting up "puppy play days" with older dogs.
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