2 sibes from same litter

Question

Marcus
thanks for answering me

so far raising two males has been fun.  watching them together is a blast.  one(max) is definetely the alpha over the other even though I have seen bandit dish out his share.  is it common for the alpha to take toys or what ever he wants from the other?  like wise is it natural for the alpha to be more stubborn than the other.  I have already established myself as alpha over both but am having trouble with max listening and learning. and finally you mentioned a siberian proof fence?

thanks

lee  

Answer
Lee,

No problem with the help.  Usually whoever is submissive will make stands when they feel like it - and the true "alpha" seems to know when it's worth backing down.  But yes, overall the alpha will steal things at will.  One thing you might find though is that "kills" (food, bones, pig ears, rawhide, etc.) are more protected, and the alpha will often only steal them while the other is occupied with something else.

As for stubborness, that isn't necessarily an alpha thing - that's an individual thing.  Shadow (our alpha male) rules completely over Mika, but will do ANYTHING for a human.  Mika, submissive to Shadow, is one of the most stubborn dogs I've met.  That's just personality.  Keep the training up, but remember - Siberians were never bred for their obedience.  :)

As for a sibe proof fence - there is no such thing.  However, Siberian resistant is possible.  We have a 6' privacy fence (wood), but Shadow liked to dig under it.  So we hooked up an electric hot wire along the base about 4 inches from the ground.  That's right about the height of a dog nose when digging.  After a few shocks, the dogs avoid digging along the perimeter of the fence.  The wire is powered by a "pet" grade energizer (like a cattle electric fence, just lower power).  It hooks up to the wire, which is attached by insulated brackets around the fence line.  We then have a ground to copper rod in the energizer which is stored in our garage.  The whole set-up took about 4 hours to install and cost about $75.  After a little training with the dogs to teach them to fear the wire that would "bite" their nose, they didn't stop digging, but definitely don't dig along the fence line.  You can pick it up from a fence supply company in Tennessee called Mule Hollow.  They have a website, so just Google Mule Hollow Fence Supply, and they should come up.

I've also heard of people trenching concrete about four inches down, chicken wire buried along the fence line, etc.  Then also some dogs can jump shorter fences (and one or two cases I've heard of dogs clearing the 6').  I've seen slats installed that angle back into the yard, or even rollers installed at the top to prevent the dogs from getting a grip on the top of the fence.  I've found that the wire at the base works perfect though (and just so you know, I test it every once in a while on me - it's like a super strong static electricity shock.  Think wool socks, shag carpet, dry air and a door knob + a little extra)  :)