My puppy was acting dominant?

[Louise]

Hello,

I went to a puppy class tonight and my puppy was being very good but i did notice him appearing to size himself upto a puppy that was a similar size.

His whole posture was tall and he tried to lean into the other puppy and although there was no aggression, it just seemed very deliberate.

I'm just wondering if it has any implications on his perception on his status with me?

Is it just harmless or should i have stepped in to keep my puppy in check?

I'm worried that in a different situation it might have lead to a fight.

What do you think?

[Canis-Lupess]

No it doesn't because dogs don't try to dominate humans or other dogs so to speak. They learn how to act around others based upon their learning experiences like humans do so if they know they can use a behaviour to get their own way and it works, they'll continue to do it. It might work with one dog but not another which is why they treat different dogs differently.

As puppies, it is very important that they meet adult dogs over other pups once they've had their jabs and all because it's the adult dogs that teach them how to act like adult dogs, not other puppies. They've had plenty of experience meeting other puppies in the form of their siblings....now is the time for them to learn the big world from the grown ups and they'll teach him how to show a bit more respect.