I've seen some previous threads that describe somewhat similar scenarios but think each situation has its own circumstances, so here it goes.

I have a 3 1/2 year old nuetered male (Cochise) and 9 month old soon to be nuetered male (Tino). It is clear to me at this time that Cochise is higher on the totem pole than Tino. I see this primarily displayed by body language between the two and what goes on at feeding time. (I feed them in seperate rooms, but if unattended Cochise can dictate when and if Tino gets to eat and Tino has learned not to get near Cochise's food bowl. He won't even touch it if Cochise is outside and he's inside with the food.)

That being said, my conern is when they're playing turns to what appears to be fighting. I know Huskies play rough and that is what I mostly see, but every once in awhile I witness snarling, scrunched up skin on the bridge of the nose with teeth showing and tongue protruding. Reminds me of behavior I've seen watching documentaries on wolves. Usually it takes place over a bone or toy and recently a majority of the time Tino is the instigator. Simply put, I'm wondering if this may be something they do when there is a challenge for alpha status. I've started wondering if I need to be worried about them getting into a real throwdown at some point to sort this out or is it more likely that these flare ups I've been seeing (and intervening before things escalate furher) will be an ongoing thing.

I've probably painted a worse picture than things really are, as they get along well 99% of the time. Just trying to understand what's going on and what may come to be.

Thanks in advance.

Adobo & Biko duke it out daily w/o injuries, just like the way you described. When Adobo scrunches up her nose in the wolf snarl I tell her she looks more like a pig then a wolf.

Toys neither one could care less about them UNLESS the other is acting out in a keep away manner then all hell can break loose, again though no injuries other then the rare nip that might bleed for 5 seconds.

Sounds like more typical husky play to meeee.
My girl keeonah and my roommates German shepherd act very similiarly to what you're describing. Think "cops 'n robbers", only dog style. Athletic breeds like huskies GSD's and akitas play rough, especially if one ore more of them is coming into teenage adolescence. I watch keeonah pounce on Iris and bite at her neck or leg or ears, or vice a versa, but it's totally just play. 10 minutes later, they are cuddled together in the living room. As far as determining pack order, it sounds like cochise has already done that. the only way to see if it changes is if the roles are reversed one day, with Tino dictating when cochise got to eat, but I think it is unlikely that this will happen. Once order has been determined, it will rarely change, even with age

Good to hear what I'm seeing is most likely just rough housing. Ocassionally I feel the need to seperate them which usually just requires me yelling at them. Only once have I needed to pull Cochise away from Tino as they were in the house, making some God-awful noise and about ready to knock over a flower vase. This was the only time I saw significant evidence of them scrapping as Tino was left with a puncture wound on the bridge of his nose.

Here4thePics wrote:

Toys neither one could care less about them UNLESS the other is acting out in a keep away manner then all hell can break loose, again though no injuries other then the rare nip that might bleed for 5 .

Isn't that the truth! Just like my two footed children.