What does this mean?

[hitbystars]

Anytime Sissy meets a puppy, or small breed dog (infact, ANY dog shorter or smaller than her)... she nibbles on their neck. Inbetween the back of the ear, to the top of the shoulder.

She does this everytime they move.... until the dog (this always happens) lays on their back infront of her.

Then they play/run/dig/etc. in the area that they are in.

Any dog larger than her, they sniff and check each other out. Sissy puffs up and flags her tail until the other dog walks away, or pounces at her to tell her to play with them... and then she usually plays with them as well.

If the other dog is just as stubborn as her.. she'll pounce down at them and wag her tail, until the other dog does the same.. then they usually walk around or chase each other.

Is this just a dominance issue or mother instinct? Why does she do it?

P.S. The vitamin increase in Sissy's food has worked AMAZINGLY... I haven't seen her act so young in ages, her skin has toned down in most areas to a light pink, and her chest is gaining back fur. I saw her running around with Trixy and Buddy outside the other day and got so overwhelmed I nearly cried... then she came back in and chased me around the house for a good 10 minutes haha. I have my old (well, young) Sissy back!

My friends are amazed at the difference too.

[Pandapita04]

Am glad that she is so much better!! What vitamins are you using?

As for the behavior she is telling the other dog that she is boss. And after they know that that are free to do what they want as long as Sissy is ok with it

[hitbystars]

Vitamin C, Vitamin E, olive oil, are the main parts.

I gave her a bath today in baby shampoo and she is shedding SOOO much, I had to stop rinsing and unclog the drain 3 times, then repeat the shampoo... Is that a good thing? She hasn't had this much fur loss in years... not even in the summer time. I was afraid I was gonna end up with a bald doggy.

Retaining shed.. I think thats what its called? It can't be a good thing, but hopefully loosing this much shed isn't a bad thing either.

but she hasn't been this vibrant of a white or red in a long time.

[Pandapita04]

Yeah it's normal.. It's almost like detoxing.. Dogs will shed excess fur and old not-so healthy fur to regrow better healthier fur.. Tessa did that after we adopted her.. It's nothing to worry about unless she does go bald which really shouldn't happen;)