Hi Cesar,

I LOVE YOUR SHOW! I hope you can help me. I have two rescued mutts:

1. Lizzie - 4-and-a-half-year-old, 75 lb Heeler mix female. I got her as a small puppy. Very lovable to people but afraid of most dogs and attacks her dog mate.

2. Rocky - eight-month-old, 34 lb, very short Lab mix male. Got him a month ago. Very sweet obedient, energetic. His only issue is separation anxiety.

Lizzie attacks Rocky when there is a toy or treat that she wants, when he tries to jump up on the bed with me at night, and sometimes for no apparent reason. It is very scary, and it looks like she wants to kill him although there have never been any injuries. This happened a couple of weeks ago when I was bending over to get a dog toy from under the couch, and my face was in the wrong place when she attacked Rocky. I got a bad scratch from eye to chin. She also did this with Henry my nine-year-old Terrier mix that died from cancer in July.

Can you make any suggestions?

Thank you so much!

Connie Williams
Tucson, AZ

Dear Connie,

Lizzie is definitely letting you know that she is the leader of your household pack. No questions about it. If she displayed the same behaviors with the previous dog in the house, then she is simply re-asserting her leadership role in the house with the new dog, Rocky. Dogs don't say to each other "Well, since you're new to the house, being a puppy and all, I'll let you get away with stepping over my boundaries." In Lizzie's mind, you and Rocky should obey her. I would seriously consider hiring a professional to get you started on the road to leadership. Make sure that you ask the professional you choose to show you some ways to create boundaries for Lizzie. But remember, leadership needs follow-through,and must be a 24-hour-a-day, 7-day-a-week job. Projecting consistent, calm-assertive energy is the first step on your journey to becoming leader of your pack.

Stay calm and assertive,

Cesar Millan