Hi, I’m Dr. Karyn! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my five funny dogs, Poppy, Bailey, Kodah, Ned, and Fred.

All dogs have weird and wonderful habits – I’m sure it’s not just mine – and one of Kodah’s more annoying quirks is that he regularly drops his toys in his water bowl. Now, that in itself isn’t a huge problem; it’s that he deposits the soggy tennis ball, furry fox, or knotty bear into the lap of unsuspecting people that I object to.

Until very recently, I had just written this off as ‘Kodah being Kodah’, but I have come to realize that the real reason is far more troubling: bullying.

Our poor, sweet, Malinois x Shepherd has been so tormented by his younger – and much smaller – brother from another mother that he is too paranoid to set his toy down when he’s having a drink for fear of losing it. Kodah has worked out that the only way to ensure he retains possession of the toy is to drop it in the water whilst he quenches his thirst.

Who is this bully? This fearsome beast who has Kodah looking over his shoulder instead of living his best, carefree life? It’s none other than Fred, the terrifying Chihuahua.

Fred the Bully

In previous posts, I’ve introduced you to Fred the Broken, Fred the Bed Licker, Fred the Anxious, and Fred the Teapot (because he’s short and stout), but there is one more version: Fred the Bully.

When you look at those big puppy-dog eyes, filled with anguish and innocence, it’s hard to imagine Fred being anything but sweet and gentle. It’s not until you witness the sheer ferocity with which he reclaims all toys from his downtrodden friend that you catch a glimpse of the darkness within. You see, in Freddy’s eyes, all toys belong to him, even those that are too large for him to practically chew or play with.

There is often debate around dominance hierarchies within packs of dogs, and, as I have previously discussed, I believe these relationships are far more complex than a simple linear progression. However, when it comes to Fred and toys, there’s a pretty clear line of dominance.

If his cousin Ned, older by four months and lighter by 3 1⁄2 pounds, or either of the Labradors (Poppy and Bailey) have something Fred wants, his approach involves sitting close by and crying piteously. If it’s Kodah who has, or is approaching, a toy – any toy – then the savage beast appears. Even if Kodah is merely walking past an item that Fred considers ‘his,’ he’ll fly across the room to snatch it. He is like a spoiled, possessive toddler whose favorite toy is ‘whichever one you want.’

Why Does Kodah Put Up With Fred’s Nonsense?

When you look at these dogs side-by-side, it’s hard to believe that the 7-lb Fred not only blocks Kodah’s access to toys, but will physically remove them from his mighty jaws. Clearly, this is a battle that Kodah could win with the flick of an oversized paw, or even just a snarl and bearing of teeth, but he doesn’t – Why not?

As we’ve all no doubt seen or heard about, small dogs often have the biggest attitudes, and no shortage of confidence. Being tiny and meek is not going to serve you well at the watering hole, so overcompensating is the key to success. What these mismatched interactions also suggest is that physical size is far less important than attitude.

The other explanation for Kodah’s acceptance of Fred’s bullying ways is that he would rather be the submissive player in their game than not get to play at all. If Kodah were to flex his muscles and use the full force of his 80-lb frame to keep hold of his toys, it’s pretty unlikely that Fred or Ned would ever go near him again. But by accepting a submissive role, he gets two playmates who occasionally let him win a game of tug, and also love to snuggle up to him when the games are at an end. And if there’s something he really wants to hold onto? Well, he knows not to let it out of his sight, even if that means stashing it in the water bowl when he needs a drink!