We have a 7-month old male rat terrier (and have had him for about 4 months now), and we just got a 4-month old male rat terrier. I know all dogs are different but what would you say is a good period of time to let the two get adjusted to each other? Our first dog is humping the second dog (our first dog just got neutered about two weeks ago) and is pushing him around and all that - the second dog is returning with barks and snaps at him, which is to be expected. But i was just curious what a good time frame would be for the two to figure out who is the dominant one. We leave the older one in a 4x4x4x4 cage during the day and we left the younger one in a crate as he's not fully potty trained yet. So with them just getting the interaction on nights and weekends (at least for the time being) what would be an estimated time frame

Are you going to get the younger dog neutered as well? I think the humping will stop over time once they know their order. honestly I think 2-3 months is when everyone really settles in. At least that is what I found with mine. I had my male one year and brought in a female, The first months were good but after 3 months is when everything seemed routine and settled JMO

Have you tried playing "with them" -- throwing a ball for them,  or playing tug with a rope (or something where they can each have an end to hold) etc.? One of my foster dogs didn't like other dogs, but as long as I was playing "with" them she did just fine. Lizzy and our blind Jack Russell (who didn't especially like Lizzy the foster either.. she was just plain mean) but the two of them had more fun playing fetch together, and you would have thought they were best buddies! I'm sure if we'd had Lizzy longer they all would have gotten along fine all of the time.

You might find this article helpful to understand what's going on:

www.clickersolutions.com/articles/2001/macho.htm

Here's a quote from the article :

Development of Hierarchies

Growing up around larger pups, adolescents and adult dogs, puppies simply can not compete on the social scene in view of their smaller size and inferior physical and psychological strength. Thus, puppies learn their station in life well before they become sufficiently large and strong to be a threat to the established order. Most adult dogs are quite lenient with young pups until they approach adolescence, whereupon adults (males especially) relentlessly pursue, stand-over and growl at the adolescents (males especially). Even so, harassment by adult dogs is largely psychological, rather than physical. It would be a perversely under-socialized adult dog, which physically beats up young puppies.

Nonetheless, during this crucial stage in hierarchical development, young pup and adolescents are extremely intimidated by the incessant harassment and consequently, they learn to respond with exaggerated appeasement gestures to assuage the torment from their elders. Moreover, puppies and adolescents quickly learn that bother from older dogs may be largely prevented by taking the initiative and demonstrating active appeasement before they are harassed. The pups' preemptive apology characteristically comprises: a low slung, wiggly approach with ears back, submissive grin and tail and hindquarters all a wag. The youngster may paw the brisket and lick the muzzle of the older dog. (The infantile pawing and muzzle-licking food-soliciting behaviors of puppyhood now acquire new meaning and are retained as neotenic appeasement gestures in adolescence and adulthood.) In addition, the underdog may rollover and lift a leg to expose its inguinal region. And some may submissively urinate. (Adult dogs may determine the age of a puppy or adolescent from the smell of the youngster's urine.)

From this stage on, to maintain harmony on the social scene, higher ranking dogs need only chastise those individuals which do not voluntarily show deference and respect in their presence. And even this is usually done with nothing more than a cold, penetrating stare.

I'm not sure stepping in would be the best thing to do.  The dogs need to work out who is alpha and who isn't - and that's what the humping stuff is all about.  It has nothing to do with sex - it's dominance.  If you correct a dog when they're trying to show dominance, it negates that dog's dominance over the other dog and it may increase that dog to be MORE aggressive to keep trying to show the other dog who's boss.

I went through this with my Sandy and Sasha - I kept correcting Sasha when she was dominant over Sandy cuz in my ignorance, I thought Sandy should be top dog cuz she was first.  It doesn't work that way.  The more I corrected Sasha - the more aggressive and the worse the fights got between the dogs - bloodshed and all.  Once I started supporting Sasha in the alpha role, the fights and aggression subsided almost immediately.  Sasha no longer had to keep proving to Sandy that she was alpha, and Sasha knew I supported her in her alpha role.

I love dog pack behavior.  Try it with 6!! 

Hmmm... let me think - the humping thing is definitely a sign of a wannabe alpha. Sasha used to growl at Sandy when Sasha was lying near me and Sandy came up and wanted to push Sasha out of the way. I would correct Sasha and bring Sandy over - which negated Sasha's alpha role to Sandy because I overstepped Sasha's warning to Sandy to back off, so Sasha got more aggressive with Sandy to prove to her that SHE was alpha.

It's something you have to watch for in your dogs- and you will become more familiar with who's the alpha and who's not. If you see them growling or fighting around - try to not to intervene unless you see it starting to get out hand, but I'm guessing right now, because they're so young, they're just testing the water.

Not all dogs are alphas in the same way. My Sasha has sinced passed over the bridge and Sandy has now stepped into the alpha role, but she's an entirely different alpha than Sasha was. Sasha was a mean alpha and ruled with an iron paw. Sandy is more bark than bite - but warns and is stern and makes sure the dogs submit to her when she's really mad about something they do.

To support Sasha in the alpha role - I would feed her first.  Greet her first.  Let her outside first.  If she growled at one of the dogs to get down or correct them for something she didn't like them doing, I would correct them also.  Sometimes, however, I had to correct Sasha when she got a little too rough, and she'd be ok with that when she knew she stepped over the line.

I'm not exactly sure how to explain it. It's something you have to watch and become familiar with it. That's how I did it!!

Sue...this has nothing to do with this subject but I sure like reading abotu Sasha again, my little Eddie Munster, she sure was special.

Awww thanks.    Some days are easier than others to talk about her.  I sure do miss that old broad!

Sue, thank you so much for posting this.  It put into words what I've gone through with Mitzy...the difference between her and Sasha being that Mitzy IS more bark than bite, she also does the "beaking" thing where it looks like she's going to bite someone but just butts them with her nose. 

But for the longest time I was confused on when to support her as alpha and when to step in.  I haven't always done it right but over time I've learned!  I support her role as alpha by giving her treats first, etc.  And I do try to prevent things that will "get her panties in a wad" like Skipper coming to the top of the bed which is Queen Mitzy's place.  
So far I'd say 95% of the time the pack works things out on it's own at my house....my 4 plus Danica.  We'll see how it goes with Gavin, my new foster.  It's fascinating to watch them - don't really need TV!

You got it!    Good luck!

If Sasha was still with us I would have her come visit, I need some help clearing out the kitchen in our house too! Along with Fred and Alice everytime we have people over EVERYONE hangs int he kitchen!!

 Yeah, the kitchen guarding would come in handy!  I've got 4-5 dog underfoot when I'm cooking.