Round 3

[renee]

Okay guys! I need some more advise please!!

Lady and Hannah are still having the WWF matches these days. But, now Lady http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/devil.gifis becoming mean to Hannah. She will run and grab Hannah's ear and try to drag her around. Hannah of course yelps http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/crying.gif and runs to one of us.

I put Lady in her crate, but I don't want the crate to become a "bad" place for them, as they stay in the crate during the day.

I got quite the reaction last night when I gently thumped http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/eek.gif Lady on the nose and told her No Bite. The next time she did it, I told her no, but she kinda looked at me like "yea right!!".

I need to get a grip on this situation. I know most of this is Puppy play,http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/bounce.gif but I don't want to have dueling dogs either.

Any and all help is greatly appreciated!!!

Renee

[Penny's Aunt]

Is there blood or signs of injury? Is anyone of the canine persuasion killing mad?

Any chance you're overreacting?

<font color="#00FFFF" font size="1">[This message has been edited by Penny's Aunt (edited August 08, 2000).]</font>

[wireweiners]

Like Penny's Aunt said puppies play rough. Button and Whopper are 8 month old littermates and they still wrassle and play rough. Occasionally Button will grab Whopper by the ear or by the tail and pull him around. Their favorite game is tag with the hercules bone. You can hear them romping around the house clear outside. It sounds like a herd of buffalo are running around the living room. Unless there is blood, this is normal puppy behavior. If they get so rowdy they are getting on your nerves, try telling them firmly to settle down.<IMG SRC="http://dachsie.org/ubb/cwmsmilies/cwm44.gif" border=0>

[Mark]

Hi Renee,

If it's Pack Dynamics . . . there needs to be a winner - a Top Dog. "A" yelp is not an endall victory. And it's really tough for a lot of people to know how far to let it go. I don't advocate nor do I allow ours to injure each other . . . but there's always a winner when it happens. Pack Dynamics is their nature and it has to happen for there to be resolution. Sometimes I just bite my lip and let it go with close monitoring. If anything I watch too closely because all our leadership battles are between Duck Butter (9 pounds) and Top Spin (75 pounds). Just last night Duck Butter defended her position successfully with a bite to his cheek (she usually gets him on the lip) and he spent the rest of the night bowing and deferring to her. But I believe I'm doing right because when the leadership within the pack is established . . . they get along so well and they are more obedient to me (alpha). I know he could easily do extreme harm to her because of his size & breed, but I am very careful not to let it go to the point that he is MAD. So I'm content to sit there within an arms length with a spray bottle at my elbow and let them be dogs. Some may disagree, but it has always been a good thing in our pack.

If it's not Pack Dynamics . . . then maybe you've got a real bad aggression problem and maybe your Vet has a suggestion OR maybe they're just puppies that like to play rough.

Crating or seperation solves nothing and the problem still exists.

Sue asks a good question . . . are you over-reacting? That's not a bad thing . . . that just means you care.

Keep us posted,

Mark

<font color="#00FFFF" font size="1">[This message has been edited by Mark (edited August 08, 2000).]</font>

[renee]

Mark:

Thanks for the great reply! Maybe I am "over-reacting", but a mommy tends to that with both her 2 legged and 4 legged kiddos....http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/love.gif

I am trying to stay out of it as much as possible, but I don't want Hannah (the smallest and youngest) to be hurt or to become a dog that runs and hides when Lady even looks at her. For the most part, Hannah will "play" along with Lady's persistent nature, then Lady will start getting meaner and rougher, and Hannah will run to one of us.

I am having a hard time with the thought that their has to be injury before I can do anything about it. We have a appointment with the Vet next week, and this is one subject I plan on dealing with alot.

I don't think I have an agressive problem with Lady, as she will has yet to get "mean" with anyone or anything other than Hannah.

I too will just keep the spray bottle at arms length and my heart strings pulled a tad bit tighter. Maybe I did lose my mind http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/nuts.gif when I brought two of these loveable puppies home at the same time!!

Thanks again for the reply and the discussion! http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/wavey.gif

Renee

[Penny's Aunt]

I'm sorry, but I don't remember how old your two dogs are. Is one older & the other a pup? Puppies have a hard time understand the concept of ENOUGH! (I have a pup trying to type & lick my face at the same time right now.)

Dog play is usually mock-fighting, & mock-fighting is practice for the real thing, should they need it. There is usually lots of noise, but no harm. If the victim keeps coming back for more, they're playing. If the aggressor stalks or attacks the other dog, you may have an aggression problem here that needs professional attention from a behaviorist.

Puppy-adult play is somewhat different: puppies are PESTS & full of energy until they crash! and the older dogs get fed up with them after a while & will growl or snap to get rid of them or cool their enthusiasm ("Go away & let me take my nap!"). Adult dogs of good temperment will teach a puppy manners by the same method his mom would use: snapping, growling, & occas. scruff shakes. Never yell at or punish the adult dog for this or you may start an aggression problem that doesn't currently exist.

If the dog is a senior dog, it would be best for her to have a place secluded from the pup, where she can rest in peace. Old dogs really shouldn't have to put up with a young pup all day & night.

And don't worry about worrying! These are our babies, & NOT worrying would cause us to really wonder about you!

[Mark]

If I remember right . . . aren't they about 3 months old (each within 2 weeks in age to each other)??????

Mark

[renee]

Hi guys!! Sorry I have not replied sooner. Had to get my 2 legged girls into school....

Our pups are Hannah who just turned 10 weeks and Lady who just turned 12 weeks.

They are doing alot better http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/bounce.gif with the fighting!! I have been really good at calming myself down also! Hannah is holding her own and will let Lady know when she has had enough "play".

Guess all things worked out great. THANKS SO VERY MUCH FOR ALL THE ADVICE!!!!!http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/jacks.gif

Renee