I will warn you - this will be long.
I have just adopted a Pit Bull/American Bulldog mix puppy (Finn). It's been three weeks now and he is a joy. I've not had a puppy in about twelve years.
I've brought him into my home where there are two twelve year old dogs I rescued twelve years ago. They are tiny. One is a Yorkshire Terrier male (Jackson)n and the other is a Maltese/Poodle mix (Stankin' Ho). They get along swell.
Jackson was insane when I got him. He'd been abused by a child and had his leg broken in many places, requiring pins. He, at the time, came into my home when I had just one other dog, a Yorkie named Puck (my sweet, sweet boy). So things went kind of okay - there were the scuffles and fights at first and were always instigated by Jackson. They eventually died down after a couple of months. I then brought Stankin' into my home and there was only one fight - the first night she was home - he pinned her and she submitted. It was over with. They've only had two or three scuffles in the years since - and there's never any warning sign - Jackson just attacks.
So, I knew going in that I wanted a Pittie pup because I've fallen in love with the three my sister adopted. I also knew that I would have to get a puppy so that it would grow up knowing the two tiny dogs were boss and he would learn his limits with them. I prepared for and expected a dominance fight and watched and waited very closely. I thought it would be like when I brought Stankin' home - one fight to establish dominance and it would be over.
It's not over.
I'm almost in tears because Jackson won't stop attacking Finn. Finn is a puppy and just wants to play. However, he is already fifteen pounds at twelve weeks old. He plays properly - flirting, play posture, etc. He has been pinned by Jackson twice and rolled over to show his belly and he was yelping. I, of course, broke it up as soon as it happened. I scolded Jackson mildly ("not nice! don't be mean") and even tried to reason with him (yeah, I know, but I'm desperate).
I thought things were getting better because they will touch butts when sleeping. Also, when they are both on the floor Jackson will sniff Finn's butt and penis. There is no food aggression or hoarding or anything. There is toy "jealousy". But they've even played tug once.
Just twenty minutes ago Jackson, Stankin', and I were on the chair and Finn was wanting up. He had his front paws on the chair. He's not yet learned how to jump up. Jackson, out of nowhere, attacked him and latched on to Finn's ear or lip (couldn't tell) and wouldn't let go. I had to pry my finger in his mouth to get him to release.
It seems that when they are on equal footing there is no aggression, or at least attacking. But when Jackson is physically higher than Finn it is a problem.
The dogs sleep with me and are at my side constantly. Stankin' growls at him and barks but it's not aggressive - it's more like "I'm a lady and do not care for you, you scurrilous curr." and Finn thinks she is playing.
I want to let Finn be a puppy! I also want Jackson's golden years to be stress free and happy.
I don't know what to do.
Do I a) Train Finn to ignore Jackson and Stankin' somehow? or b) Try to correct and train a 12 year old insane Yorkie to ignore Finn? Is there something in between? Something I'm not thinking of?
Finn gets **lots** and lots of exercise as I take him to my mama and daddy's on the days I work where he plays all day long with their Scottish Terrier and fifteen pound mutt.
I've not been able to take Finn outside yet because he had only received three parvo boosters - tomorrow he will be able to go outside with me.
He's a smart, smart baby. He already poops and pees on the pads, sits on command, and answers to his name and "come", and he also walks on the leash very well!
Please help me.
I have just adopted a Pit Bull/American Bulldog mix puppy (Finn). It's been three weeks now and he is a joy. I've not had a puppy in about twelve years.
I've brought him into my home where there are two twelve year old dogs I rescued twelve years ago. They are tiny. One is a Yorkshire Terrier male (Jackson)n and the other is a Maltese/Poodle mix (Stankin' Ho). They get along swell.
Jackson was insane when I got him. He'd been abused by a child and had his leg broken in many places, requiring pins. He, at the time, came into my home when I had just one other dog, a Yorkie named Puck (my sweet, sweet boy). So things went kind of okay - there were the scuffles and fights at first and were always instigated by Jackson. They eventually died down after a couple of months. I then brought Stankin' into my home and there was only one fight - the first night she was home - he pinned her and she submitted. It was over with. They've only had two or three scuffles in the years since - and there's never any warning sign - Jackson just attacks.
So, I knew going in that I wanted a Pittie pup because I've fallen in love with the three my sister adopted. I also knew that I would have to get a puppy so that it would grow up knowing the two tiny dogs were boss and he would learn his limits with them. I prepared for and expected a dominance fight and watched and waited very closely. I thought it would be like when I brought Stankin' home - one fight to establish dominance and it would be over.
It's not over.
I'm almost in tears because Jackson won't stop attacking Finn. Finn is a puppy and just wants to play. However, he is already fifteen pounds at twelve weeks old. He plays properly - flirting, play posture, etc. He has been pinned by Jackson twice and rolled over to show his belly and he was yelping. I, of course, broke it up as soon as it happened. I scolded Jackson mildly ("not nice! don't be mean") and even tried to reason with him (yeah, I know, but I'm desperate).
I thought things were getting better because they will touch butts when sleeping. Also, when they are both on the floor Jackson will sniff Finn's butt and penis. There is no food aggression or hoarding or anything. There is toy "jealousy". But they've even played tug once.
Just twenty minutes ago Jackson, Stankin', and I were on the chair and Finn was wanting up. He had his front paws on the chair. He's not yet learned how to jump up. Jackson, out of nowhere, attacked him and latched on to Finn's ear or lip (couldn't tell) and wouldn't let go. I had to pry my finger in his mouth to get him to release.
It seems that when they are on equal footing there is no aggression, or at least attacking. But when Jackson is physically higher than Finn it is a problem.
The dogs sleep with me and are at my side constantly. Stankin' growls at him and barks but it's not aggressive - it's more like "I'm a lady and do not care for you, you scurrilous curr." and Finn thinks she is playing.
I want to let Finn be a puppy! I also want Jackson's golden years to be stress free and happy.
I don't know what to do.
Do I a) Train Finn to ignore Jackson and Stankin' somehow? or b) Try to correct and train a 12 year old insane Yorkie to ignore Finn? Is there something in between? Something I'm not thinking of?
Finn gets **lots** and lots of exercise as I take him to my mama and daddy's on the days I work where he plays all day long with their Scottish Terrier and fifteen pound mutt.
I've not been able to take Finn outside yet because he had only received three parvo boosters - tomorrow he will be able to go outside with me.
He's a smart, smart baby. He already poops and pees on the pads, sits on command, and answers to his name and "come", and he also walks on the leash very well!
Please help me.