[Ianmark]

Hi there,
I got a Shihpoo, Coco, about 5 weeks ago, (she is 12 weeks now) and she is very excitable. She is a lovable little girl, but goes berserk when she gets excited.

I also have a 6 year old Morkie, Cassie, that loves people and other dogs. The thing is is that she gets scared when any other dog gets excited. She hates it when a dog tries to sniff her butt and I am having a terrible time getting the two dogs to become friends.

I know this can tale a while, but I am afraid that Cassie will not get to like Coco as she is so excitable.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get A) Coco to not be so excitable and B) to get Cassie not to be afraid of Coco?

Many Thanks,
Ian

 

[jagger]

So it appears you have a energetic dog and an antisocial one...

Want to tell us about any exercise these dogs get?

 

[kelly528]

Bad news coming, Coco is going to get more hyper before she gets better. That is puppies for you. Really, all you can do is manage Coco while she is doing her puppy thing so that Cassie isn't getting her toes all stepped on. Engage Coco with a toy when she gets amped up. Make this a pattern: she goes to YOU when she wants a buddy to blow off steam with, not Cassie. Enrolling her in a puppy socialization class and finding compatible playmates will also help her to grasp the nuances in dog body language that differentiate "Of course I'll let you jump on my back and hang off my neck!" From "thanks but thanks, I don't like too much excitement."

Secondly, find enjoyable activities that they can both have fun with, together: walks, training exercises, nose work games (these are the BEST for incompatible playmates, so long as they don't resource guard)... Something that shows coco that there are fun things to do that don't involve running around like a hooligan, and something that shows Cassie that she CAN in fact enjoy a nice, quiet activity with coco

 

[Ianmark]

So it appears you have a energetic dog and an antisocial one...

Want to tell us about any exercise these dogs get?

Cassie is and has always been a couch potato. I walk her for about 30 minutes in the morning, 20 minutes in the afternoon and 10 minutes at night. I put her outside in the backyard, but all she wants to do is lie in the sun. I try to get her to run around the yard, but she will have none of it.

Coco is a totally different story, she is always moving, outside in the yard, playing in the basement or going for a walk. I put her in the backyard and throw toys around and she runs to get them, not great at bringing them back yet, but that's a work in progress.:thumbsup:

Ian