You should give them a little room to work it out. Adult dogs are the best teachers. You only want a growl and maybe a snap from the older dog which means back off. I would back up and watch maybe let the younger one drag a leash so if anything happens you can grab the leash and pull the pup out of danger. You might be surprised at how well the older dog handles this.
Two dogs getting to know eachother, questions.
Hello again!
Me and Keppet have moved to England some months ago.
We're currently living with my fiancé's family and their dog, it's going really well I think.
Some background stuff.
Max: Max is my fiancés dog. He is a sweet 8 year old GSD. He is very calm and kind. He is very patient with my younger dog despite not having been around dogs much. He is "fixed".
Keppet: Keppet is my dog. She is almost 3 years old now and very energetic. She loves dogs and humans and goes crazy when she sees someone she knows. she's a submissive dog, or so it seems. She lies down when greeting other dogs etc.
The problem:
Ok, so there is no major problem. But I want some tips and help if I can get it.
Max has been an angel about Keppet moving inn. He lets her drink from his waterbowl, walk around in his area (the kitchen) and has even let her lie on his bed with him. He is very patient when she buggs him and all.
1.My dog is always trying to play. She likes to jump around, paw dogs in the face, rub faces and do the whole "we're fencing but using our mouths to do so" thing. Now. I am not entirely sure which of those is considered normal play, and which I should discourage. When she plays with young dogs they all seem as crazy as her. For now I try to discourage her from doing anything that seems to make another dog uncomfortable. She makes max uncomfortable by trying to play with him despite his calming signals. Even when he growls a little she doesn't get off him until I interfere. It seems to me that my interference makes Max a little more worried, because most times when they've gotten close to quarreling is while I separate them. At least that seems to be the case.
2. My dog gets way to energetic when my fiancé, his brother or his mother come home. If Keppet and Max are in the same room at the time, she goes crazy with excitement. Max gets happy too, but nervous because Keppet goes so crazy. I try to make her calm down. But what is the best way to teach her to greet people nicely? I have tried since she was a puppy, but obviously done it wrong.
3. The dogs like each other. In the mornings they will rub faces and some times kiss each other on the nose. They can lie down and relax in the same room, but if Keppet gets up while Max is lying down he starts whining and eventually gets up. Since Keppet came here, Max has grown more tolerant of her facerubbing, and bouncing etc.
4. We can't leave the two alone because of tension. We've never let the two run around together in the garden off-leash because we're worried they will fight.
*How could we help decrease tension?
*Some people say we should just let the dogs out together and let them work it out. But none of us feel like we understand dog signals enough for this to be a responsible course of action. What do you guys think we should do?
Me and Keppet have moved to England some months ago.
We're currently living with my fiancé's family and their dog, it's going really well I think.
Some background stuff.
Max: Max is my fiancés dog. He is a sweet 8 year old GSD. He is very calm and kind. He is very patient with my younger dog despite not having been around dogs much. He is "fixed".
Keppet: Keppet is my dog. She is almost 3 years old now and very energetic. She loves dogs and humans and goes crazy when she sees someone she knows. she's a submissive dog, or so it seems. She lies down when greeting other dogs etc.
The problem:
Ok, so there is no major problem. But I want some tips and help if I can get it.
Max has been an angel about Keppet moving inn. He lets her drink from his waterbowl, walk around in his area (the kitchen) and has even let her lie on his bed with him. He is very patient when she buggs him and all.
1.My dog is always trying to play. She likes to jump around, paw dogs in the face, rub faces and do the whole "we're fencing but using our mouths to do so" thing. Now. I am not entirely sure which of those is considered normal play, and which I should discourage. When she plays with young dogs they all seem as crazy as her. For now I try to discourage her from doing anything that seems to make another dog uncomfortable. She makes max uncomfortable by trying to play with him despite his calming signals. Even when he growls a little she doesn't get off him until I interfere. It seems to me that my interference makes Max a little more worried, because most times when they've gotten close to quarreling is while I separate them. At least that seems to be the case.
2. My dog gets way to energetic when my fiancé, his brother or his mother come home. If Keppet and Max are in the same room at the time, she goes crazy with excitement. Max gets happy too, but nervous because Keppet goes so crazy. I try to make her calm down. But what is the best way to teach her to greet people nicely? I have tried since she was a puppy, but obviously done it wrong.
3. The dogs like each other. In the mornings they will rub faces and some times kiss each other on the nose. They can lie down and relax in the same room, but if Keppet gets up while Max is lying down he starts whining and eventually gets up. Since Keppet came here, Max has grown more tolerant of her facerubbing, and bouncing etc.
4. We can't leave the two alone because of tension. We've never let the two run around together in the garden off-leash because we're worried they will fight.
*How could we help decrease tension?
*Some people say we should just let the dogs out together and let them work it out. But none of us feel like we understand dog signals enough for this to be a responsible course of action. What do you guys think we should do?
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1 - 4 of 4 Posts
Keppet needs more impulse control games and time-she's still a puppy!!! It takes years, and it sounds like the older dog is being very tolerant and you guys are doing a great job so far.
Max wants some more time to himself where he doesn't want to babysit. If he doesn't have a crate, now is a god time-he's going to love his quiet space. Crate training Keppet will help too and prevent her from driving him up the walls...and you guys, too.
For #4...have you walked them in the garden together calmly? Are they calmly doing any walks together? Start on those things
Max wants some more time to himself where he doesn't want to babysit. If he doesn't have a crate, now is a god time-he's going to love his quiet space. Crate training Keppet will help too and prevent her from driving him up the walls...and you guys, too.
For #4...have you walked them in the garden together calmly? Are they calmly doing any walks together? Start on those things
Thanks guys.
Max has the kitchen and garden and his bedroom to himself mostly. Keppet is crate trained and uses her crate as a little den when she wants peace.
We walk them some times. Mostly Max is off leash and Keppet is on. But perhaps they should both be on a leash. We walk them together every day, and they are always calm and good then.
I will google about impulse games and leave a leash on Keppet when the dogs are together. It would be easier to controll her, as you say.
Max has the kitchen and garden and his bedroom to himself mostly. Keppet is crate trained and uses her crate as a little den when she wants peace.
We walk them some times. Mostly Max is off leash and Keppet is on. But perhaps they should both be on a leash. We walk them together every day, and they are always calm and good then.
I will google about impulse games and leave a leash on Keppet when the dogs are together. It would be easier to controll her, as you say.
1 - 4 of 4 Posts
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