[Life] Sigh.

Dec 28, 2010 16:58

So... anyone have any tips or advice on dealing with an older dog now having to live with two puppies, who sometimes acts fine around them, and sometimes flies into an apparently jealous rage ( Read more... )

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taconaco December 28 2010, 23:05:46 UTC
I've actually had something similar happen. But our (now deceased) older dog wasn't actually attacking the puppy (who's now full grown) enough to hurt him. Just sort of pinned him and made him yelp to show she was boss sometimes. That's scary that she has gotten to that point of drawing blood with your puppy :(. Did he provoke the older dog or was it just out of the blue?

Also, does this happen when you're all in the room with the dogs? If your mom is nervous about it even before it happens, the dog will pick up on that and that may be making the situation worse. I've got a bit of dog anxiety due to a loose dog attacking one of my former pet dogs, so I can't really set a good example myself, but just think calm, authoritative thoughts. And DO scold the older dog when she has done something wrong.

You may be able to find some blogs or sites somewhere out there that deal with older dogs interacting with puppies as well. Sorry I don't have too much in the way of advice, but I hope you guys can get it all under control :(

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celestineangel December 28 2010, 23:18:28 UTC
I wasn't in the room, I didn't know anything had happened until I heard him yelping and my mom screamed that he was bleeding this time. Sigh.

The really weird part is that when she actually attacks him is when he isn't doing anything. When they're playing, and he comes up behind her--which she hates, and you would think that would be what would set her off--she just snaps at him enough to let him know she didn't appreciate that, but it's not a full blown attack.

From what my mom said, Henry didn't do anything. She was at the sink, he approached her, and Martie came unglued and attacked him. Best we can figure, it's some sort of off-the-wall jealousy thing. She's never bitten a person that I know of, but she bit the step-dad when he jumped in to pry her off the puppy.

And she doesn't even do it every time. We honestly don't know what will set her off or when.

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celestineangel December 28 2010, 23:25:56 UTC
If it were up to me, Martie would be the one going to another home.

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rarity December 28 2010, 23:49:51 UTC
Honestly, not with dogs. But we had issues of our older ferret "training" our little ones if they were little enough to do it. With ferrets, it's actually supposed to be between them - until and if they hurt another. So if the dog is leaving marks, I'd say ask a veterinarian or look up stuff online which could help. Or until they get bigger, which is a longer than it takes a ferret to get "dig" try to keep them away from each other.

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celestineangel December 29 2010, 02:40:47 UTC
We ended up taking him to the emergency vet clinic, and they're keeping him for observation overnight. Still not sure what we're going to do about the behavioral issues, though.

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chrisbrad December 29 2010, 12:31:39 UTC
It really sounds like one of the dogs will have to go. Barking and rough play is one thing. Actually drawing blood is another... It isn't fair to any of the animals when one is a bully like that.

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celestineangel December 29 2010, 13:29:29 UTC
I know it'll probably end up that way, I just hate it because I know 1) my parents probably won't accept that, they'll keep pushing until he's dead or 2) even if they did accept it, they'd get rid of Henry, not Martie, which really also isn't fair to the little guy when she's the one doing the bullying.

Besides. Henry is tiny and cute. Martie is just mean.

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