Bear&Duke

It seems that is the general consensus in my other post too. Check this one out Dwilds there is some good advice in there http://www.dolforums.com.au/topic/234017-how-to-stop-rough-play/

Thanks everyone for the advice, I really appreciate your support. Claireybell it's good to know your two sorted them selves out, maybe once Duke gets a bit bigger and older he will feel confident to stand up for himself. I can't see Bear retaliating against Duke, even with us he has never ever snapped or growled, but he just keeps challenging in different ways. Walking in front of us, jumping up, leaning on us, not listening, barking ect. Although mighty frustrating he’s never aggressive. I will take your advice though and not allow Bear to interact with other dogs until we get him under control, if that day ever comes. Unfortunately I feel we are very out of our depth here and even though we spend a lot of time each morning & night training Bear there hasn’t been much of an improvement. He now knows when he’s on lead he must behave as we can easily correct him, but the second the lead is off he’s up to his normal antics. I have heard about Kathy through other DOL members, and once the finances allow I will get her in to help us. Unfortunately we spent a lot of money on a franchise trainer and although they have some good advice, it seems some of it is questionable. I really do thank you for all your wonderful advice, I will try anything to get our household stress free and back to ‘normal’.

Oh ok, gosh I have no idea anymore what to do Maybe I should take him up to my friends place again, her mum is a breeder and she has done agility with her Golden Retriever before and knows a lot about dogs. Her dog Bailey is very good at telling Bear to calm down and get out of his face and Bear listens to him really well. Although that doesn't seem to transfer on to other dogs, he just knows not to mess with Bailey. Bear doesn't seem aggressive (but as you would have guessed I am not dog expert), just full on and doesn't understand to calm down and not play so rough.

I agree, their play time is very limited at the moment as it's too stressful for all of us. I think in a way this makes it worse as it's such a novelty when they do get to play a little but maybe once Duke grows more he will have the weight behind him to tell Bear off. The trainer has also suggested a good dog park where the owners are real dog people and will allow their dogs to tell Bear off when he's playing too rough. Were we are the owners have a fit if their dog even shows slight annoyance even though I ask that they let their dog put him in his place. Unfortunately this means Bear thinks is rules over everyone and everything Patience, Patience... Can you tell it's not my strong point? Thanks so much for your help

Thanks Whippetsmum & Dandybrush, they are some good ideas. The trainer has also suggested a dog park I can take Bear to which has excellent dog owners who will let their dogs put Bear in his place. The problem where I live is people won't allow their dogs to tell Bear off when he's being too rough so he thinks he rules over everyone I do give Bear time out but it seems to rev him up more rathern than calm him down. I realise I need to keep the play going so that they bond and if i leave it too long between play times it seems to get worse as it's still a novelty for them to play together. I don't want Duke to be afraid of other dogs so it's such a fine line between being healthy and unhealthy. I do appreciate your advice, thank you!

Its really hard isn't it dwilds... Thanks for the tip Lavendergirl, i have posted in the General Forum as well. My trainer thinks that once we get Bear under our control where by he stops challenging us it will flow on to Duke, but I can't say that I'm hopeful. They have also told us Bear's barking will stop once we get him under control but it has actually got worse I know it usually gets worse before it gets better but i am at my wits end.

I posted this topic in the puppy forum but it maybe be better placed here: I have an 18 month old male de-sexed Keeshond Bear and a four month old male Cocker Spaniel puppy Duke who seem to really love each other but Bear plays rough and it scares me. Duke loves Bear, they are always trying to get at each other and seem to really enjoy each other company but I need to teach Bear to play softer with Duke. At times they are ok and will play nicely, taking turns being submissive; mostly Duke is on his back but sometimes Bear lets Duke climb all over him while he’s on his back. But Bear can get really excited and doesn’t listen when Duke is crying because he’s hurting him. I am so scared about the size difference; Bear is 20kg, Duke only 6kg and I wonder if I intervene too much. As soon as Duke yelps I will pull Bear away and tell him No in a stern voice and then let him play with Duke again but within minutes Duke will be crying again. Bear also seems to pick on Duke ears and will be mouthing them and pulling them. Now Bear has other behavioral issues which we are dealing with a trainer as he is overly dominant with us and he seems to be coming along quite well with that training but it doesn’t seem to be applying to his play time with Duke. Their play is ALWAYS supervised at the moment due to Bear’s inability to back off when Duke tells him to but I need to know how to get him past this rough play so they can spend time unsupervised and eventually spend the day together outside while my partner and I are at work. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Don't get a Cocker Spaniel unless: You want a dog that sits ON your feet, not next to them You want a dog that follows you everywhere around the house, aka shadow! You want a dog that literally can't keep his tail from wagging, it is impossible for them to sit still as they are always happy You want a dog that will love all visitors, welcomed or unwelcomed

This also applies to a Keeshond. And don't get a Keeshond if you don't want a dog that completely randomly seeks out your carpet to pee on for no apparent reason other than ‘just cause’

I have an 18 month old male de-sexed Keeshond Bear and a four month old male Cocker Spaniel puppy Duke who seem to really love each other but Bear plays rough and it scares me. Duke loves Bear, they are always trying to get at each other and seem to really enjoy each other company but I need to teach Bear to play softer with Duke. At times they are ok and will play nicely, taking turns being submissive; mostly Duke is on his back but sometimes Bear lets Duke climb all over him while he’s on his back. But Bear can get really excited and doesn’t listen when Duke is crying because he’s hurting him. I am so scared about the size difference; Bear is 20kg, Duke only 6kg and I wonder if I intervene too much. As soon as Duke yelps I will pull Bear away and tell him No in a stern voice and then let him play with Duke again but within minutes Duke will be crying again. Bear also seems to pick on Duke ears and will be mouthing them and pulling them. Now Bear has other behavioral issues which we are dealing with a trainer as he is overly dominant with us and he seems to be coming along quite well with that training but it doesn’t seem to be applying to his play time with Duke. Their play is ALWAYS supervised at the moment due to Bear’s inability to back off when Duke tells him to but I need to know how to get him past this rough play so they can spend time unsupervised and eventually spend the day together outside while my partner and I are at work. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

My pup hated being washed as well and i was given a tip to use warm water not cool. I thought cool water would be better as it's been so warm in WA but since using warmer water he's much better and seems to enjoy it now. Another tip would be to get one of those clam shells and fill it up with water and let her play by herself in it to start with then slowly introduce the hose, then soap.

Hahaha Atanquin looks like Duke! He is also 'not allowed on the couch' but as soon as we leave the room guess where he is... The only other rooms our dogs aren't allowed in is the spare bedroom so guests don't need to contend with the animals and our bedroom as it's the cats safe place.

Expensive but convenient. I only recently tried to switch my two over to BARF but it doesn't agree with Bear and he vomits it up, so it's back to mixing my own again. Sigh this dog likes to make me work hard for him! :laugh:

try this one: http://news.ninemsn.com.au/world/8416392/dog-bites-reporter-on-air

People really are idiots. Don't get in a strange dog's face!!

I don't understand why they would put your poor pup in a cage with a dog she doesn't know? I didn't have a very good experience with the RSPCA puppy school either and I would not recommend them to anyone

I completely agree. We should all move to France where they don't have stupid signs such as 'don't jump off a cliff' as if you do, then only you are to blame.

So very true. And as I'm finding out far worse when you have a cute cocker spaniel puppy! At least Bear is big enough now that most people think twice before charging up to us, but a puppy is 'fair game' apparently.

I was under the impression that there are health benefits to having a dog desexed. I think it may be due to a reduced risk of testicular cancer or something of that nature? If I am wrong please correct me as if there aren't health benefits to desexing I won't put my boy through the trauma of anesthetic

I personally think it's a myth. But I also think sometimes the desexing coincides with an age where a dog starts to grow out of their puppy phase and in to an adult and people put it down to the desexing rather than the age. We got Bear desexed at 12 months, and I wouldn't wait that long again. We were advised that if we desexed him early it would stunt his coat growth, I have no idea if thats true or not. It was really hard to keep him confined for the 10 days that the vet wanted as he was such a big dog by then and used to being outside. Our second dog Duke will be desexed at 5 months old as this is when I will be able to take time off work to look after him and he is still inside most of the time so he won't have a problem being confined. I also think our vet is a little over cautious with confining the dogs for 10-14 days, with NO access to grass or sand. I have never heard of such a long period before so I think it's a bit of an overkill

I can only sympathize unfortunately as I am yet to find a solution to Bear's barking that has lasted more than a week. Sending you positive thoughts for a quick solution as I understand how frustrating it can be listening to a dog bark all the time and not knowing how to make them stop.

In your first post I knew it had to be Daisy :laugh: Beagles are the worst aren’t they. Most untrustworthy when you're back is turned. I had a Beagle growing up and I couldn’t believe the lengths she would go to get to food! She was permanently walking around with the flip bin lid on her head because she kept getting in to the bin! She also chewed through my sister’s school bag to get to an Easter egg, and through a tent to get to some chips! God she made us laugh with her antics

Rysup's Hamish: Aw Keeshond puppies are the cutest, but I may be bias

I got ours from Bunnings at about $18, I'm pretty sure you can get them cheaper at Kmart or Big W but it was the only place open yesterday. Needless to say it was a big hit, he loved it! I'm sure it will come in handy as the forecast has today at 41, then 42 tomorrow. I can't stand the heat, I wish I was in Melbourne!

It's 42 degrees in Perth today so we bought Bear a pressie :D