Puppy Getting Worked Up While Playing.

[Tokkie]

I have a 17 week old JRT puppy (Nandi) she and Ringo (3 year old JRT) has become really good friends.... they sleep together, play all the time.... etc.

The problem:

At the beginning I told Ringo off for growling at her, het stopped when he realised its actually fun to have another dog to play with (he only growled at her the first week or so).

The last couple of days Nandi has been getting really worked up when they play and I can see she is hurting him. He will grow and snap back at her (not aggressively, just telling her off) but then immediately look at me.

Should I just let them sort it out themselves?

[Sandra777]

Absolutely.

Assuming Ringo is a sensible and well balanced dog he is by far the best one to teach the new one how far is OK to go. Personally I wouldn't have told him off at the start but just assured him he was still "number one" and let him get used to the pup in his own time - but that's all done now. If he is uncertain, praise him calmly when he tells the pup off - don't go overboard in case he decides that telling the pup off for no reason is a good way of getting attention and praise from you. I wouldn't let them play ''all the time'' OR leave them together constantly - IMO a pup needs to learn to be alone even if they are intended to be companions.

[GoldenGirl85]

I would also be teaching them a 'gentle' command, Im not sure if you have already done so with Ringo but with my pup I taught her by getting a chicken neck (or similar) and offering it to he with it mostly in my hand, when she was simply nibbling on the chicken Id say gentle but keep my hand over the chicken and only let her have a bit, if she started getting too rough with me Id close my fingers again until she was being gentle again

[Tokkie]

Assuming Ringo is a sensible and well balanced dog he is by far the best one to teach the new one how far is OK to go. Personally I wouldn't have told him off at the start but just assured him he was still "number one" and let him get used to the pup in his own time - but that's all done now. If he is uncertain, praise him calmly when he tells the pup off - don't go overboard in case he decides that telling the pup off for no reason is a good way of getting attention and praise from you. I wouldn't let them play ''all the time'' OR leave them together constantly - IMO a pup needs to learn to be alone even if they are intended to be companions

.

Thanks for the reply Sandra777.

That was the problem Ringo is not that 'well balanced'.... I don't know how his life was before (he is a rescue), but he does not like all dogs and can get snappy if they get in his face.

I know now that he will never hurt her, but when I first got her I had to be extra careful.

I never thought of leaving her alone.... (she is crate trained and will stay in her crate without crying) but I should probably let her be alone more.

Edited July 17, 2010 by Tokkie

[Tokkie]

I would also be teaching them a 'gentle' command, Im not sure if you have already done so with Ringo but with my pup I taught her by getting a chicken neck (or similar) and offering it to he with it mostly in my hand, when she was simply nibbling on the chicken Id say gentle but keep my hand over the chicken and only let her have a bit, if she started getting too rough with me Id close my fingers again until she was being gentle again

Thanks GG85, Ringo knows 'saggies' (gentle) but Nanid does not..... I started teaching it to her but she still got some way to go.....