Puppy Play & Biting

[NiGella]

Hi Everyone, I've only just familiarised myself with this forum although I've been a member for a short while now and it's full of great information although I've yet to find a post from someone with a similar problem to mine so I'm hoping someone could help.

I have a 7-month old bealge (Nigella) and a 8-year old kelpie (Oliver) and they get on great together generally. The problem I'm having is that I occasionally have to spend a night away from home (generally once a fortnight) so I leave the dogs to sleep outside (whereas they would normally they sleep inside) - the problem is that on several occasions during the night when I am away, the puppy will get up to play with the older dog but this consists of her trying to bite his hind legs and then him barking at her. The matter was first bought to my attention by a neighbour after I'd returned from a night away and then I tested the theory myself, and it's true, and the playing/barking sessions can last for as long as two hours (my poor neighbours!). I don't ever hear a peep from them when they sleep inside so I'm at a bit of a loss as to how to stop these playing sessions during the night. Actually, I'm not sure if it happens during the day also while I'm at work as my neighbours are at work also.

The problem is not the playing so much, it's the puppy biting Oliver's legs when I'm not there (and his reponse is to bark). She used to do the same thing during general play when I was there but I figured that was part of an excess energy thing as it seemed to stop when I started walking them twice a day but it seems that she just needs a couple of hours sleep, no supervision and she's back at it again. She has never tried biting the hind legs of any other dog - only Oliver, so does that mean it's just a dominance thing? It's not agressive biting, it looks much like young puppy play but she does latch on quite strong. I do wonder if she was taken from her litter too soon - the people I bought her from got her from a breeder at 7 weeks.

Does anyone have any idea how I can solve this problem?

[poodlefan]

Put your dogs in kennels overnight.

Safer for them, better for your neighbours and a hell of a lot easier than trying to change a dog's play habits.

[Bundyburger]

Can you either kennel them or find a petsitter who can come and let them inside for the night/feed them/play and then do the same in the morning?