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Puppy Sitting


kiesha09
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My brother and his OH are my regular dog sitters for my two dogs (a maltese x lhasa apso 7 years & maltese x poodle 5 years) and they got a Border Collie puppy a few months ago. The three dogs have met a few times and I have puppy sat for them at my house.

Out and about at the park or at my parents house in the garden they get along fine. They chase each other and have a good time. But inside the house my dogs are not fond of the puppy at all. They like to snoose, rest and relax and he just wants to play, play and then play some more.

He tries to jump on them while they are snoozing and just generally lacks some puppy manners (as most puppies do). One of my guys just growls at him but my girl (who is less confident) will actively chase him away, teeth bared and try to bite him. I think she is warning him and telling him off because if she had really wanted to she could have bitten him and caused damage. But she does grab hair. I obviously am keeping a VERY close eye on all interactions and would never leave them unattended together.

I realise that I really need to enforce some rules for the puppy like no harassing the dogs while they are snoozing and seperating them for periods of quiet time.

What else do you recommend? I really want to try my best to make this situation work.

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Your dogs deserve their peace. It is THEIR home .

it is unfair to have such an enthusiastic youngster annoying them...

puppy , or adults should have a separate area ..well secured , where they can be kept separately ...either a pen, or a gated room ..or outdoor run. They don't really need to be together in your dogs' territory .... you just need to keep pup safe and cared for in the absence of its owners ....

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Thanks Perse - you're exactly right they do need to be seperated so they have their peace. But I do also feel that pup needs to be taught what the rules are so that he does learn what the appropriate behaviour is.

This behaviour from my dogs happens inside at my parents house and at my brothers hosue so it isn't just on their own territory.

It would be great if the puppy just ignored them but that may be wishful thinking :laugh:

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Can you keep the puppy on a lead when its quiet time?? So if you are sitting watching tv or eating dinner or whatever, have the pup on a lead so that he cannot bother your dogs and you can control him and where he goes. Praise him when he is sitting or laying quietly so that he knows that is the right thing to do??

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Having gone through the same thing twice in the last few years I think it's important that both the dog and pup learn how to behave in this situation. Pup needs to learn when the dog has had enough of play time and the dog needs to learn what the appropriate response should be when it is being annoyed by the pup.

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We have crates set up in our loungeroom so that everyone gets their time with us, and anyone not out is still close by. That way when we have puppies they can be crated nearby while the older dogs get time with us, then it swaps around and we put the older guys away for a bit so the puppy can have some time out and learn the rules of the house. That way the older/intolerant ones don't need to be subjected to the puppy's antics. Those that love puppies and have a lot of patience with them can stay out and wear out the puppy for us :) Part of the time the puppy is out is spent on a lap or next to one of us on a lounge as "chill-out" time, usually on lead to begin with to remove the option of running. That way they learn that being out doesn't automatically give them the right to be crazy and that sometimes they need to activate their off-switch.

Edited by DeltaCharlie
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Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I think I just panicked a bit thinking that they were never going to get along. Being different sized dogs with different energy levels I don't really expect them to be best mates but I would like it if they could tolerate each other and be indifferent.

You guys have made me realise it is pretty normal and the little puppy just needs to learn what the appropriate behaviour is and you have given me some great suggestions on teaching that as well as managing the situation so that the bad behaviours are not practiced.

Thanks for your help :thumbsup:

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