Hello! This is my first post on the forums (even though I have been reading them like a bible since getting my little one).
I would like to know if anyone can help me with regards to puppy (play) fighting.
Willow is my 9 week old puppy cockapoo (working cocker x mini poodle), she is a wonderful laid-back, highly sociable, loyal girl who has settled in amazingly (except for cries at night, which we're working on).
She has met my friends Boxer puppy about 3 times. He is extremely energetic and jumps (boxes) at everything. They play nice for a while, tails wagging etc. then it starts to escalate and it turns hostile with teeth and growling snapping. He is very dominant over her and will stand over her with a confident stance when she's lay down or sat down. When she tries to get away he will pounce on her and she will start to growl. Then if she wants some time out she will come over to me and lie down, but he will stand pawing her, barking and clambering all over her. She tried to go for a wee and half way through he ran up and pounced on her and made her fall over, then she gets aggressive again. Even down to her taking a drink, he barges her out of the way and then he starts drinking...she'll growl & walk away, then he will then chase her and knock her over again.
She's such a friendly dog, who wants to play, but also needs her time out and some personal space which the Boxer puppy doesn't seem to be understanding, no matter how times she tells him. Willow plays lovely with our cat (he is a huge Maine ****). They both communicate well and know when to give each other time out.
I'm not saying she's the perfect 'playmate' as we need to work on her biting, but I can't help but worry that playing with her new boxer 'pal' is bringing out an aggressive side to her which I don't want her to link with all other dogs she will meet.
My friend says that we just need to leave them to be dogs and fight it out, but I'm starting to get frustrated and annoyed myself. Is this purely a dominance thing? Has anybody experienced something similar and if so could provide some advice?
Thank you,
From a very worried new mum, Melanie
I would like to know if anyone can help me with regards to puppy (play) fighting.
Willow is my 9 week old puppy cockapoo (working cocker x mini poodle), she is a wonderful laid-back, highly sociable, loyal girl who has settled in amazingly (except for cries at night, which we're working on).
She has met my friends Boxer puppy about 3 times. He is extremely energetic and jumps (boxes) at everything. They play nice for a while, tails wagging etc. then it starts to escalate and it turns hostile with teeth and growling snapping. He is very dominant over her and will stand over her with a confident stance when she's lay down or sat down. When she tries to get away he will pounce on her and she will start to growl. Then if she wants some time out she will come over to me and lie down, but he will stand pawing her, barking and clambering all over her. She tried to go for a wee and half way through he ran up and pounced on her and made her fall over, then she gets aggressive again. Even down to her taking a drink, he barges her out of the way and then he starts drinking...she'll growl & walk away, then he will then chase her and knock her over again.
She's such a friendly dog, who wants to play, but also needs her time out and some personal space which the Boxer puppy doesn't seem to be understanding, no matter how times she tells him. Willow plays lovely with our cat (he is a huge Maine ****). They both communicate well and know when to give each other time out.
I'm not saying she's the perfect 'playmate' as we need to work on her biting, but I can't help but worry that playing with her new boxer 'pal' is bringing out an aggressive side to her which I don't want her to link with all other dogs she will meet.
My friend says that we just need to leave them to be dogs and fight it out, but I'm starting to get frustrated and annoyed myself. Is this purely a dominance thing? Has anybody experienced something similar and if so could provide some advice?
Thank you,
From a very worried new mum, Melanie