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richt

Posts:2

07/10/2010 2:40 AM
hi everyone, long time reader, first time poster. I have a one year old GSP (female/spayed) who I adore, and who'se been an absolute joy. thinking she'd love a companion I recently jumped at the opportunity to grab a 9 w/o female Vizsla pup from a very good litter. she arrived 3 days ago and came out of the crate full of fun, friendly and supremely confident. honestly, she's been the easiest pup I've ever worked with and I'm delighted with her. I thought my GSP was delighted too because she doted on her and presented her with her toys and allowed her to sleep in her arms the first night home. the problems started yesterday. if I put them out together my GSP harasses the pup mercilessly. she bounces around her, blocks her way, and sort of pecks at her with an open mouth. shes isnt biting and the pup isnt yelping but its very ugly to watch and my GSP never tires of the game. the GSP competes in obedience and is very well trained but there's no calling her off the pup. Her focus is unlike anything I've ever seen. I have to physically drag her away. At first the pup responded with a total submissive display and rolled on her back but today she's all teeth and snarling and trying to fight back. my GSP still isn't drawing blood and the pup still isnt yelping but the more the pup ratchets up the more worried I get. judging by the way my GSP is moving I think the pup is definitely biting her for real now. I've been advised to just let them sort it out themselves but I fear I'm going to ruin a perfectly good pup that way. Can anyone offer advise on how to proceed? Am I overreacting? I'd rather rehome her than consider indefinite seperation because the new pup is more for my GSP's sake than mine. Thanks

Splat

Illinois (Northern)

MH
Posts:3133

07/10/2010 6:03 AM
When I brought my youngest home at 8 weeks old my oldest was 6 months....they play rough! The big one would throw the little one around the room...the big one would come at the little one mouth open and he marks weird barking/whine sounds, but never bit the little one.....the little one would bite and hold on to the big ones ears and neck...I let them sort through it, if it got too rough for my liking or loud I would put them both in time outs in the cages or distract them with bones to chew on.... I actually worried that my little one was too rough so my worries are opposite yours...Mine are now 6 months and a year and very good friends...

pixie bee

MH
Posts:4449

07/10/2010 6:40 AM
Did you intro the new pup away from your home - in neutral territory? Also, your "older" dog is just a puppy,too. I don't let dogs settle "it". I step in and let them know who's who - if it's just fun-time wrassling I let them at it,tho. If you think the dogs are not 'playing' anymore then it's time for you to step in and set the rules - my advice is - do this as early as you can - setting rules 5 minutes after the bullying is hardly setting the rules. I think you will find that the puppy is the instigator. Not a problem, but it's good to be fair. Congrats on the new puppy and welcome to the board. Francine

"Time with my dogs clears my mind, renews my faith, and lets me see the world as it is. My only regret loving dogs as I do, is the misery of their early departure." Robert G. Wehle

Texas Belle User is Offline

Austin, TX

MH
Posts:7839

07/10/2010 6:50 AM
When I brought Halo in Belle adored her and would do nothing to prevent the puppy from biting and getting rough. Belle just took it and ended up with scabs and bloody spots mostly on her ears. I would break it up when it got too rough. Then when Halo was about a a year old Belle finally put her in her place. Scared me at first, but I let them sort it out and since then Belle and Halo have been best buds. A few years later when I introduced Ringo, Halo took to him immediately and Belle was aloof for about a week. Then Halo got really fussy with him. He could do nothing right as far as she was concerned and Belle eased up on him. We went on in that state for a few months and then both Belle and Halo (at separate times) asserted their dominance and everyone settled in. So, if neither dog is hurting the other I would let it work out. If it goes on too long and the puppy is tiring, I would crate her. I would think as some point this behavior would stop. Just keep an eye on them and don't let it escalate. Remember puppy play can look an awful lot like puppy fighting. I suspect though that they are playing and the older is trying to establish himself over the pup. If it does escalate and you do not want to get physically in the middle of it, I use a broom with the straw bristles and whack it down in the middle of the dogs. Now if I pick up the broom they stop whatever they are doing. Some people use an air horn in the same way.

Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna) Yellow Rose GSPs "A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato

snips

n.ga.

MH
Posts:413

07/11/2010 11:26 AM
I would keep the adult away from the pup at times, like for going outside. The pup definetly needs to gain her own confidence. When the pup is a bit bigger you will know when they are handling things better together...

brenda

JMSGunner

Bucks County, PA

MH
Posts:785

07/13/2010 12:14 PM
I have run into this too, but not with another dog in my own home. My boy's cousin and his wife have a 5 month old lab who is RELENTLESS around Gunner. He is always in his face and knocking him over and putting his big paws all over him. The one thing Truckee won't do though is bite down on Gun, he only plays with an open mouth or he tucks his lips under his teeth. I let them play until I feel like Truckee or Gun are getting a bit too rough (it's only really bad when Truckee gets a running start and topples my pup over) But I have noticed when we have Truck sit/stay Gunner is a little instigator and will wiggle away from me and nip at his face and ears, and Gunner DOES latch down. Once they get bigger I am sure they will be fine together, though. Hope all works out for you.

Jackie & Gunner Impressive Gewehr von Catskill 4/19/2010

wems2371

Eastern Iowa

MH
Posts:169

07/13/2010 7:13 PM
My youngest one Brandi, was quite the instigator with Roxi, who was 2 yrs old at the time Brandi came home. I let them play, but when it got too rough, they got separated. I also noticed in the first few weeks, that Brandi was more bonded to Roxi, than she was to us...so they also did separate crate times to give Brandi more one on one time with us, and that worked excellent.

Countrysides Red Hot Roxi http://www.perfectpedigrees.com/4genview.php?id=1176 Snips Bring It On Brandi http://www.perfectpedigrees.com/4genview.php?id=1711

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