hi its sam, my gsd bitch and my collie bitch seem to be doing alot of mouthing, growling and nipping lately.
gsd is 14 weeks and border is about 3 and a bit now, they do get on seemingly well, but pup wont leave her alone, she follows her around nipping her bum, and tail, sometimes yanking it.
my collie turns round and yelps, with an added yap to the pup, a few times now collie has turned round and snapped at the pup but gsd just carrys on thinking its a game?
so far i watch,and keep vigil but let them carry on as i thought that its just the pup pushing to see how far she can go and as collie was here first and is older then she needs to put pup in her place, is my way of thinking correct or should we step in and stop this behaviour? could it lead to further more serious things?
yesterday the pup really nipped the collies rear end and it did make her yelp so she turned round and snapped at pup, i actually said good girl put her in her place she needs to learn who's boss, got a feeling that is wrong and it could lead to more serious problems,please bear in mind i am wanting responces but do be gentle as i am only learning, thats why i ask you guys for help.
thanks

Hi there :)

From what you say, i feel this is fairly normal and infact, it is good that you are allowing your older dog to let the pup know what is and what is not acceptable. Too many owners feel the need to protect the pup and then, when it is a teenager, it jumps merrily on other older dogs in the park and they do not take at all kindly to this.

So my view is that you are doing fine, just keep an eye on things and maybe give the older girl a chance to get away from the pup a bit .... a childgate would be great, if she enjoys her peace she may not object to being away from you and the pup, but it may be better to put the pup away for a while where he can see you both, and have her with you,as that way she wont resent him at all.

Best wishes
Lindsay

hi lindsay,
although they do normally get on very well, the pup can be very boystrous towards our border, shes a very timid thing and although loves mouthing with the pup sometimes it is too much and she tells pup off.
i have even thought go on give her a right nip that will teach her, she does then goes to pup and licks her as much to say sorry, the pup just continues and then is so tierd she lays down.
they are worse than kids at times.
thanks for your feedback

I just posted a question about the over zealous pup (although mine is an 8 month old rescue who has never been socialised) and I got a childgate last week to give our 22 month old a rest when it all got too much, the problem is that although the pup is over zealous and play bites too hard - and seems to be relentless, as soon as I seperate them by the childgate, they meet up at the childgate and whine their heads off, so I end up letting them together again and off it goes.

Nice to know someone else has the same problems.

While your collie is the best equipped to put your pup in its place, it wouldn't hurt for you to 'take the hint' and seperate them occasionally to take the pressure of your collie ;)

its so annoying at times as when the pup is sleeping the border goes over to her wakes her up and starts annoying her.
they act like kids really, i try to think about what if pup was actually with her own mum, the mum would act like my collie and tell her off.
its difficult knowing whats the best solution at times.
thanks anyhow.
sam

i too would let  the collie deal with it,if shes just telling the pup off then rightly so shes just teaching her some doggy manners! & it does sound as if shes warning first, so fair play to her i wouldnt want a GSD hanging off my tail & waking me up either!!!!!

I have the same problem with my dogs but my old lady just ignores her and I really wished she wouldn't! Angel is such a noisy bugger when she's excited and nips at Mitzy so i have to put one of them out the room usually or sit Angel on her lead til she calms down. You're lucky that you Collie wont stand for it!!

My two are always falling out. So much that it drives me nuts, but all i have to do is say enough and they soon calm down. It did take a while for them to learn it but its worth while as you can keep your distance and not get nipped by accident.