Hi everyone,

I've got a bit of a problem. I've got a female Shih Tzu puppy that is 4 1/2 months old but I am concerned about the way my boyfriends standard poodle treats her.

The standard poodle (5 yrs old) has a nasty habit of "poking" things hard with his nose. He usually only pokes his "squeaks" to make the noise, but he also pokes their 14 year old cat until the cat gives him a smack round the nose, then he backs off. When the poodle was introduced to my girl he started poking her constantly, wagging his tail and drooling everywhere. My boyfriends parents suggested I leave them to it, and she will retaliate if he hurts her, but this does not seem to be happening. He has "poked" her so hard that he's knocked her off her feet and she's fallen over, and he NEVER gets bored of it. He does it right in the middle of her back and i'm really frightened that he will do some damage, but my girl will just not retaliate! If he pokes her or knocks her over she will just lie on her front and let him carry on. My boyfriend tried sternly saying "NO" but his parents told him off saying that this will only cause the poodle to resent the new puppy. My boyfriends parents also suggested that due to the fact that my puppy looks similar to their cat (gold and white with long hair) the poodle may be mistaking her for a cat. I questioned this as I presume that a dog would be able to recognise another dog due to their scent??? My boyfriends parents "told" me that I should just put my hands over my pup so that he pokes me and not her. This is all very well while she's sat on my lap, but while they're running around the garden it's not really possible!!! Also it actually really hurts me when he pokes me in the hands/lower arms right on the bone, and he drools all over me which isn't pleasant.

Luckily this isn't a huge problem due to the fact that my boyfriend and myself live seperately so my dog doesn't have to put up with this much, plus even when me and my dog are at their house they can be kept in seperate rooms. I just thought it would be nice if our dogs got along well so we could walk them together and so my dog would have a doggy play mate.

Please can anyone suggest what my boyfriend can do to discourage this behaviour in his dog without his dog resenting the puppy? It broke my heart when she was running around the garden, wagging her tail, all playful and happy, when all of a sudden she's knocked for six by a huge blue poodle prodding her in the back and knocking her over....... :(

As an owner it's your job to protect your baby - and as an owner it's your bf's job to make sure his dog doesn't go too far with other dogs.  You should also remember that your pup will be pushed so far, and then forced to us the ulitmate method - growling and attacking, and if that works she's learnt the ulitmate tool for use on other dogs in the future - aggression :(  He should be distracting her - making himself more important and interesting that a puppy.......

I'd be getting the squirt bottle out. That dog is playing but playing sadistically.......like my Doberman was doing with my Chihuahua mix. My trainer said not to tolerate that pushiness. She said to throw a rolled up newspaper at him, but I'm such a lousy aim that I used a squirt bottle. I have worked with him too, when they're close to me, saying, "gentle" in my gentlest voice. And then when he ceases rough behavior, "good gentle" and a treat. I think if that dog is too rough, I'd keep it away. You don't want your pup to be frightened and end up hating dogs. I think a class with a good trainer is a good place to socialize your pup....under controlled circumstances. Good luck.

Just try to capitolize on the Poodle's good behavior. When it stops when you tell it "No" then remember to reward him. Say, "good gentle" or whatever word you want to use, just make it the same always. Don't loose your temper with the dog. It will be hard to get him to understand what you mean for a while. But, just be consistant and he'll figure it out.

Of course, that's not your job to train your boyfriend's dog. It's his. But you can just try to keep your dogs seperate if nothing works.

Carrie