Sparky and Busby seem to be getting on fine so far since we picked the pup up on Saturday. They seem to enjoy playing together and often curl up to sleep for naps (though we separate them when we aren't in the room). We are trying hard not to interfere, but we do take Busby out of the way to give Sparky regular periods of peace and quiet from time to time when he gets too boisterous, and always supervise them when they are together. They also have good periods of time away from each other when they get one to one attention. Busby is very bitey, as you'd expect at just over 7 weeks, but what is puzzling us a bit is that Sparky doesn't seem to tell him off at all yet. He mouths back gently and growls a bit, but not enough for the pup to stop coming back for more. Is it just that he is being very tolerant or should I be standing back and waiting for an explosion when the pup finally gets too much for him? Do all dogs tell a younger one off when they overstep the mark? He didn't even seem to mind the pup going near him when he was feeding the other day, and if anything just backed away.
Any advice/comments welcome, especially from people whose dogs have a similar age gap - Sparky is 15 months (and, it has to be said, a bit of a soft touch ;))

It sounds like you are doing just fine.  Importantly you are giving the older dog some space from the pup.

Some dogs will never tell off a puppy, others will let them get away with so much when they are babies and step in a bit later to put him in his place. My guess is he will give him a little more time to settle in and when pup bites too hard he will tell him off.

I wouldn't worry and I always think it is best not to interfere unless it is absolutely necessary.

Enjoy
Sandra

Have found it rare for males to tell a pup off they would rather get out of the way when they have had enough. Now the bitches are a different story and can sound like they are about to kill the youngster but I have not had a pup hurt yet but it takes courage to leave them to it.

Ahhhh!! they sound adorable together! Sounds like you are doing everything right I wouldn't worry maybe the older one likes the biting, it's all part of the play.

That is interesting Jackie,
I have never put it down to the sex of the dog before but neither of my males told off the new pup, it didn't surprise me with one but it did the other.  My bitch soon put a pup in its place and I think the bitch I have now would too.

Sandra

I agree - it does sound like you are doing fine.  We picked up our new pup almost 2 weeks ago.  Our oldest girl has a very good balance, will play gently (but sound rough) with her, but won't tolerate anything like the teeth and claws flying at her and tells her so.  Our younger one will put up with everything with a very longsuffering look on her face.  On day 4 she gave her a short sharp telling off, and finally yesterday she had a right go at the pup which I was sooo relieved about - I worry that puppy teeth and claws will get caught in her eye! 

Some never will, some won't tolerate anything, and some, like my Savannah, are waiting for that moment when pushed too far.  As long as you make sure the pup is not harassing the older dog too much and the older dog has a space it can get away I think you're doing a good job.

Wendy

I think you are right Jackie and it does take courage to leave them together to get on with it.  I have found that leaving my pup on a lead means my older dog starts to relax with him around safe in the knowledge that he won't be pestered.

It all sounds so awful when the dog grumps at the pup and the pup squeaks then his mum steps in to say her bit.  He will leave the little one alone given half a chance but pup really wants to investigate.

If I remember correctly it took about 6 weeks last time we had a pup for us to discover them asleep together.  Patience is a virtue.

A GSD breeder once told me an adult dog will never harm or hurt a pup under 6 mths - warn them YES but hurt NO

I used to wonder what happened at 6mths and 1 day old.................... ;)

So could your GSD breeder explain how my speyed bitch managed to break my 11 week old puppies jaw?  It was no accident :(

I'm sorry to hear about your pup Digger.

The GSD breeder is not "mine" and I was only reporting what was said. Note my comment on what happens at 6 mths and 1 day? :)

We are in a similar situation at the moment 22 month old bitch and almost 11 week old puppy who has been here almost 4 weeks tomorrow. :)

Well we do very similar to you let the adult have "time out" from the pup in the lounge or onservatory or upstairs while I'm on the computer :) She is very very good with the pup but does make her "squeak" a bit when the pup bites too hard or long. And although hard we do not step in, as I know she has to tell the pup "enough" like we do. Alhough now after 4 weeks we find occasionally find them both asleep in the same bed, or even cuter Sal in the garden on her back with the pup asleep on her belly, as they have been playing like that for a while now and occasionaly the pup just falls asleep on her chest :)

Sal too will now leave the pup alone and will jump on a chair to get out of the way but the pup just keeps coming back for more. She also steps back if the pup comes in while she's eating but we find now that the pup just ignores her when she is eating prefering to play with something else. Not of course that we let either of them bother each other while eating. :)

It's a long hard slog but I would say I/we like you will be reaping the benefits soon.
Karen

  

Suppose it depends on the breed you have but we put blocks on the door jam so we can slide a piece of plywood in the entry, low enough for the adult to hop over but too high for the pup. That way the dog or bitch can choose to play or leave and we do not have to make the decision of separating them when they may be enjoying an important piece of dog to dog education. I have the blocks on all the doors and take the pup and the plywood with me, we also increase the height of the board as the pup grows until it is too high for the adults by which time the pup has learned the rules or dog on dog behaviour. Letting the dogs do the don't bite lesson saves your hands and ankles too.

I'm actually going to go against the grain here, and say you shouldn't allow the situation to reach a stage where the older dog HAS to tell the younger one to bogg off!  If you think it's getting too much, then you should distract the pup away.  It's often the pups who have older dogs at home who become the most persistant offenders when it comes to mugging other dogs, because they are allowed to get away with it at home - which is OK when you know the temperament of the other dog.........

Difficult, my bitch will tell a youngster off for just looking at her or jump in and stop it playing with one of the dogs. If I tried to avoid it they would not have contact at all. As I said it may depends on breed but I have not had any problems although it sometimes sounds as if there is. Have to say I do not have, as a rule, neutered animals however the bitch is now spayed and has become more aggressive but still does know how far to take it.

Thanks for all the support, everyone.

Digger - that's exactly what I'm worried about. Because Sparky is so soft, I worry that Busby might turn into a thug, expect other dogs to put up with his antics, and end up coming a cropper :(. They have the same dad, and mums are also from the same line, so in theory I would hope they have a similar temperament, but there are no guarantees, are there?

Jackie H - the blocks you are talking about - can you explain where you put them - are they like bricks at either side of the door? I'm trying to work out what they look like as that sounds a good idea - Sparky might well choose to ignore the pup when he's being a pain, which might help teach him to play nicely!

Off to puppy class at the vet's in the morning - let's hope I won't be leaving red-faced, apologising to all and sundry for the naughty one!
Tracy

We were a bit worried how Hudson (2 and a half) would react to Delta when we bought her home. He was curious of course but soon accepted that she was here. Delly is a little madam and would run Hudson ragged given half a chance :) H isn't very playful and Delly always wants to play. At first he would just push her off with his nose ..but as she has got bigger, he has started getting a bit harsher with her. She is now 14 weeks old and regularly gets told where to get off by Hudson :D :D

We havent interfered with thei play at all ..Hudson WILL let go of her when she squeals ..and she can't hurt him because of his thick coat. Hudson can get away from her as and when necessary AND they don;t sleep together so he has a nice restful night time :)

Sorry looking at the post now I see I did not make it clear we basically have the same thing a JackieH in that there is a "small fence" that the pup couldn't get over but Sal can from the kitchen out into the hall that means Sal can go into hall/porch/lounge/conservatory/upstairs and leave the pup in the kitchen and utility. Sal can get away when she wants but she starts lots of the play herself bringing footballs (punctured of course) raggers etc for the pup to play with.

And at Puppy socialization class she was not and has not in the two weeks she;s been there been a "mugger" at all in fact she is easily distracted and called away from play.

Karen       

We just screw two pieces of wood either side of the doorway near the bottem to form a sort of slot between the wood that the door sits against and the blocks of wood. Screw them on the oposite side to the side that the door closes on so that you can still use the door. Bet that is as clear as mud I may have to email you a drawing except I am not to good at that either. :)

Not at all Jackie! I know what you mean now, thanks.:-D

i was concerned before i brought my puppy home to meet his 18 month old dad! i was excited, didn't have any real worries cuz taz is very laid back. once i got bailey home taz was great very gentle and very very very patient with the biting bailey.
as bailey has got older he is now 10 months, i have noticed taz getting that little bit rougher when they're playing. not in a nasty way, but its like he knows bailey is older and bigger and he doesn't need to be as gentle.
they have their quarrels, i think bailey sometimes wants to be boss but taz soon puts him back in his place. they get on great most of the time and when one of them doesn't feel like playing the other seems to sence it and plays alone in the garden.
When we go out and they are given treats we keep them seperate. you can never be to careful - even a worm can turn!!

so i would say that it sounds like your doing a great job. let them get on with it, but i would say its important to give them time alone to just relax. after all we all like our own company now and again dont we ! :)

flynn is a total thug! nellie has never really told him off,tara has only just started to now! hes just turned20 months!

Well - my face is just about returning to normal shade now. Went to "puppy party" this morning and guess who was the hooligan that nobody wanted their dog to go near?! Lots of sympathetic smiles as Busby went for it hell for leather, started to hump everything in sight, tongue hanging out, and tried to assert himself with a 12 week old husky. Finally a lovely bouncy black lab had really had enough and told him, but the little so-and-so still went back for more, and started shouting at the lab. I think I'm in for a bumpy ride this time!
Tracy

OOPs! :(

Ah but aren't the bumpy rides the ones you never forget :)

Karen

...and this morning he's curled up again with Sparky fast asleep at my feet here, so I could forgive him anything! :)