Hi I wonder if any one can give me some advice.  I have a GSD bitch called Kizzy who has just turned 7, she has a lovely temperament never shown any aggression towards other dogs. She is also very obedient. 2 weeks ago my partner and bought a GSD puppy (Kody). I was apprehensive of introducing him to kizzy as she has been "The only child" for 7 years, however we took her to the kennels when we collected him, she seemed fine, She was a bit dominant when he got home, blocking his every move, which I can understand. We have given Kizzy a bit more attention than usual just to make sure she doesnt feel left out, I always feed her first etc.  However she plays well with the puppy most of the time (He is 11 weeks tomorrow - so very boisterous) but then he oversteps the mark and she seems to get really nasty with him.  People have said to me dont stop her and she will put him in his place.  However she has made him cry quite badly on a few occasions and by the look in her eyes I am frightened she will really hurt him.  When this happens I put Kody on his lead so that he keeps away from her.  A couple of times I have really had to shout at kizzy to let him go.  What I want to know is......Do I tell kizzy off or do I tell the puppy off, he is a bit young to reaslise that playtime has to end some time.  Also she will not allow him to play with any toys whatsoever, all the ones I have bought for him I have to hide when Kizzy is around otherwise she takes them and is aggressive if he tries to get them.   I really am not sure what to do in this situation, and also the fact the Kody is growing all the time and therefore I would assume more boisterous than ever.  I am worried Kizzy will really do him an injury.

Actually unless she tells him or you back her up he won't learn when enough is enough.

If she only makes him squeal then I would not worry no matter mhow ferocious it may look.  I am assuming she hasn't marked him at all (bitten him to break the skin).

As for guarding toys, that is her perogative in showing that she is entitled to things before him.

To be honest if she is that insecure that she feels she has to guard them from him then take them away.

So you ahve a baby gate so that you can contain the pup in the kitchen or somewher he can see you but allows the bitch to get away for some peace?  If not a crate woudl be a good investment to put him in for cooling off when he gets too brattish for her comfort.

Many adulkt bitches especially are quite hard on young pups, I think the have the spare the rod and spoil the child mentality, but htye are usually right.  If she is well adjusted I would trust her judgement and welcome her help with teching him manners.

When things seem to be a bit much then you step in but make it clear you are backing her up not taking pups side.  It may be hard for you to accept, but he has to e botom of the social heap for there to be peaceful co-existance.  Once he is adult they are likely to be less bothered about status as dogs and bitches are not really in the same chain of command :D

The puppy is in a crate all night, the only time they are together is in the garden.
I would like to introduce them in the house, on a few occasions I have kept the puppy on a lead. I have just this minute let kizzy in the garden, the puppy licks her mouth and she just lets him do it.  On a few occasions when she has got rough it looked like she was trying to shake him like a toy...that worried me

Why have you not let them loose in the house together?  He cannot display normal appeasing behaviour if kept on the lead.  Canine play can appear very rough.  Does she play well with other dogs?  Has she been well sociaiise dand have good canine social skills?

My own puppies learn from a very young age what they can and cannot do with other members of teh family.  this is from the time they are in the litter.  From two weeks old they are where the other dogs can see them, but Mum watching ocer them, and once tye6y are running about the others can choose to interact with them how they wish (or not).

Was this the kind of environment the pup came from.  where there other adults for him to associate with other than his MUm.  If there were he will have learnt how he should behave around adults to keep them apeased.

Hi Brainless

I got Kizzy when she was 16 months old, she came from a breeder whose marriage had unfortunately broken up and she had to go out to work full time, this meant Kizzy and 2 other GSD bitches were left in the house on their own for 5 days a week. The breeder advertised her as she said she was such a lovely dog it was so unfiar to be shut away. Anyway Kizzy was wonderful when I got her very placid, however becuase of the circumstances I dont think Kizzy had been socialised properly I think she had only met the 2 other GSD1s she lived with. She was absolutely terrified of other dogs at first, the first time I took her training we could only stay 5 mins because she was a quivering mass - poor pet, I then took her training 1 to 1 which was good, then gradually increased introducing other dogs, after about 6 nmonths she was find, she has her gold/silver and bronze "Kennel Club good citizen " awards.  I still take her training even now so that she can meet other dogs, but she has never really played with any, I dont think she knows how - she is very aloof.  Yesterday morning she woke me at 4 a.m. which is unheard of, she came in the bedroom and licked my face and was wimpering I couldnt understand what she wanted but knew she was trying to tell me something I got up to find the puppy in the lounge!!! Got out of his cage, must have left one of the doors opened. Thank goodness he hadnt had the chance to do much damage (Just moved and have all new carpets and furniture) She obviously was OK to him then.  She has played with him in the garden this morning then when she had finished and wanted a rest he bounded over and nipped her ear, she got him to the ground and was really growling she wouldnt let him move at all really pinned him down, then it when I get worried as she looks so ferocious.  I do hope it works out OK.

Sounds perfectly appropriate discipline to me.  The fact she isn't a great oje for playing with strange dogs now she is an adult isn't unusual at all.  Mine don't either and they are very well socialised, but will ahve a good roght and tumbles with family and especial fcanine friends.

You certainly need to let her get on with it, so she can lay down the ground rules for their relationship.  As long as she can always get away from him if she so wishes then leave them to it.

I am mor53e interested in what kind of environment the pup came from to ascertain if he has learnt appropriate behaviour with adult dogs, this will hopefully mean that he will understand her signals, so that she doesn't have to go too far with him.

All sounds fine to me. My old Beardie girl Una who I lost last year at 14 was an equal partner with me in teaching new pups their manners with dogs. She would play but also tell them if she had had enough or if they had overstepped the mark into rudeness. She could look quite fearsome but never went too far or hurt them in any way but did make them squeal with a nip if they were not getting the message.

I have 4 year old and  2 year old Beardie boys who I can mix with other dogs with perfect confidence thanks to Una helping me teach them manners :D

Anne

Kody the puppy came from a litter of 10, he was bought up in a great envuironment, there was his mum and an older GSD of 13, plus a yorkie, they all played in the garden together, There was also a little toddler who knew nothing else but dogs, and was always playing with them.  So I think he has a good background.  He was 9 weeks when I brought him home so should have had plenty of time to learn.  He is really cute.  When I take him in the kitchen his biggest wish is to lie in Kizzys bed  - the last thing Kizzy will agree to, so I have to be very vigilant.

Bythe way is it uncommon for adults to actually harm a puppy or does it happen now and again, everyone tells me she wont hurt him I wish I could be so confident

A well adkjusted adult will not harm a pup.  Pups are wired to ensure they are not huyrt which is why they show a lot of apeasing behaviour, rolling over yelping etc if they ahve over stepped the mark and had to be disciplines.  all that grovelling is designed to stiop the adult hurting them.

You do need to relax more as the bitch will sense yoru worry and may see it as you being woried about the prsence of teh pup, not her reaction to it.

As I said as long as she can get away from him when she chooses leave them to get to know each others boundaries.

By the way Brainless I forgot to mention there was also a 9month old bitch with the puppy, she had just come into season so was a bit grumpy at times and not too tolerant,  I think the breeder had to put her into a kennel some of the time

Sounds like he should be able to cope with ehr fine, so jsut relax a bit and just let her out of where he is when she gets fed up.  It is a good idea not to let him ahve full run of the house anyway to ehlp with the understanding of housetraining, and also teaches him to cope for periods on his own.

Thanks for your advice I will try to chill out a bit more  Ha Ha

She is simply letting him know what is what by the sounds of it. Pups always squeal like they are being killed as it is their way of saying, 'I'm a baby, don't hurt me.' Dogs don't know dog etiquete, they have to learn it and it sounds as though Kizzy is doing a great job. When I introduce a new dog into my house I never interfere unless it looks as though the new one is in danger of getting seriously hurt. They never have. You have done the best thing by getting a male and before Kizzy gets too old to cope. I would leave her to get on with it and you should have a very well mannered dog in the end. Also don't forget, Kizzy is also aware he is going to get bigger so she is making damn sure he has learnt how to behave now rather than when he is bigger than her. They both sound gorgeous.

From a GSD lover stuck with 3 collies!

It took my eldest dog at least six weeks to accomodate our pup.  Much the same story as yours and it is alarming when the pup squeals.  He hasn't ever hurt him and after six weeks would tolerate him much more as the pup knew when to stand back.

A whole year later, life is just fine and it all seems a dim and distant memory.  They need to learn, just like us!

Good luck.

hi

when i first got lil my tibetan terrier bitch i was really worried about introducing her to mollie my 9 yr old pom x terrier as she is not good with other dogs and children it took from november to about april and now they get on great except that mollie gets tired and snaps but then lil walks away

just have to watch them with food and toys other then that they are fine

georgina

My Cav boy sulked like mad when the new puppy turned up - she kept running at him to play and he was running away. I've heard him growl quite fiercely at her when she gets too annoying, and then I tell her to leave him alone and distract her with a toy. Luckily he's never shown any real nastiness to her. On the other hand he and my other adult dog now hate each other!!!