Well here i am again, asking the same question. This time pup is now 5 months old and just as bolshy with her mum. They can play quite normally together - play biting etc but this sometimes develops into full blown fighting with all the noises you hear when you hear dogs really having a go at each other. Mum cant seem to handle her. She does knock her onto her back but pup gets up and carries on. Mum sometimes  runs and jumps up onto my knee to escape. Sometimes my other girl sees that mum is not coping very well with the pup and joins in. (She is the quieter of the three) She flattens the pup but the little devil still gets up and then has a go at both the adults in turn.  I know that play can be rough at times and am sure I can tell the difference but I am not too sure what to do when pup and mum start snarling and biting in a more menacing way. Do I let them get on with it or do I intervene and separate them. (I am separating them at the moment) Is this dominance behaviour or just naughty puppy stuff? Over to you clever people.!!!!! (I also need help with another problem but will post that separately)

It is just play, rgeardless of how rough it looks. Unless one is getting injured, of course.

I have here a 3 year old bitch, her 8 month old pup, and another 5 month old pup. They play fight like you would not believe, the youngest is always the noisiest and usually the instigator. It does sometimes seem like the other two are being hassled by her, especially the oldest one, as she can be asleep minding her own business and little pup will suddenly bound over and bite her ears, or climb on her, biting her. However, I do know that if she crosses the line she will get told off. She tried to steal 'Mums; chicken the other day and was severely told off for that.

If they ever get out of hand, I usually tell them to stop, but that is only really for my benefit, as they are noisy and annoying at times! I'll be vigilant for any fights later on, but they will be allowed to sort out their own pecking order. It can look rather alarming when teeth are bared and they are growling and snapping, but mien have never gone beyond over-enthusiastic play.

Thank-you for that. Yes, its the teeth baring and snarling part that I dont like. Its the first time I have had a puppy with older dogs so is a bit unnerving. Always good to hear someone else has had the same experience. Thank-you.

I would be inclined to give pup a time-out immediately if the adults have told her off and she keeps on going.

It's all very well saying that the adults will sort her out and pecking order will be established, but the truth of it is that some adults simply won't stop OTT behaviour as we'd like them to.  My oldest girl can be a terrible bully, and although I know that if my other two girls - who she tends to pick on when she wants to play (she doesn't really know how to play properly so just badgers them) - were to tell her off then she'd stop, but they don't.  The little one might but the bigger one just gets too stressed and slinks off.

For her sake I have to step in, and if your pup's mum is having to escape to your knee because pup will not stop trying to play too roughly for her liking, then I would step in and put pup out of the room for a couple of minutes.

I see what you're saying, but it is open to interpretation.

For example. My girls will often roll each other over during play, sometimes the oldest one can do it, and it looks very rough, but she is not putting the younger ones in their place, she is playing.

The other dog is probably not stepping in because the Mum can't cope, but because she doesnt' want to miss out on the fun.

Mum may well be escaping to the owners knee in a bid to say 'na na, can't get me up here'.

Without seeing them it is impossible to say, but as the older dog is the Mum, she is far more likely ot put up with over the top behaviour from her pup, and also far morel ikely to say no when she has really had enough.

As I said, if thye get too ver the top, a simple 'no' would suffice. At least, it does with mine.

I would do as you and intervene, especially when you see that mum is not coping with her bolshy daughter. It does sound as if mum is trying to knock her back with getting violent, which is not working for her- that's why she is running to you for help poor maid !Then she has your 3rd bitch thinking well I'm getting in and sticking with the most dominant one that's why she is also having a go at mum. Out of interest what breed are they ? Does it all stop and calm down once you have stepped in and called a stop to this aggro ?  If you did stop taking charge when it does get out of hand, it will only escalate it to more trouble once your 5 month old pup gets sexually mature but by then the pecking order will be established so it might stop with your bolshy girl being head girl. :)

Well I can take points from all your replies. Like you say, it is difficult to be sure when you cant see them. They are Tibetan Terriers by the way. Wonderful of course but I suppose we all get problems whatever breed. When mum jumps up on my knee, it is noticeable that she doesnt get down again to "play" again. I think she just wants out of the situation. I maybe didnt say clearly enough about the third girl. She actually joins in but takes mum's side against the pup. She does seem to be able to flatten her quicker but as I say, she just seems to get more revved up and can take all the knocking about they give her. I think you are all right that I should intervene in some way. I have done the time out a couple of times and let her back in and she just starts up again. Maybe I should keep her out for a good while longer until she calms down. She is absolutely gorgeous though. When she is quiet she is very loving and affectionate (to me anyway!!!) Thank you for your help. Dont feel so alone now.

> Do I let them get on with it or do I intervene and separate them. (I am separating them at the moment) Is this dominance behaviour or just naughty puppy stuff?

Weather it is just OTT puppy behaviour or something eles I think you are wise to seperate them. The pup needs to learn what is acceptable behviour by your dogs and YOUR standards. If you think things are getting to far then sepreration is a good idea.
I had this with my pup, he wouldn't learn when our old dog had had enough of playing so I used to step in, as soon as the pup was getting too excited/OTT I would move him away and give him a toy to play with instead (with a command - 'toy'), so now if he gets wound up I can say 'toy' and most of the time he will choose to beat up a toy instead of try to play rough with the old dog.
Interaction between pup and adults is very important, but if pup isn't learning the rules from them you can help teach her.

Another good idea. Will definitely try the toy thing today when Tashi starts her ott behaviour.

Our boy puppy stafford plays really boisteroulsy with our girl stafford who is 2 and a half years old.
Im always asking my friend who has 4 staffords (ones a pup) if they are fighting or playing, or should I stop it or should I let em get on with it lol bless her for being so patient with me!

But what Ive learnt is as long as they dont get over boisterous IE knocking things over as their exciting each other, and the mouthing is just that, mouthing then I should let them get on with it.
I always tell them no if it gets out of hand and if one continues their crated for a little quiet time, and if they both keep going on their both crated lol

Think its a case of live and learn with dogs and also use the friends you have in the breed :) !!

They are so funny arent they? Tonight, bolshy puppy started being a pain to my quiet girl, Jess. She'd obviously had enough and she growled and retaliated and  actually made the puppy yelp! (the first time this has happened) Puppy stopped and stared at her (oh joy!) and jumped down next to mum who then joined pup in barking at the quiet girl who had made pup yelp!! Canine behaviour eh? Will have to go and have a lie down and think about this!!!!!!

That's good. It does take a lot to push a patient dog.

The problem with intervening too much is that the puppy never learns what is and isn't acceptable to other dogs.

HI there just read this post, been busy with TT puppy.  Its right that different breeds behave differently.  I can leave my little Beardies to play quite happily without much intervention but the TT babies are very different.  Sounds like murder when they play fight but usually isn't as bad as it seems.  Re the older girls putting them in their place, sometimes it just wont happen.  My older girl (TT) who will put all the grown up dogs big or small, in their place will not chastise the latest puppy.  She simply complains and looks to me for help.  The other girl (TT) however enjoys ruff housing and will put the puppy down.  Being a TT she doesn't stay down and is back into the fray in an instant. If it goes on for more than a few minutes I simply separate them.  This usually means the older girls go in the puppy pen, breath a sigh of relief and go to sleep.  The little one then turns her attention to her toys.  I have to agree that the puppy needs to learn its boundaries but it is up to you to make sure they are reinforced and step in if things get out of hand. If as the puppy matures you have a bitch fight (have to say that seems to be uncommon in TT's) you may find they don't forgive and forget very easily.

I have boys as well and mostly they just lie down while terror pup pulls them to pieces.  Again if this were one of my Beardie puppies it would give up and go in search of moving prey, not so the TT babe.  She will nip and pull and generally try to dismantle the boys with them offering no resistance.  Completely knocks out the theory that ignoring a crazy puppy will eventually calm it down.  Nope TT's are a breed apart and I cant help but love the tenacious little devils. Do you have any pics.  I'd love to see them

That's good. It does take a lot to push a patient dog.

The problem with intervening too much is that the puppy never learns what is and isn't acceptable to other dogs

Thats my number one main worry to be 100% honest.
I dont want to stop him learning naturally but sometimes it needs to be stopped, as they are going mental lol !

Watching the comments on thbe post with great interest, as my 5 month old pup is the bane of my 2 3/4 year old boys life.
My daughter goes of out of the room pale and nervous when they get going, and it is mostly the puppy who is the pest.
Big boy (thats a joke he weighs 6/7 kilos), mostly runs off being chased. But he does get serious sometimes and she can tell just how far to push her luck as he really could hurt her but hasn't done, I also feel he will be the one to teach her.
Karen

Hi Echo, Lovely to hear that my TT puppy is maybe just "normal"  she is at present challenging mum for possession of their Friday night bone (pets at home filled bone thing) although she has one of her own. she is such a little sod (sorry) Would love to send you pics but not sure how??? Am new to this.

Hi again, to send a pic click on my name to luck at my profile. then you can send pic by emai.

Will do! Cheers.