Hi All, Looking for some advice. I have 4 dogs Koda,3 yr old castrated male,Jay 17month old entire Male, Lily 3 yr old female and her daughter Lunar whos 5 months. The problem I have is that Lily is either protective or jealous ( not sure which) of the play that Lunar has with the 2 dogs especially Koda to the point she actually gets between them when playing and has a go at Koda now if he so much looks at Lunar. Koda is desperate to play but unless I remove Lily he is always left out and miserable. Lily was always quiet up to having her litter but now is more outgoing and I think thats great for her but her protection is making Lunar very bullish in that mum always steps in and backs her up even if she needs telling off. Should I continue to remove Mum as I am afraid Lunar will not learn any doggy manners? Or is it perfectly natural thing for Lily to do and I should let them sort it?
Thanks in advance.
Angela

I'm not sure what the right answer is but my bitch still does this and her daughter is now 2 1/2. I leave them to it in the house and garden with my own 2 boys, but had to be really careful when walking them when Gem (the youngest) was still a pup. I always called Meg (her Mum) to heel or distracted her with a ball when I saw another dog coming and left Gem to greet the dog alone. If I didn't do this Meg would be in front of pup with her tail up warning other dogs off and, like you, I was afraid Gem wouldn't learn doggy manners. This seemed to work well and both are excellent with other dogs when out walking now.

I have a similar problem, but different in that it is my oldest unrelated bitch that gets in between the mum and daughter ;) I keep an eye on them and if it starts to get out of hand I intervene. Thankfully my youngest is now 8 months old so is bigger and more able to take care of herself and isn't getting too out of hand. In fact she has been put in her place by all the other dogs at one point or another so has learnt how to behave. You little one is still a puppy, but wants to be grown up so will push a bit more if allowed. The other dogs are starting to see her less and less as a puppy, so will put her in her place more. Mum especially will do this. After all, it's a mums job, isn't it ? :) If you think her behaviour is too much then I would intervene as you are doing.

Thanks very much for the replies. I have been taking the pup out on her own to get some training in without mums interference so will continue in a similiar vein. Lily (mum) sleeps upstairs with us with the others downstairs (pup is seperated from the others). When coming down in the morning she can't wait to get to her 'baby' but couldn't care less about the other 2.  Is this likely to continue and or will it ease in time? I am worried that if Lunar deosn't learn some doggy manners she will get herself into trouble. She was rather rude to a dog at the park and was rather taken aback when she was told off in no uncertain terms but it didn't stop her 5 mins later doing the same again. I have tried to treat her as an only dog in that she interacts with dogs outside as my first boy did but when she gets away with it with my others at home we are back to square 1. I have heard the term 'puppy licence' when deos this expire?
Thanks
Angela