Any advice on this one please? We have a 16 month old WSS and a new 10 month old WSS who has been with us for a week. They get on really well (eating/playing/sleeping together), but our older lad is prone to regularly barking at the newcomer (especially late at night)taking little dives at him, more in an attention-seeking way, not aggression, as if trying to get a rise out of him. This from a dog who has almost never barked...

We are really careful to distribute hugs, walks, food and attention evenly and want both dogs to enjoy being loved. The younger lad is coping extremely well-he is a very laid back soul indeed. I know we are asking a lot of our older lad to share us with the new boy--what can we do to make things easier for both of them and our neighbours and what is the best way to discipline our barking boy so that this habit doesn't get out of hand?

I would try some distraction with treats, when he gets going get him in a down stay at your feet (i assume its in the evening when your all settling down for the night with your feet up?) When he starts get his attention with a treat and loure (sp) him into calmness and reward him when he sits and relax's may take a while as playing with a buddy might be more attractive that treats. If hes not getting it when he starts bouncing maybe have him on a house line and give a correction (quick tug on the lead) and a firm 'no' then reward when he stops the behaviour. An evening strole may do the trick and when hes tired out treat him for being calm.

Louise

>We are really careful to distribute hugs, walks, food and attention evenly

Although that's the natural human instinct, conventional wisdom says that's not the way to go with dogs. Dogs prefer a secure ranking order than equality, so to show your older boy that he hasn't been usurped he should be the one you speak to first, gets his dinner first etc. The time difference need only be a second or two, not minutes, but dogs seem to be much happier that way.

Both dogs sound lovely, and your older boy, though still very much a puppy himself, enjoys having a companion to romp with. :-)

Yes, of course--you are right, Jeangenie, thank you for pointing out the obvious mistake! In response to Louise DDB, this rough housing takes place after the evening stroll, and while the younger dog loves his food :-) and hugs, the older boy is the least food-oriented dog I've ever met so none of the usual works with him! I think they are making good progress though--this morning they've romped about together and taken it in turns to wrestle each other to the ground, and neither was getting upset with the other--now they're sleeping together! Lucky us.

They are both still pups and I would think that the elder established one is feeling a bit territorial and a bit worried at the same time but they will settle in a couple of weeks once they have decided who is who and how things are going to be. Make sure any nonsense stops when you say so but apart from that I would let them sort themselves out.