Could I ask your advice please everyone.
Our Labrador bitch puppy is 9 weeks old and we have a 2 year old Labrador dog.
The puppy appears very ‘rough’ when playing with the dog. He is extremely tolerant and patient with her and only occasionally will he plonk a paw on her to stop her antics. I step in from time to time when she picks on him, am I doing the right thing? The tugging game is the worst and I try to stop it quickly. The play can be quite boisterous and I am concerned she will overdo it and hurt herself, esp. her legs/hips (I am a bit paranoid where this is concerned!)

Also, puppy food.
She is on Arden Grange but this is 30% protein. I used Nutro for our dog when he was little but he never really liked it all that much but felt it was better for his growth as it was lower protein and for large breed puppy. I misread the info when ordering AG and I wonder if this is contributing to the highly excited play. Having said that our first pup was on his own so he had no-one to get excited with, if you know what I mean. She is having approx. 5 oz (1 heaped mug) split into 4 meals (as AG recommends), plus a few bits and pieces during the day. She seems to get hiccups a lot, has been wormed and always seems hungry, sorry ravenous (I know, she is a Lab!)

Any advice is welcome. Our bitch puppy is streets ahead of the dog at that age, and she is very confident and bright. I just want to make sure I’m doing everything right. We seem to have forgotten such a lot second time around and it was only a couple of years ago!!
Look forward to reading your replies
Thanks,
Sally.

Think if you make sure that your older dog can escape, then there should be no trouble. We put a piece of plywood about 18" high in the door way so the adults can hop over and the pup can't, you will need to adjust to suit your breed and the puppy's hight. I'd be happy enough with the food for a month more and then I think I would start adding something with a lower protien until I had swapped over, take about a month and then if you think she is too hyper go to a lower protien still again slowly. Make any changes with a puppy slow. Jackie

Hiccups in a pup are normal in fact almost obligatory

Tug of war is often accompanied by "Loud Noises" but can be great fun for both. My old bitch used to "Give ground" to the puppy to give it encouragement! She was so careful not to pull too hard. Others may not have that same understanding so you need to see how your own dog reacts and make your decision based on that. I allow a certain amount of "Free play" before stepping in and stopping it. Your aim is to stop it while it is good fun rather than wait until it has deteriorated into a full blown rough and tumble. This does two things, it keeps the dogs happy together and it re-enforces your place as the pack leader who must be obeyed.

Don’t worry about the hiccups, Labradors are gannets and the food goes down so quickly at that age. As they get a little older it clears up.

Regards, John

My 18 wk old Lab eats so fast she almost chokes on her food. Sometimes (rarely) she sicks it back up right after finishing! I have tried taking it away from her to let a bit go down at a time but then she started to eat even quicker, perhaps thinking I wouldn't give it back. So now I just let her eat it. She also get hiccups, hiccoughs? How is it spelt anyway?

My older lab used to snap at my puppy if she got too rough. Pup has learnt now to respect her, but..... last week both dogs had a raw hide chew each and were quite happy until pup decided she wanted to try older dogs chew. She followed her round the house for about half an hour pestering her by yapping etc .. and older dog growling back saying, no you can't have it, go away.

I didn't interfere, thinking that it was best to let them sort it out. Suddenly older dog decides enough is enough and dropped her chew, grabbed pup by the scruff of her neck and gave her two or three hard shakes! My heart was in my mouth as I pictured torn off ears and blood and gore everywhere! Pup yelped and ran off, sat down and looked in bewilderment at me and older dog, who just picked up her chew and walked over to her bed.

Pup was fine.. no marks on her at all. I have heard about mother dogs doing this to tell their pups off but to see it was a real eye opener. They aren't related by the way and pup is very careful around older dog now, not scared of her, she still likes to curl up next to her.

Hi Walkhound,
I'd seriously suggest keeping a close eye on your two when this is going on. Perhaps, you might even give your older dog a place he/she can go to alone when he really wants to chew on something delicious.

My dog, Chienne, when she was a puppy had a buddy 2 years older than her. Sierra (lab/OES mix) let her do whatever she want up to about age 6 months. They were great friends, despite having about 55 or so Lbs and much height difference. :)

Then one night when we were visiting, Sierra decided that she wanted to have Chienne's chewie and grabbed her head in her mouth. After a moment, she let go of Chienne's head after she "screamed" to grab the dropped chewie. Chienne had blood right next to her eye. After washing it off, I found a puncture wound about a quarter of an inch off of the eye. Any closer, my dog would not have seen out of it for the rest of her life :( She never trusted Sierra after that and my friendship with her owner pretty much vanished within a couple of months :rolleyes:

Anytime there's a puppy/adult with noticeable size disparities, I hesitate to just let them completely hash it out between them, especially when food/treats are an issue. I taught Chienne how to hide under the sofa when our deaf Yorkie kept trying to take treats from her. Pepper would wait, but Chienne had her alone time that she needed. Kept their dislike of one another bloodless :)
good luck and enjoy your two 'puppies'
toodles

Hi, there, if your pup really bolts his food, put some VERY large stones in the bowl, and the pup will have to pick his food from round them. Make sure that the stones ( or small rocks) are not small enough to be swallowed.

I always watch over them when food is involved, that is the only time there have been any disputes. This just took me completely by surprise, it was done so quickly. I will have to keep them in separate rooms maybe if they have the chews out. Pup is very bold, very forward. She has met some very large dogs and goes running up to them all licks and waggy tail, not scared of anything as yet, but I think her boldness irritates the h*** out of my older dog.

I will try the stone thing, thanks.. I have some big pebbles, should be interesting to watch her eat tomorrow morning! :D

If they are the same breeed I wouldn't worry over the disciplining, as long as your older dog knows that you won't allow it to go too far. The object has been achieved and the pup stil likes, but now respects its elder more.