I have a 2yr old male Staffie called Charlie and an 11wk old female puppy called Molly (also 6 cats).

Molly has now been here 5wks but from the minute she put her 4 wee paws (she only weighed 2lbs 8ozs when I got her, she's now over 7lbs) on the floor she decided she was going to be the boss over both poor Charlie and the Cats. The Cats after their initial shock (Charlie never chased them, infact he gives way to them on the stairs etc) are now letting her know they where here first.

My problem is with Charlie as he just will not "tell her off" if he would only give her one wee growl like when I got Charlie my older Staffie girl Tessa was 10yrs (she went to Rainbow Bridge in August) and she put him in his place right from the start. Infact I posted here then as I was worried she would go for him (got some good advice as well) and now it's the other way round.

Tessa in the end only had to give Charlie that "look" and it was enough. I've read that there's a puppy licience that runs out when their about 4mths old!!!!!! They play really well together but Molly really bites him and he just lets her, when he's had enough he just gets up on the couch (she's too small to get up there yet) and pushes her of with his big paw.

Charlie, for a Staffie has never been a vocal dog infact he seldom barks and I've never heard him growl, whereas Tessa was and Molly most definately is. My friends can't believe that it's Molly doing all the growling, she even has the cheek on her to bark at the cats.

Charlie is a longlegged Staffie about 18ins in height and weighs nearly 5st of muscle. (Molly is not two hands higher than a duck and weighs 7lbs) Charlie has always preffered to play fetch with his ball rather than play ragging with his tug toys. He has just never been your typical Staffie infact when Tessa passed over the house was way too quiet and I slowly came to the realisation that I'd been "bossed" around for 12 and 1/2yrs by Tessa (I used to tell her not to backchat me).

Sorry for rambling but I just wanted to give a bit of background of when Charlie was a puppy. Do you think he will always let her away with this behavior because she's a female etc or will he assert himself or is it because Tessa was topdog over him he just automatically lets Molly be? I find myself wishing I had my Tessa here to put Miss Molly in her place.

By the way Charlie is still intact (he never give me any reason to castrate him) but I will be getting them
both "done" next year.  I encourage Charlie to "tell her" but he'll just go and get her a toy (sometimes with her hanging on to him) or else he gvery gently gives her a wee bite (but always looks to me to see if it's ok first). When he does that Molly runs round the side of the couch and as soon as poor Charlies backs turned she launches herself at him spitting feathers.

He does get peace because Molly loves her "house/cage" to sleep in and most times Charlie's on the couch beside me although he has gone in to sleep with her of his own accord. Any advice would be appreciated.  Deirdre, Charlie, Molly, and the Cats

Both are bsing totally normal & yes dogs do let bitches walk all over them for obvious reasons as do older dogs of either sex with puppies. When he decides it is time to call a halt he may or may not tell her off or simply walk away from her to get some piece . The last bit depends on the individual dog my collies simply stayed clear of any puppy untl they were 6 months old & learnt their mannares from our alpha HSD bitch

To Moonmaiden,  Well it's a relief to know their both being normal. I just felt really sorry for my poor Charlie.

To Teri, Yes Charlie is a great boy and he sure has "the patience of a saint", as I write this he is laying on his back and Molly is dive bombing him but as you say I wouldn't want him to throw his full weight at her. My friends and neighbours all remark on how good Charlie is so I guess I'll count my blessings and as you say sit back and enjoy the peace and quiet while it lasts.

I guess I expected Charlie to tell her off the way Tessa did to him. I already feel bad about having to castrate him when he's never given me any reason to. I posted about this on your General forum under the heading "Two Staffies" and I again got good advice as I don't feel right about spaying Molly before her first season.

Happy Christmas to Everyone,  Deirdre, Charlie, Molly and the Cats

Hi Deirdrie,

Staffs are not my own breed but it sounds as though you have little to worry about here - Charlie is obviously a nice "moral" guy with the patience of a saint :D  Be happy about that - don't fret over it.  As you say he can escape her by jumping onto furniture, she has a crate to be put in, and he's given her what appear to you to be a few half-hearted grumbles but that's as much force as he must feel he wants to administer, which is an ideal scenario.  You really wouldn't want him to throw his full weight on Molly or actually have a proper go at her, now, would you?

As she gets bigger and a little more confident he will probably enjoy rough housing with her regularly and then come to a point when he says "end of game" with a more effective grumble, body slam etc.  I think they sound like they'll be great friends, so enjoy the peace and quiet while you can ;)

Regards, Teri  

I have an intact dobe and a small terrier pup ( bitch ) and from the minute she walked in she has been boss -she hangs off his ears, off his neck and has even launched an attack on his bits !!
When he's had enough he will walk away -he has batted her with his paw and mouth's her when they are playing he is covered in small scratches but apart from slobber there's not a mark on her ......so all in all sounds pretty normal to me :D

That's exactly what Molly does to Charlie except you explained it in a lot less words. I've always been a bit long winded so my son's say anyway.  All the Best, Deirdre, Charlie, Molly and the Cats

Sounds as if they're getting on great :)  But if you feel she's taking advantage of his good nature, and he's getting fed up, don't be afraid to distract her and let him have some peace - he may appreciate one or the other of them having a crate so the quite time can be enforced......

Yes I guess they are getting on great and as I said in a previous post I'm going to count my blessings and sit back, stop worrying and enjoy all their antics. Molly has her own crate which she took to straight away. Unfortunately so did one of my Cats and no matter how many times Molly has chased her out of it Peggy (the Cat) just strolls back in again. It can be quite hilarious watching them all at times usually much better than the TV programmes.

Willis always allowed Phoebe to boss him about... and he still does 90% of the time. Since we got her spayed he changed slightly and eh will warn her off and he will occasionally stick up for himself. If there's a proper fight he doesn't always submit either - which is not a pleasant experience!

<<My problem is with Charlie as he just will not "tell her off" if he would only give her one wee growl like when I got Charlie my older Staffie girl Tessa was 10yrs (she went to Rainbow Bridge in August) and she put him in his place right from the start. Infact I posted here then as I was worried she would go for him (got some good advice as well) and now it's the other way round.>>

When we brought Teya in in August Savannah (Queen of the House) was exactly the same.  She would not under any circumstances tell off the puppy.  She would put up with anything from her.  After a coupl eof weeks she ONCE snarled at her when pup bit too hard.  Not another snarl for a couple more weeks. Teya is now 6 months and Savvy routinely puts her in her place if she's too much.  She was just giving her 'puppy license' as some people call it.  Once Teya was big enough to know better Savvy started correcting her more often.

I was terrified Savvy would get a tooth in her eye or some other type of damage, but she seemed to regulate herself very well.

Don't worry, the adults will tell her off in time.  Just may be THEIR time - not yours :-D

Wendy

Hi
Well it sounds like my Sal (stafford 2 years old) and Tess (stafford pup now 6 months) Sal would not tell Tess off and regularly had "little scabs" where Tess had bitten her. I worried for a little while that Tess was getting away with blue murder, but hey at 6 months now she is very very good hardly a paw out of place regarding Sal or other dogs. So obviously Sal's silent approach to puppy training is working -  It seems the puppy licence does exsist. So I'd say although its hard not to worry - don't. You have one difference to me you have a dog and a bitch, where as I have two bitches - the older of which has just come out of season - which made me think too - hormones etc but it has passed without incident. Tess used to hang of Sals ear and lip but never once did she retaliate, she just did as your Charlie does and jumped up on sofa out of the way.

Karen