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Originally Posted by YorkieMother  First yes they do want rules and they love to know what they can and can not do but all behaviour is just that behaviour they are not out to take over or lead they just do what they do naturally.
It may be unacceptable to us but is normal to them so discipline them for what they bring to the table is not a good idea. To them they know no better until we teach them what we expect of them so redirect and coaching is way better then pack leader as dogs in the wild do not run in packs.
They run in ones or twos tjat join up and walk away from each other as the need and avaliable supplies are, are not there.
They do not form family groups like wolves as the supply of resoucrs does not allow that at all.
What one sees at a dump site of waste is small one and twos coming into contact with other ones and twos and fighting over limited resouces not a pack fighting and doing dominace or not.
We have to understand thees guys come from a whole differnt way of thinking and understanding the world and only coming at them from our pint of view is making us miss what incredible animals and thinking being they are.
They underatnd us far better then we understand them.
So instead of disapline try guiding, try using thier language to help them. Teach them that splitting up and walking away is ok.
Give them other things to do.
Besides do we really know this is aggresion and just not puppy play out of hand and the big dogs needs to be tauught it ok to tell the little one no.
JL |
I don't remember reading anyone saying anything about disciplining the dog....in fact all I remember reading, and writing as well, is to set boundaries. I think "using their language" and "guiding" is exactly what I was saying when I said to ignore and turn away. That is passive guidance. I'm not so sure redirection will work well in this instance since the puppy, number one is probably already playing, albeit too rough, and number two turning their attention to some other form of play is only a "quick fix", a temporary solution to the problem. In fact, it may even be seen as rewarding that behavior...."good dog, here have a toy!" I believe the passive solution to stop playing is the more natural solution. When a puppy is playing with mom or litter-mates, and plays too roughly, both will let out a yelp, possibly bite back (which the older dog in this instance isn't doing, and there is no way to make it do!!), and will stop playing with them. Young puppies in litters have "rules for play"--if you're too rough then I don't want to play with you!--so older puppies who are no longer with their litter-mates need those same rules.