Question on dog communication..
 

Hi Everyone,

I have a yorkie boy which a few already know about. And recently got a biewer girl. They seem to get along well. But Austin, my yorkie, is bad!

I recently noticed and heard from my parents that he likes to pull his sisters ear. The biewer. Why does he do this? Is he playing? Is he jealous?

Quick summary. I had Austin since last July. He will be 1 in May. Chelsea is around 5-6 months old. I got her almost a month ago.

Any doggie advise?

Any wise answers, please don't post!

Thank you! :aimeeyork

He's playing. Mine will grab an ear, a topknot..or a tail...whatever's within reach.

^ Yeah, that. Jackson likes to nip other dogs around the neck (not aggressively) and it's all play. My dads dogs bite each others butts while playing/running/wrestling. :)

Oh okay. I feel bad because Chelseas ears are red sometimes. Her brother is so rough!

My sister's dog is an "ear" guy, loves to play with ears and tug on them often to the distraction of the other dog. Tibbe loves to play more using his paws and swatting, boxing more than using his teeth. It is probably just his style of play.

Tinkerbell thinks my Biewer is a big squeaky toy, I think because of her coloring (the Biewer's). She did some ear tugs and nipping, then I looked up and Tink was trying to drag the Biewer across the room! :eek:

That's when I intervened... but my Tink has an excitability problem. I have to stop her play occassionally whether it's with humans or other dogs... she just gets totally wound up and her behavior can escalate to red zone aggressiveness in an instant (or used to anyway). She's good as long as I stop her, and I've been teaching her 'easy' and 'be nice' so she has recovered her bite inhibition, for the most part.

Actually, my Biewer is smart... when Tink gets too much for her, she beelines for me and wants me to pick her up and save her! Too funny! But it works, then Tink calms down and I allow the play to continue. She'll head for me too whenever I say 'What are you doing???'

Occassionally I do have to separate them manually.... barks and growls get misinterpreted and they end up fighting, but it all blows over in no time. I do watch them all the time... if I can't see them, I am listening for the few seconds I step out of the room.

They both joined our family at age 2, but 8 months apart. They are about the same size and weight, so I think that helps. My 2 smaller Yorkies just stay out of their way, unless I am on the floor with all of them.

One thing I don't understand... if I hand out treats, they will all sit in a semicircle in front of me, and they wait their turn. No stealing or arguments ever over food. I don't get that. Other breeds I've owned have always been mildly food aggressive, to people and other pets... IDK!:D

We got ear bitters too. Josie always bites, pulls on jack. Jack is older. Jack likes to bite her butt. (must be the male in him) They both play and knaw at each other.

I think Austin is just giving love pats.

Teddy likes to pretend to nip at Max's ears, but he prefers pulling his topknot. They are just playing. Max will allow Teddy to pin him and nip and pull. I'll ask them what they are doing and they both look at me as if to say, "what?" Then they go back at it. Silly boys.

When Buster is playing with Lola she is always after his ears. I guess the make big targets!