On pups playing

[Wallee]

Ok..here goes another question. Since Summer is already 4 years old and Wallee is now two I was wondering if I can ever expect to see any kind of interaction between the two. When I recently babysat Anyah who is just a few months younger than Wallee, she immediately ran in our house and started jumping up and nipping at Wallee and they played. They would tug of war between toys and everything. I never heard a growl or a snap. Since getting Summer, I notice that Wallee is not interested in interacting with her at all. She got out of bed the other morning and ran over to kiss him and all he can do is growl and grump at her. When we are playing with toys on the floor, she just runs behind him trying to learn how to play. The other day when I came in after leaving them for a bit she was excited and was running around. Since we used to ignore Wallee as a puppy when we came in, he has learned to patiently wait at the top of the stairs fo us to acknowledge and pet him. When she started running and acting all excited and happy he chased her and barked her down. Is he trying to teach her to wait like he does?

[nanahas3]

It took almost a month for Lolita to start playing with Laddy when we adopted her. They were so close when she passed. Just give them some time.

[Wallee]

Thanks so much. I know it's only been over a week so I know I just have to give them time. She already loves him.He's just being bratty I guess and also needs time to adjust.

[yorkietalkjilly]

Not being there or getting to actually see the two of them or get a real-time, in person sense of the situation, see his/her body language, it's hard to tell for sure but from past experience, I'll tell you what I've experienced when a dog behaved like Wallee is being described. I think he's trying to discipline and show her he's in charge, not teach her how he's been taught to behave. Why would he even want to do that if he's not thrilled to have her there yet and is totally happy with her? To him, I think he's still viewing her as an interloper and thinks she's no right to greet you first or happily. It's just part of his natural doggie jealousy or leadership role and sees her behavior as that of horning in on his territory and people, perhaps trying to usurp his position. He likely still sees Summer as a challenge to his authority or place in the pack/family whereas the didn't view the other dog he treated differently as a challenge at all. A friendly, submissive dog is usually accepted by most other dogs as they are willing to take any role offered them in the pack but one that vies for an equal or higher role is viewed differently by the long-time pet whose territory is being "invaded". They've more to work out and settle between them. It can take a full 2 months to make progress with most dogs.

I believe I would give them both a break in the next few days - take her away from the house for a few hours for a grooming session, even just a half-days boarding at a pet hotel or a long outing in the park and allow him some alone, free time to deal with being alone and without her company and see how he greets her when she returns. If he's glad to see her and runs to greet her happily, he's coming to accept her as a family member, albeit one he feels he's got the right to dominate as pack leader. If not, he's going to need more time. In a few more days, I'd let him be the one to spend a half-day or so away from the stressful situation and see how they interact upon his return.

If, in another two weeks or so he's still chasing her and disciplining her reactions when you arrive home or bring out toys or anything that elicits her excitement and attempts at showing joy, playfulness, I'd stop it and tell him "No", point at him, lock eyes with him and walk into his space, backing him off and staying there until he leave the room. By then, it's time to start teaching him that his discipline of her is no longer acceptable.

[Wallee]

Thanks again Jeanie. I am trying very hard to follow all the advice you give to make this transition work out for both of them. I understand that Wallee is jealous and we are trying to give him his time to do the thing he likes best as well which is play ball. In speaking about the other little dog who was here, there is no doubt she was the dominant one. She came in here jumping on Wallee, taking his toys out of his mouth and nipping his heals every time he ran. He did try humping her a few times but other than that, he let her be in charge. Summer on the other hand is just the opposite. In the morning, she eagerly tried to greet him with a kiss on his face and he would have no part of that. The other doggie did that to him every day with no problem. I am trying to balance giving him time and letting him know when I think he is getting out of hand. I pray I can do everything right so that he eventually learns to like her. Even on walks I can see her always trying to walk very close to Wallee and I am trying to walk them on opposite sides of the sidewalk as he doesnt like her in his space.

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by Wallee

Thanks again Jeanie. I am trying very hard to follow all the advice you give to make this transition work out for both of them. I understand that Wallee is jealous and we are trying to give him his time to do the thing he likes best as well which is play ball. In speaking about the other little dog who was here, there is no doubt she was the dominant one. She came in here jumping on Wallee, taking his toys out of his mouth and nipping his heals every time he ran. He did try humping her a few times but other than that, he let her be in charge. Summer on the other hand is just the opposite. In the morning, she eagerly tried to greet him with a kiss on his face and he would have no part of that. The other doggie did that to him every day with no problem. I am trying to balance giving him time and letting him know when I think he is getting out of hand. I pray I can do everything right so that he eventually learns to like her. Even on walks I can see her always trying to walk very close to Wallee and I am trying to walk them on opposite sides of the sidewalk as he doesnt like her in his space.

It's very hard to know what that other dog's behavior truly was like from your description but it doesn't sound truly dominant to me. Maybe I'm misreading your description of him and how they interacted but going by your words only, not having seen them, from the sound of it, that other dog was super playful and puppy-like - not truly dominant. The other dog sounds like it exhibited more perennial puppy-like behavior - as Tibbe at 6 years old, still does around other dogs - rather than real, dominant behavior and that's what Wallee accepted - a fun-loving dog who was exuberant and fun-loving, puppyish, a little out of control, maybe jumping up in play but not to control/truly intimidate him, not a serious threat, not a dominating dog who truly tried to rule over him. Dominant dogs are usually not very playful or fun but always trying to prove they are the big guy in the room - a bully.

So he accepted the puppy-like play nature of that dog and didn't think of it as trying to show him how powerful it was. Dominant dogs typically keep their tails up high at all times, ears alert, eyes are eagerly focused, they never lick the mouths of other dogs, work at trying to mount them fairly often, repeatedly stare at them and always win the staring contest, repeatedly irritate the other dog in little ways, attempt to hold a paw or place its head on the other dog's back or head in a proprietary manor or make's other dogs back off or leave the area in subjection, moves into their space or crowds them(dogs usually hate this from a dominant dog) or heads them off when they want to do something, act jealously if anyone shows another dog attention, works fast to always go first ahead of the other dog, guards the toys/resources and even shows teeth, growls, barks or nips if he senses a breech of his authority. You know a dominant dog when you see it. They are definitely dogs on a mission to intimidate and not actually play with the other dog but send a message!!!

Maybe I'm wrong and not having seen them I probably am, but that other little dog sounds like it acted like a rambunctious, fun-loving puppy which never seriously challenged Wallee's actual authority with true dominant-like behavior or likely Wallee would have flexed up on it like he does with Summer. Dogs will accept a lot from a dog who acts puppyish, even a dog that playfully jumps up on them, irritates them, accepting growling or nipping gestures, knowing they don't mean it and of course, depending entirely upon the dog's friendly body language.

For the time being, Wallee probably sees Summer's trying to move in close on walks as an attempt to dominate or crowd him - move into his space/head him off and will take some time to accept she thinks she's just as important as he feels he is. Most dogs don't need or want to walk very closely to other dogs and normally keep some space between themselves during the walk out of respect. I'd begin to try to stop that behavior in her. In time, they should define their roles and each take an alpha role in different things if they can coexist in peace.

[Wallee]

Thanks once again Jeanie. I believe you are right about how Anyah behaved. She is a little younger than Wallee and her behaviour was very puppy like. Wallee tends to behave like that as well when he is around that type of personality. I was also offered another yorkie from the breeder Summer came from who was young and puppy like however when I was told she had signs of LP I had second thoughts. The breeder thought Summer would be better for Wallee because of her calm nature. I sure hope the day comes that these 2 will learn to play like that. Interesting you mentioned the paw thing as I have a neighbor who has a Nova Scotia Duck Toler. We have walked the dogs together since they were both pups and she has always put her foot over Wallee. I thought it was play although have always heard Wallee growl when she does it so I have pulled him away from her. I refuse to let them play off leash because of her size. I learned that outside play, size does matter. When I had 3 lb Anyah here playing with 13 lb Wallee, inside the house was fine. But outside he got running one time and ended up dragging her between his legs as he ran. I almost had heart failure over her tiny legs and that was the last outside play.

[yorkietalkjilly]

=Wallee;4434979]Thanks once again Jeanie. I believe you are right about how Anyah behaved. She is a little younger than Wallee and her behavior was very puppy like. Wallee tends to behave like that as well when he is around that type of personality. I was also offered another yorkie from the breeder Summer came from who was young and puppy like however when I was told she had signs of LP I had second thoughts. The breeder thought Summer would be better for Wallee because of her calm nature. I sure hope the day comes that these 2 will learn to play like that. Interesting you mentioned the paw thing as I have a neighbor who has a Nova Scotia Duck Toler. We have walked the dogs together since they were both pups and she has always put her foot over Wallee. I thought it was play although have always heard Wallee growl when she does it so I have pulled him away from her. I refuse to let them play off leash because of her size. I learned that outside play, size does matter. When I had 3 lb Anyah here playing with 13 lb Wallee, inside the house was fine. But outside he got running one time and ended up dragging her between his legs as he ran. I almost had heart failure over her tiny legs and that was the last outside play.

A playful foot placed on another dog or mounting in playful glee is one thing but the proprietary, possessive foot placed on another dogs back, rump or head to send a definite message usually riles up other alpha dogs when it is tried on them and usually they take ready exception to it.

That visual of Wallee running and dragging Anyah sounds like a heartstopper! It does sound like they get along very well and have a lot of fun together. Here's hoping he and Summer come to something similar with a meeting of the paws and work out a comfortable arrangement that can accommodate each of their strong wills!