My dogs got a bad attitude.

[Annetty1]

Its absolutely ages since ive been on here, been so busy just dont seem to have the time much but hope everyone is good!

Could do with a bit of advice about one of my dogs, some of you may recall I fostered and then went on to adopt my GSD Lola at age 11 months, I already had a 5 month old, (Jess) anyway they really get on brilliantly but Lola is such a patient dog she puts up with so much from Jess who is very hyper and always on the go.

The problem is recently how Jess behaves when out with Lola, she keeps attacking her (by this I mean running at her, barging into her, growling and biting her neck) its not nice to see and we always try to stop this behaviour but as you can image when they are running free on the field we are not always to hand. If Jess is on the field first and Lola then comes on, she goes for her straight away, poor Lola runs into the hedge to escape, and the body language says it all, Lola skulks with her head down till Jess goes away. This also happens in the house, sometimes when Lola comes into the room Jess does the same, i feel so sorry for the lovely Lola cos she is so sweet and tolerant, she has on only a couple of occasions told Jess off and gone back at her as she must be so fed up with this happening. I know Jess is trying to be alpha female but why when they are out running about does she continue to do this, Lola never challenges her, she could if she wanted to she is bigger and stronger than Jess and could overpower her but she is not that way and basically just wants a peaceful life, im taking a tin with stones out tonight to see if that works when she goes to bite her, it worked with her mouthing when she was a puppy so its a long shot, would appreciate any advice as to why she doing this and how i can stop it.

On the whole they get on great they cuddle up at night and play all the time its just sometimes im not feeling the lurrrvvve! lol

Thanks so much all

Annette

[LOVEGSD]

Sounds like play but Lola doesn't want this level of boistrousness, have you tried walking them separately so both can enjoy a walk?

I think you just need to step up and tell Jess to 'leave' and allow Lola to enjoy her walks.

Don't despair though because it might not look nice but it really doesn't sound like aggression to me although without seeing it it's always hard to say 100%.

[claire_88]

Ah, puppy playtime at it's worst! Skye is a beast for this and like your Lola, titon only has so much patience!

Tbh i leave mine to it (outside), but as lola is clearly not enjoying it, i think i would be inclined to leash Jess on outside walks, maintain a firm command or re-direct her with a toy or some food. Regards to inside can you take her out the room each time she tries it on. When Skye wants to play in the house now, i can't allowing rough play because with tails and bodies flying around and bumping into everything it becomes a pain in the bum! so i make her lie down and stay, she is (luckily) at the point now where when i state what i want her to do she agrees and goes to sleep, but it took continuous room removals and stern words before she got the message.

[Annetty1]

Many thanks guys, yes i think you are right and it prob is just boisterous play, its Lola's reaction that does my head in more as i feel so sorry for her. Will continue to try to distract her, she was a bit better this morning as we really watched for it and told her off every time she went to do it, so hopefully she will get the message. I do plan on doing seperate walks its just that lack of light in the morning and evening when i get home from work is preventing me from going to the field on my own with one of the dogs, its pitch black so wouldnt like to do it alone, once we get the light back it will be easier for me to go out with just one of the dogs and hubby can take the other sepertately to give them a break from each other.

Cheers for your help

Annette xx

[DelsMum]

Jess sounds a bit like jerry lee in that respect. Luckily jack is always up for a good wrestling match but I often walk with my friends Bassett hounds who don't like to play like that. One of them literally screams before he has even got near her lol do you have a 'leave it' command? If I didn't nahla would spend all our walks laying on her back squealing like a stuck pig