Have a 9 yo Shepherd x Malamute and have just bought an 8wk old pup, same cross, both are F. After having both dogs for just over a week, they are just starting to play together (both on leads so we can control them). The 9yo is getting more interested in playing however have noticed that she in becoming rougher in play and tries to lay on top of the pup. She has also started to try to bite or pick up the pup by the scruff of the neck. We are guessing that laying on the pup is to try to stop the pup from attacking/biting her however we have no idea about the scruff biting.
9 yo was desexed about 6 mths ago due to medical reasons and she has only socialised with 2 other dogs since we got her at about 9 mths old, both other dogs M. One dog was a cross (around medium poodle size) who we visited regularly, the other was a blue heeler who she lived with for about 4 yrs.
Is the scruff biting some sort of mother instinct, a controlling reaction or is she asserting her dominance?
2007-05-09
22:07:07
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8 answers
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asked by
hocten
1
in
Dogs