Why does my 8 month old female "attack" my 18 month old male when I try to tease HER into playing with me?

Question

I tease my pup by saying, "I'm gonna get ya!" and I go towards her with my hands out reached. The only response I get from her is that she runs and POUNCES on my 18 month old male.

I want to play with her but all she wants to do is run after him and jump on the back of his neck..

Answer 1

For starters, get your hands out of the picture. She's reading that the wrong way. To her, you aren't playing, you are acting aggressively and training her to act the wrong way towards anyone with a set of hands heading in her direction. This could cause big problems later on. Try using a toy instead, if you're really trying to play, like for tug of war or to engage her attention so you can tickle her chest or rump. Then she'll like "I'm gonna get ya!" She can figure out that toys are cool, as opposed to someone in a crouch lunging at her. What exactly is it you expect from her? You say you "tease" her. Teasing is obnoxious, between humans or animals, and doesn't make friends. She doesn't know how to react to you, so she runs to someone that's a little bit safer. Good luck.

Answer 2

try another game! :)

she's not getting this one, and may be a bit intimidated by being 'threatened', even in jest.

mugging Ur older M is just a way of deflecting her energy, and Ur focus, onto the other dog. and it's probably not too welcome for Ur male pup, who's getting harassed by the younger pup.

at 8 mos, she should have better manners: jumping on his neck/shoulders is a dominance display, and one of these days, the M dog will decide he's too adult and dignified to tolerate this nonsense anymore.

then she'll get tagged, and it may be just a warning, a growl, air-snap, or mouthing, OR... he might get really irritated, and simply bite her.

she needs to learn that mugging her elder is not a good thing. if he won't stop her, U need to - before her M target takes things into his own paws...

or teeth.

try fetch, chase games with a fishing-pole toy, chase-and-kill games with things that can be destroyed [cardboard 'balls'], sturdy, chew-resistant chase toys like bumpers of solid rubber, etc...

Answer 3

She sees this as a sign of aggression, The gesture to her means attack and that is what she does. Either that or when you excite her to play her first instinct is play with other pet, aggressively.

Answer 4

Females are more territorial than males. She's just leting him know that it is her that you want, not him. Give them both awhile, they will adjust. In the meantime, try to do things with both of them together.

Answer 5

she just wants to play...

BUT when i was born, my mother gave away her dogs. you should, unless you love it sooooo much you actually french kiss with it. incase you baby gets asthma, you could give it away for a few months until your baby is around 2? your baby will be happy to have a dog around the house.