Things are calm for 5 mins then the JR growls at the GR who puts up with it for a while then growls back. Then all Hell breaks loose & I have to put them in separate rooms. Has anyone got any advice please?!
2006-11-13 03:15:32 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Dogs
is your JR neutered? It is highly unusual for an older dog to attack a puppy since instinctively the puppy has a smell about it which is a bite inhibitor. At the moment your JR is dominant as he is the oldest. But as time goes on, the retriever will be dominant since it is female and will be bigger. Don't keep seperating them as things won't get any better. If you would like to email me I may be able to talk you through things.
You can pay the JR more attention now but as the retriver grows up, she will be dominant since b1tches are always dominant over dogs. Your JR will recognise this and whatever you do, do not treat them as equals. This is how fights start as the naturally dominant one keeps having to reinforce it's natural instinctive position.
I have 8 dogs, all ages, both sexes, most neutered some not. Not one of them will fight. Firstly because I am a very strong minded dominant person (alpha bltch) and secondly because I understand and respect pack heirachy. Unilke human children, subservient dogs are actually happy in their position because they are the ones who have no responsibility and will be protected and in the wild, fed, by the ones higher up in pack dominance.
Pack heirachy is very complicated, very interesting and will help keep the peace. However, heirachy will not stay the same, as dogs mature, get bigger, grow older, heirachy can change.I would do some reading about this subject and put it into practice. There are not many people with a pack of 8 dogs, who can empty a sack of raw beef bones in the yard and not have dogs fighting over them. I can!
2006-11-13 04:19:18 · answer #1 · answered by fenlandfowl 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Your JR is male and I'm assuming - although you haven't said - but has been on his own for 4yrs with you're undivided attention.
You have just tipped his life upside down without realising it! All of a sudden there is someone else to share you affection, and at 10 weeks old will be getting a lot more attention due to house training, obedience, etc.
Also, this GR is going to get alot bigger and the JR is going to feel intimidated. So is going to make it know from the start that he's the boss - even though he's small he will want to get across he's the gaffa!!! JR's have a tendency to be bossy around other dogs. While GR's like labradors are socialites that's why the GR is putting up with the growling for so long before kicking off too.
All I can suggest is if you want to keep them both - which I'm assuming you do - is to take it one step at a time and give then short times together and as soon as the aggression or growling starts seperate them. Don't make a "meal" of the seperating though as the JR may see this as the only time it's getting some attention from you (albeit bad attention) is when he's doing this.
STEP - BY - STEP, a little at a time.
Alternatively seek the advice of a dog trainer or behaviourist.
2006-11-13 03:25:57 · answer #2 · answered by smoking_gremlin 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Wow thats a plucky little Golden Retriever you have there!!
Ideally, you should let the older dog do what he wants to put the puppy in his place. Its far better that your JR teaches him his doggy manners rather than the local thug in the park and it sounds as if this GR needs some doggy manners!
Growling, snarling, snapping and pushing with shoulders are all ok doggy threats and warnings - its only when teeth are used or the snapping actually is biting (dogs who snap miss on purpose trust me!) and you think one will harm the other that you need to intervene. The only way to stop aggressive behaviour between dogs is to seperate them but I suspect that this is not real aggression and that given time and space, they will both settle down. Don't give either dog more attention and don't let your JR get the upper hand over you by demanding treats or games etc as this will worsen his short temper with the pup.
Finally, pups are notorious play actors. If your JR snaps at him because he is being frankly rude in dog world, it is like that the pup will make a huge amount of noise and wimper and limp etc etc when he hasn't even been touched. Don't fall for it. Just call your JR away and give him a treat for obeying you. This will defuse the situation.
It may take several weeks for them to settle but they will eventually, just be patient and don't think that the gorgeous little GR pup is all innocent!
2006-11-13 04:05:40 · answer #3 · answered by PetLover 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It can take a couple of weeks for things to settle down when you introduce a new dog.
I had an elderly b**ch when I got a new pup and my b**ch just didn't take to the pup at all although the pup was desperate to play with the old dog.
I kept them separate for a while by providing 'safe' places that my old dog could get to but the pup couldn't. I absolutely did not allow the pup to harass the other dog which meant that I had to spend a lot of time with the pup to keep it amused.
The old dog got extra attention as well and was being taken out on her own because the pup was too young.
Things got better when I was able to take the pup out with the older one but, in my case, it took about six weeks before my old one acknowledged that the pup was here to stay.
I had to go through the whole thing again when I got other young pups as the older my b**ch got the less tolerant she became.
However she came round to all of them eventually but I certainly would never have allowed things to get to a state where 'all Hell breaks loose'!
If you allow the Goldie to irritate your Jack Russell he might never get to a stage where he will tolerate her and you definitely want to avoid any situation where a pup of ten weeks has to start defending itself against an older dog!
I realise that your Jack Russell is only four years old but it can be very difficult for a dog of any age to cope with a puppy. You should be encouraging the puppy to interact with you rather than the other dog and giving your Jack Russell his own space and plenty of attention as well.
It makes no difference that they are male and female. I have a male and three females and they all get on fine and I'm sure yours will if you don't let things get so heated.
P.S. I've just been having a look at a couple of your answers - Jenny S is wrong. There is no way a 10 week old pup can 'take care of itself' against a 4 year old dog. Your Jack Russell is capable of killing your puppy. You would also be encouraging aggression in your pup allowing it to fight at such an early age.
A couple of people have mentioned dominance and submission - this has nothing to do with the situation. Your Jack Russell is probably irritated by the attention of the pup and hence the growling. The pup is too young and silly to leave him alone and back off and so you get problems.
2006-11-13 03:40:15 · answer #4 · answered by DogDoc 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's early days yet and there is a big age difference between the two. The Golden Retriever is a bouncy pup just now and the Jack Russel can't be bothered with all that. Also the Jack Russel will be letting her know it's his house and he's the boss. Don't worry it will settle down and they will fit in to their roles. The advantage is they are male and female and the female will soon realise that the male is not going to put up with her puppy nonsense. Just watch them for a while and let them work it out, obviously don't let a fight happen, be stern with them when you need to. I had this problem with my dog when she was a pup. I would take her to my mum's who has a 10 yr old dog, my mum's dog gave her a small nip to tell her to back off and after that there was no problems. It is early days and your pup is still settling in to her new life but I am sure it will work out fine. Keep them apart when you are not there though.
2006-11-13 03:27:09 · answer #5 · answered by koolkatt 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The jack Russel is most probably growling because it feels that the new retriever is taking away it's affection. It should get better but they need to get used to each other.
One thing for definite though any time you stroke the retriever make sure you stroke the JR. The JR needs to know the GR is not a threat but an equal. Hope it sorts itself soon for you.
2006-11-13 03:19:49 · answer #6 · answered by born2survive 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Jack Russells are veeeery territorial dogs. So, this new dog is in his territory, so he's trying establish dominance over her. What you need to do is re-introduce them in a non-claimed environment...like up the street, or someplace where neither dogs are very familiar. Dogs meet eachother with their nose. The first thing dogs should do when meeting other dogs is sniff their butts to learn eachother's scent. Since the JR starts the aggression usually, you should let the GR sniff the JR first, then vice versa. Hold the one being sniffed so they don't have a choice but to let the other sniff them. Dogs travel in packs. So, to help them bond with eachother, try and take them on a walk together. Make sure YOU are leading the walk or else, they will be battling for pack leader position the whole time. Then, walk them back into your home together. That way, the JR will have gotten used to the GR, so when you walk them into the house together, the JR will be welcoming the GR
2006-11-13 03:43:27 · answer #7 · answered by AJailah T 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
You're doing well but just introduce them slowly as Jack Russells are very territorial. I don't want to scare you I had a Jack Russell who ate a Lurcher pup cos it didn't take to it (broke my heart) so do as you're doing and keep them separate unless you're with them. They may bond eventually if you show the Jack Russell he's not left out and give him plenty of fuss. The pup needs a lot of attention too so it's hard work but can be done if done right. Good luck and all the best :-)
2006-11-13 03:23:58 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
JR is JEALOUS of the new puppy. Do NOT allow him to do that.
Check out the Dog Whisperer on National Geographic TV
The Dog Whisperer is awesome and has a way with animals. Be calm, assertive and stick to the rules you set. You are the pack leader not the JR.
2006-11-13 08:53:22 · answer #9 · answered by MANDYLBH 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They are getting used to each other the jr feeling that the gr is taking it spot in the house break them together gentle and it will sort it self out good luck
2006-11-13 22:50:19 · answer #10 · answered by sharon h 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋