I have a little Whippet who regardless of whether she wants the toy / chew or not will refuse to let my other dog enjoy it. She barks at him until he walks away! Or she steals it and sits on it so he can't have it. Any helpful suggestions?
2006-12-30 07:10:08 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Dogs
Its really difficult to watch your dogs seemingly not getting on like this. However, you shouldn't worry too much. Your whippet feels that she needs to keep reasserting her place in the pack - over your other dog - by controling the toys and chews. This is exactly what my adult retriever does with my puppy. He piles up all the goodies and growls ferociously if the puppy comes near. The puppy persists and sometimes is brave enough to pinch one back but generally he respects the older dogs authority and waits until he is finished hoarding!
The problem is that if you interfere and try and share the toys etc out again, you are undermining the whippet and make it necessary for her to keep reasserting herself over the other dog in this way.
The best course of action is to ignore the behaviour. It is up to them to sort out who has what place in the pack- so long as they understand that you are at the top of course! Once they sort out their places there won't be any violence or nastiness, although one dog may have to occasionally let the other know the order of things as your whippet is doing.
Just leave her to it - if she gets agressive, remove the toys and put them away - otherwise she is just communicating with your other dog in dog language. Your other dog won't be hurt or upset by this and probably only wants the toy she is hoarding because she has it anyway!
Doggy politics!
2006-12-30 09:21:10 · answer #1 · answered by PetLover 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
show that u are the dominant one so wen u say stop u mean it. but right now it could just them trying to figure out the pecking order and one dog just doesnt want to back down. it happens. just give each there own time seperate like put one dog outside while the is in getting attention and switch they both dont feel left out and maybe they just need timealone and seperate to just play and not worry about the other. try baby gates so thye can see eachother and sniff eachother but at the same time they bothe have the same amount of room and can do what they want. pretty soon they will want to be togehter. my dogs started the same way and now they r insepreable
2006-12-30 07:49:28 · answer #2 · answered by rockergrl202 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Show your dominance, stay between the two when the whippet acts up. You need to show your in charge, she thinks she's the alpha. When she barks tell her no, and be calm all the time showing your dominance. It will take a bit but it will work.
2006-12-30 07:13:34 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Give them both a 'treat', then make a fuss of the whippet while they are both enjoying their treats. Alternatively, separate them for a while but it is really better if they are together.
2006-12-30 07:20:49 · answer #4 · answered by barrie w 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Don't.. they will handle it themselves. I have 3 dogs, 2 bigger ones, and one little Yorkie.. the Yorkie holds her own haha. funny to watch.. but (at least with my 3 dogs) they work it out. But I suppose if you have vicious breeds... this may not work.... just like kids.. when my kids fought.. let them work it out.. I only get involved if necessary
2006-12-30 07:25:02 · answer #5 · answered by tootsie38 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Leave them alone - they're working it out! These are dogs, not kindergarden age kids who need someone to work out all their problems!
2006-12-30 08:22:57 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
I have the same problem with my dogs. All you can really do is keep them separate.
2006-12-30 07:12:09 · answer #7 · answered by 22sa 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
give them both one at the same time
2006-12-30 07:11:35 · answer #8 · answered by smokeyphoenix1 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
knock some guts into it with a stout piece of wood or a knotted rope
2006-12-30 07:12:19 · answer #9 · answered by Troubled Joe(the ghost of) 6 · 0⤊ 6⤋
yes shoot it in the head
2006-12-30 07:25:03 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 7⤋