We bought a puppy about 2 months(now she is 4 months) ago and we decided to buy another one just now, because we wanted her to have a playmate so she wont fell lonely. When we bought the new puppy home they started to wrestle and growl at each other. The new puppy is the size of my palm and the other is large compared to the other.I dont know if it is a sign of jeaousy or what? We put the older one in time out every time we find out she is trying to bite him. Should we buy like a mussle thing to go over her mouth or .......? Any suggestions to try get the puppies to stop play fighting in a harsh manner and just get along? (They are German short haired Pointers)
She doesn't really bite its just for play, but she does not know she is way bigger then him and by her biting him it hurts him
2007-07-02 04:56:36 · 15 answers · asked by Swee' Tea 3 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Congrats on your new puppies! They are such a joy. When puppy's play in this manner it helps them know how hard is too hard to bite. So when she comes to nibble on you she will know how hard is too hard! You should not punish the older puppy by putting her in time out. She might become more jealous of the new puppy if you do so. Also 4 months it too young to mussel. She is in a very impressionable stage of puppy life. Teach her the right way not with a mussel. If she is not breaking skin or drawing blood it is just puppy play. However there is something you can try. It is a bittering spray that is sold at most pet supply stores. Spray it on the little guy and when she bites him it will taste very bitter! It should make her not want to chew on him as much. Good luck!!!
2007-07-02 05:05:21 · answer #1 · answered by Meadows Momma 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I know just what your going through!!! I had puppies that were 5 and 6 months. Then I brought home a 18 month and 2 month! Talk about crazy!
They play fight all the time and sometimes they get a bit rough. I've had to just sit back and monitor it all. I make a sharp noise when I notice play is getting out of hand. They all perk up and mellow out a bit. The 2 month old has learned to hold her own though. Never underestimate the power of puppy teeth!!!
When they are at play, make sure they are in your presence or somebody responsible. They will figure out what kind of play is fun for them and they will get along great! They're puppies! When you're going to be away from them you might want to separate them until the new puppy is older.
Good luck!!
2007-07-02 05:06:16 · answer #2 · answered by infamoushoax 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We adopted a 6.5 week old border collie a few months ago. At the time, our Lab was 4 months old and about 6 times her size. They played really rough ALL THE TIME and both of them loved it (and they still do). If one of the dogs is bitten too hard, the other one will yelp which means "back off." If the small one keeps coming back for more, it means they are having fun:) Don't put your older puppy on time out, its not doing anything wrong. Also, how old is your new puppy? A german short haired pointer should be MUCH larger than your palm...
2007-07-02 05:49:36 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Get used to it. It is not just a puppy thing. I have three dogs, a 9 year old Chi/Rat Terrier, a 5 year old Beagle and a 4 1/2 year old APBT. It is a daily thing for the Beagle and the Pit to run through the house biting legs and ears with the Chi running behind barking. This goes on until I have had enough and say "Enough" then they stop. None of them has ever been hurt. It is they play rough. If there is never blood drawn don't worry about it. I think it is cute. It is pack behavior. Who is the top dog? It turns out to me when I tell them, enough.
Have fun.
2007-07-02 17:52:36 · answer #4 · answered by Tin Can Sailor 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This sounds like normal puppy play. They growl and they bite, but they also understand the size difference and don't apply so much bite pressure that someone gets hurt. If someone goes too far, the other will yelp and break away from the session. In fact, the play growl, loud as it is, is not the same an as an aggressive growl. It sounds a little different.
Don't discourage them and don't worry. They're having fun and learning about each other. Expect it to continue their entire lives.
2007-07-02 05:03:37 · answer #5 · answered by ? 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Puppy play is normally harmless. The only time that it isn't play is when you hear yelping. You will know the difference. It will sound like someone stepped on a tail or paw. Otherwise its just play. If you still are worried, then join in the play. Take a rope or old sock and play tug-o-war. Encourage gentle play like that and stop play for rough. As they get older, they play may get more gentle or not. If you join in the play, the pups will realize that gentle play you will encourage. At such a delicate age, it is crucial that you teach them gentle play. Hope that was helpful.
2007-07-02 05:41:55 · answer #6 · answered by anita44335 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
People love their dogs and hate to see their precious puppies hurt. I know it's one thing to say "let them playfight" and QUITE another to actually do it.
I was at an off-leash park this weekend and my dog (20 month old mutt) became a 7 month old heeler puppy's chew toy. The heeler would grab my dog by the scruff of her neck and play tug of war and shake. The puppy's owner and I were watching in case we had to jump in, but my dog would start to run. Eventually I think she figured out that she didn't have to put up with it, but this was after being literally pushed around for some time. She never yelped, though, or whined, so we figured she was okay. She has yelped when playing with other dogs, so she knows it's an option.
Some dogs play rougher than others, but a play bow, as someone has described before, indicates that they don't intend to kill each other. Most of the time, dogs just want to play rather than all-out fight. It sounds fine to me - especially with your dogs so young, to let them play fight. Make sure you're watching, however, in case things get out of hand.
Good luck!
2007-07-02 05:27:24 · answer #7 · answered by a gal and her dog 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
look for the signs of aggressive behavior like hair standing up or no tail wagging. That is a sign of threat. If the puppies bend down like they are bowing, both front paws down with their back ends up, then that's a sign of playfulness. The bigger pup just might not know how much playfulness is too much. Just keep an eye on them and eventually the bigger pup will learn!
2007-07-02 05:02:06 · answer #8 · answered by Adrianne H 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I just took my puppy to go on a play date with a friend of mines puppy. Dogs naturally play aggressively. I was worried at first to but no harm was done. Just keep an eye on them when they play. Puppies need to play with each other. If a puppy is well socialized with other puppies then it will be less apt to bite and show aggression towards people.
2007-07-02 05:00:28 · answer #9 · answered by ♥JeSs♥ 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
normally it is just playing, but the bigger puppy prob doesnt even know his own strength, and might end up hurting the palm puppy. try seperating them for a while.
2007-07-02 05:04:40 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋