How can I get my puppy to stop it?!!?

Question

I have two very small American Eskimo/Pom puppies. Tuffy is 6 months old and Sassy is 5 months old. Sassy weighs two pounds more than Tuffy, so she usually wins any disagreements they may have. She takes away whatever she wants from Tuffy. She'll bite his rear, hind leg and has caused injury to the point of me having to take Tuffy to the vet for some anti-inflammatories. This is the third time it's happened.

Is there any thing I can do? I asked my vet, and she said to watch them closely, so Sassy doesn't two it again. Well, how am I supposed to do that? I can't sit there and watch them all day long. Is there any way I can teach Sassy that what she's doing in not acceptable? She knows what she's doing ... as she always targets the same "weak" hind leg. :(

Answer 1

Yes there are some things you can do to help the situation. First off what they are doing is having issues as to who is boss between them and Sassy is acting like an over bossy dictator. The way you stop it is for you to let Sassy, and Tuffy, know YOU are the one in charge. Since Sassy has made Tuffy the lowest of the low, the outcast so to speak, you are going to raise Tuffy's position a little in the pecking order, at the same time taking top position yourself. You own everything..the toys, the food, the room, the yard, everything. In order to communicat this, from now never allow either of them to enter a room ahead of you or go out into the yard ahead of you. Even if you don't intend to stay outdoors with them, still take those first steps out ahead of them (now you own the yard) and make them wait. Then say OK, and only then allow them out the door. Do this every time you enter a room, get in the car, walk out the door..you go first. Since Tuffy is the one who needs his status elevated some in the pecking order, allow Tuffy out the door ahead of Sassy. In dog speak, whoever enters first is the one who has territory rights and you, being the human, should be the one with those rights. When they come back indoors same thing, allow Tuffy in the door first. Hopefully they both know the commands down and stay, so find a room you where you can have them lay down in opposite corners, again making sure you enter first, then Call Tuffy in ahead of Sassy. Hand each a toy (Tuffy 1st) and put them in a down/stay where you would like. The minute Sassy goes after Tuffy's toy you say, loudly and very firmly, NO! Take her back to the spot you told her to lay down at and say STAY. Every time she gets up repeat. Put a leash on her if you have to and if she keeps challenging you, banish her from the room. After all you own the room and the toys, you're the one in charge and it's your choice who is allowed to stay, so put her in a down/stay just outside the room. By now you should have her attention. You might even see the wheels turning in her head rethinking the situation. GOOD! You have just shown her, in terms which she will understand very easily, exactly who is in charge, and it isn't her. When it's time to feed the dogs bring them in, put them in a sit/stay and give Tuffy his food first. You are not upsetting the apple cart here or encouraging more fighting. At each and every sign Sassy shows that she's acting the dictator you are going to step in and remind her you are the boss with a correction. At no time do you allow yourself to lose your temper. A strong, good, and fair leader is never an angry one. Keep the words simple, no for corrections, good girl for good behavior. And I might add praise is just as important as corrections, it's positive reinforcement, don't forget to use it.

These are a couple very simple things you can do and I learned them from a dog behaviorist. Long story, but I adopted a dog who aparently never was allowed to socialize with other dogs or puppies when she was little. Her behavior really stumped me, I'd never come across a dog who hadn't even been around their own litter mates. This will take a little time for you to get her behaving differently, but stick to it and be consistant and it will go a long way towards helping. At least it did for me and my dog. GL

P.S. If I think of anything else she had me do I'll add it. Sorry, but it was a bit of a while ago...

Answer 2

Put a barking collar on her when she does it push the button only she hears it, they don't like the shrill noise. It also makes her quit barking if you need. Then say no, that's a no no." If" she starts to listen then give her a treat for not attacking. only her though the other in private.
And tell her now that's a good girl Be nice to your sister or brother.Every time she does it hit the button again she'll dream about that button. I even dabbed hot sauce on my
one receiving the jaws the attacker didn't like it at all STOPPED along with the barking collar button. Happy two some now.Good luck.

Answer 3

I would suggest that when she shows any signs of violence towards him, firmly say NO and really get on to her. Like one of the other comments had said, she is trying to establish dominance. This is true, but instead of her being the so called "pack leader", you need to be. Let her know that this isn't going to be going on and it will not be tolerated. Taking away her toys, etc. only probably will make her more mad and she will not link this to her aggression towards Tuffy. I have never tried this, but it seems like it would work--Get a spray bottle and fill it up with water and whenever she starts to instigate a fight, spray her in the face. It wouldn't be able to hurt her and but she will not enjoy it. Good luck!

Answer 4

Sassy is obviously the alpha dog.... so she is going to get what she wants period. You need to make Your Self the alpha dog!

Consult with an animal behaviorist. They do know how to teach the techniques you need to correct incorrect behavior of a dog...

Answer 5

You have to train the dog that's misbehaving. keep a water bottle close by and when you see the bad doggie acting up, squirt him. She will associate that every time she does that thing, she's going to get squirted. Since she won't like it, she'll stop, but it will take a little time.

Answer 6

Spray the back legs of the victim dog with something dogs dont like the taste of but is safe to use. There has to be someting out there for dogs that bite at their own skin from allergies and such.

Answer 7

Fill a jar 1/4 with pennies. Everytime Sassy starts, throw the jar of pennies to the ground near her (NOT at her) or shake it strongly near her and firmly say NO. This should discourage her.

Answer 8

Well.. if you can't keep them from fighting when you aren't watching them.. Then you'll need to separate them.. Put away the bad one.. You can't allow her to keep doing that to the other puppy.. It's not fair to him, and you are allowing / teaching her to be nasty.. When you are too busy to watch them, crate one or put up a baby gate or something.. Don't let her dominate the other puppy, or else you end up with him turning very nasty and getting dog aggressive, or he will become fearful and skittish.. Don't allow it!

Answer 9

Take them to obedience class! The pups will learn valuable skills, and you will learn tips on how to control them. There's a real chance for you to bond with your pups in a class, too. You'll have healthier, happier dogs, and your life will be a TON easier for it, too.

Answer 10

well, somtimes, you have to dissepline your dogs. some dogs are different, some will understand if you yell at them. or u could just squirt some water so she will understand that wut she is doing is wrong. if she is attacking tuffy, then grab him, and do one of those things i sayed. i am not a dog expert, but sometimes, my dog understands when i do that to him.