Advice Please

[melanie]

Join our free community today.

Connect with other like-minded dog lovers!

Login or Register

HELP

over the past few days iv noticed that rupert(9 months) is snapping at charlie (5 months) he dosent snap at the girls at all but he has snapped at alfie(20 month lab) for the first time yesterday. it is when hes got a toy or a chew hes not just going round snapping at them but today he made charlies nose bleed and i did tell rupert off and put him and the toy outside while i cleaned poor charlie up, the worst of it was that charlie didnt try and take the toy he just went to lie down next to rupert. :angry: he was quite shaken up poor thing :unsure:

so first of all am i right to tell rupert off?

second, will this phase pass?

and third, would it be a good idea to have some pens built as at the moment all 6 dogs live in the house full time with a dogflap so they go in and out as they please. rupert is a very loving dog and i cant believe he is doing this, i was so upset thie morning i could have cried.

are you supposed to let one dog be boss? as far as im concerned im the boss and what i say go's, but what when im not here

PLASE HELP :sweating:

would just like to say that they have loads of toys and that when they have treats i either sit and watch them or shut rupert outside, and they are all walked everyday.

so what am i doing wrong

 

[Janimal]

Hope you get it sorted Melanie - I worried about this when I got Kobi - but so far everythings been ok. Alfyn (Debbie) is a good person for advice on here - shes given me a lot of advice on the barking problem I had with Oscar.

Im sure thee are lots of other people on K9 with multiple dogs to help out :thumbsup:

Im sure it will be a passing phase and some jealousy arising.

 

[JAX]

Its right you are top dog , but as you say , what do you do when you are out . for starters I wouldnt leave any toys about for them to fall out over , can you separate them when you arnt there ?

One dog does ( in theory ) have to be top after us humans , and in theory you should let them sort out who it will be , Its no good telling off the `top` dog and making a fuss of the `bottom` dog , ( as much as that is what we all want to do ) that will only confuse matters .

Charlie will learn his place is at the bottom and hopefully he wont retaliate (sp)

Im afraid that is the drawback of having dogs of a very similar age , No set Top dog or mature dog is there already . :b

For years Mayzee was `top` dog . but now shes an old lady :wub: she has relinquished it , to a mixture of Fleur , Buffee and sometimes Mollee , Cant wait for Libbee to start . Mikkee s` not bothered either way Oh the joys of being a multiple household :huggles:

 

[melanie]

thanks jax :thumbsup:

was starting to think no-body was going to offer any advice

at the moment i cant separate them but after speaking to you about pens at that show i think OH will sort it out.

after that yesterday everything was fine, they were sleeping together :blink: :lol:

and yes thats a good idea to remove all toys, but is that for good or just when i go out :unsure: :wacko:

think poor charlie has learnt the hard way where his place is bless him :wub:

 

[JAX]

Just when you got out , remove toys and any food that might be about , specially chews , eg pigs ears and stuff .

 

[Veredon]

I would definately agree with everything Jax has said.A few weeks ago we had a massive problem with Our Holly...we had pups in the household and they were just finding their feet.Holly became Ultra Dominant and really started to push her luck with the other dogs.I suppose she thought that Pups were a threat to her being top dog, and she just went silly about fighting for toys/chews/etc.We did just like Jax says....didn't leave toys lying around,fed the dogs separately (so they couldn't fight over food) were very carefull which dogs we let exercise together etc.I think its just a question of Management IMO.Now the two pups we decided to Keep (Connor & Ruby) have joined the pack as it were,and they know who's top dog things are very much back to normal.The pups play with Holly now and Holly plays with them...but they know how far they can push her.Its just like any other 'Pack' animal...when a new face arrives there inevitably is some distruption.

Anyway heres a pic of my First Whippet...The very Loved and very Spoilt Holly...

 

[melanie]

awwww shes lovely russ :wub: :wub:

and thank you and jax for the advice :thumbsup:

i dont really go out much (sad i know) just to the horses in the morn and in the eve OH is here, but did pick every toy up this morn. they do seem fine now but i'll keep an eye on them. :cheers: :cheers: