Puppy & Older dog

[Rori]

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Hello - I've recently run into a problem with my older dog and puppy getting into fights. In the beginning they got along fine & their interactions never turned into the full blown fights that have become a recent problem. My older dog (14, pushing 15) has had arthritis for a while now & it has recently turned into instances when her back leg locks up in the middle of doing a chin or behind the ear scratch. When this happens she'll whine and this is when my puppy starts fights. The puppy pounces on my older dog, growling not in the playful manner when she does with toys or other dogs. This quickly turns into a fight between the two and I'm really not sure what to do to prevent this. I try my best to catch my puppy before she can pounce whilst helping my older dog, but unfortunately the puppy often moves quicker then me. Asides from these instances the two of them get along fine and play together. Please, if anyone has any suggestions or ideas I would really appreciate it.

Thank you,

 

[JoanneF]

If it's predictable, happening when your older dog's legs lock during petting, can you do that when the puppy is out?

It might be a good idea to get some baby gates and room dividers, and make sure you don't leave the two together unsupervised in case anything starts when you are not there

 

[Hemlock]

I agree. This is serious and likely to end in a badly damaged or dead dog. Animals, including us, are programmed to take out the sick and weak, so your pup is following something instinctive that he can't help, and your old dog knows it. I'm not gussying this information up because it's all too easy for owners to think "Oh they wouldn't do that" because dogs are animals first and pets a long time after. Now this means extra work for you, but saves something happening that will distress you terribly. From now on, never leave them alone together, and if pup shows the first sign of ramping up excitement levels, separate them each behind a different barrier and give each something calming to do, such as a stuffed kong or a puzzle mat.