Can't we all just get along?

mysweetkaos · 11-10-2011, 04:39 PM

Little background......
we have Kaos 9yrs
we have Sherman 7 months

So I let them both out to go potty. Stopped to watch out the picture window in kitchen. Couldn't believe it I saw Kaos dropping the ball at Tanks feet. I was so excited, they coexist fairly well.....but they do NOT play together, alongside each other yes, together? NO. So I stood and watched and well they weren't playing. Here is what was happening. Kaos would drop ball at Tanks feet, if Tank acted interested, Kaos immediately stepped into Tank and put his head over Tanks shoulder blades, until Tank backed away. So my giddiness was over quicker than it had begun. I called Kaos in, he immediately turned around and came inside. Now what? What should I do next time this happens? Could this be playful....or is Kaos being an ***?

**MaggieRoseLee** · 11-10-2011, 06:59 PM

I wouldn't leave them together unattended.

That way you can do what you did, step in to break up the tension.

Once (if) the 2 start fighting, you may have to crate/separate them for the rest of their lives. And leaving them alone together to 'sort things out on their own' does NOT always work. I know I always only have girl dogs, and when I add another I always crate if I can't be around until I really do know the dynamics between the dogs.

IF I'm around and showing them how to behave, then they behave well and learn to behave well. If I instead leave them to sort it out, and it turns out badly then I only have myself to blame.

BTW, hopefully you are exercising the heck out of both of them, off leash. So alot of the stress and anxiety that may be occuring quietly works out that way.

HAVE YOU PURCHASED AND VIEWED the DVD 'Calming Signals' by Turid Rugaas? There's tons of information showing us what dogs do quietly all the time and we 'stupid humans' miss it. But we see the BIG FIGHTS when it's too late!

BARNES & NOBLE | Calming Signals: What Your Dog Tells You by Turid Rugaas | Multimedia

YOu want the DVD, not just the book. She really shows you with dog after dog what to look for.

codmaster · 11-11-2011, 01:09 AM

I got the DVD and found it very interesting and informative but also very hard to apply (probably because of my problem in seeing and interpreting the "signals" and body language of my pooch.

I.E. sniffing seems to be an important "calming" signal according to Turid but i found it hard to understand when it was a signal and when he was really just sniffing because there was something good to sniff on the ground.

Same with some other things like "looking away", etc. Did it always mean a calming signal or when did it just signify that he saw something to look at over there?

mysweetkaos · 11-11-2011, 08:01 AM

Thank you guys! I will look into that DVD. I talked to our vet last night at K's appt for his adequan. Her opinion was K is getting older and declining and he knows it. He is just making sure T still respects him. She said as long as there was no growling, snapping or things of that nature (there wasn't) to let it be. She said I did the right thing by calling K in for his nap and not putting any attention on the item (ball). She said basically just watch and always make sure to redirect K if he starts to look like he is getting annoyed.

11-10-2011, 04:39 PM	#1 (permalink)
mysweetkaos Elite Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: St Louis, MO Posts: 1,246	Can't we all just get along? Little background...... we have Kaos 9yrs we have Sherman 7 months So I let them both out to go potty. Stopped to watch out the picture window in kitchen. Couldn't believe it I saw Kaos dropping the ball at Tanks feet. I was so excited, they coexist fairly well.....but they do NOT play together, alongside each other yes, together? NO. So I stood and watched and well they weren't playing. Here is what was happening. Kaos would drop ball at Tanks feet, if Tank acted interested, Kaos immediately stepped into Tank and put his head over Tanks shoulder blades, until Tank backed away. So my giddiness was over quicker than it had begun. I called Kaos in, he immediately turned around and came inside. Now what? What should I do next time this happens? Could this be playful....or is Kaos being an ***?

11-10-2011, 06:59 PM	#2 (permalink)
MaggieRoseLee The Agility Rocks! Moderator Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Bushkill, PA (The Poconos!) Posts: 22,215	I wouldn't leave them together unattended. That way you can do what you did, step in to break up the tension. Once (if) the 2 start fighting, you may have to crate/separate them for the rest of their lives. And leaving them alone together to 'sort things out on their own' does NOT always work. I know I always only have girl dogs, and when I add another I always crate if I can't be around until I really do know the dynamics between the dogs. IF I'm around and showing them how to behave, then they behave well and learn to behave well. If I instead leave them to sort it out, and it turns out badly then I only have myself to blame. BTW, hopefully you are exercising the heck out of both of them, off leash. So alot of the stress and anxiety that may be occuring quietly works out that way. HAVE YOU PURCHASED AND VIEWED the DVD 'Calming Signals' by Turid Rugaas? There's tons of information showing us what dogs do quietly all the time and we 'stupid humans' miss it. But we see the BIG FIGHTS when it's too late! BARNES & NOBLE \| Calming Signals: What Your Dog Tells You by Turid Rugaas \| Multimedia YOu want the DVD, not just the book. She really shows you with dog after dog what to look for. __________________ MACH2 Bretta Lee Wildhaus CGC TC TQX Glory B Wildhaus NA, NJ, NF + LOL (still) "*Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much." - Oscar Wilde*

11-11-2011, 01:09 AM	#3 (permalink)
codmaster Crowned Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: California, US Posts: 4,767	I got the DVD and found it very interesting and informative but also very hard to apply (probably because of my problem in seeing and interpreting the "signals" and body language of my pooch. I.E. sniffing seems to be an important "calming" signal according to Turid but i found it hard to understand when it was a signal and when he was really just sniffing because there was something good to sniff on the ground. Same with some other things like "looking away", etc. Did it always mean a calming signal or when did it just signify that he saw something to look at over there?

11-11-2011, 08:01 AM	#4 (permalink)
mysweetkaos Elite Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: St Louis, MO Posts: 1,246	Thank you guys! I will look into that DVD. I talked to our vet last night at K's appt for his adequan. Her opinion was K is getting older and declining and he knows it. He is just making sure T still respects him. She said as long as there was no growling, snapping or things of that nature (there wasn't) to let it be. She said I did the right thing by calling K in for his nap and not putting any attention on the item (ball). She said basically just watch and always make sure to redirect K if he starts to look like he is getting annoyed.

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