Will this harm the puppy long term

[shaner]

Just got a new 8 week old puppy, Titan. I also have a 15 month old girl, Cedar. Cedar is very good with Titan and seems to really like him. She's gentle and likes playing with him.

We have a lot of various toys for the dogs, and the puppy loves absolutely all of them. The thing is, when the puppy grabs one, Cedar comes by and takes it from him. She's not doing it in a possessive way, she's doing it in a playful way. She thinks it's a game, but of course the puppy isn't strong enough to pull the toys back, so he just loses them.

Keeping in mind that it's in a playful manner, do you think this could cause him to become possessive of toys or other things later in life? He doesn't seem to be bothered by it at all, he either chases her and grabs it, only to lose it again, or he moves on to another toy.

Any concerns? If so, what is the solution? I don't want to stop all play between them obviously, so should I just let it be and watch it for any type of possessiveness from him as he gets older, should I stop her from taking toys from him altogether (which I don't really want to do because she is playing), or should I sometimes let her take toys and sometimes not (which could confuse Cedar)?

Cedar was very toy aggressive when she was younger, but we all but cured that problem with a lot of work, so if he ends up with the same problem I'm confident we have the knowledge to stop it.

[msvette2u]

Actually she's probably displaying what is known as resource guarding.
As long as she is not bullying the puppy it is not a bad thing, but if she bullies the puppy that is a problem.
Puppies are taught that the "leader" (their mama) controls the resources from the time they are infants so he's used to it from her.

[shaner]

Originally Posted by msvette2u

Actually she's probably displaying what is known as resource guarding.
As long as she is not bullying the puppy it is not a bad thing, but if she bullies the puppy that is a problem.
Puppies are taught that the "leader" (their mama) controls the resources from the time they are infants so he's used to it from her.

Based on what I'm seeing, I don't think it's resource guarding. Cedar is trying to play tug, but the puppy just can't hang on, so he loses the toy. Cedar will take a toy, but she doesn't leave with it, she brings it back and dangles it in Titan's face to get him to bite it again, then she takes it again. She's trying to play with him, but he's just too small right now. He tries though.

[Whiteshepherds]

Originally Posted by shaner

or should I sometimes let her take toys and sometimes not (which could confuse Cedar)?

Our dogs are 6 months apart in age and this is exactly what I did. I would say "It's Harley's turn" or "It's Annie's turn". It didn't seem to confuse either one of them. I still use those terms now and they share just about everything without a problem.

Cedar sounds like she's just trying to play and if she's a good dog she'll teach the puppy how to play too. Give it a few weeks, your pup will start chasing after her to get that toy back.

[bianca]

Molly (2 years) sometimes does the same thing with Cooper (also 8 weeks), but tonight he started barking at her as he wanted the toy she had! He also steals toys from her on occasion. I think they will sort it out as long as puppy is not harmed.

[Todd]

Originally Posted by shaner

Cedar will take a toy, but she doesn't leave with it, she brings it back and dangles it in Titan's face to get him to bite it again, then she takes it again. She's trying to play with him, but he's just too small right now. He tries though.

Too small? That will change shortly!

Can't wait to see the pics!