A gsd who is more submissive with smaller dogs is much better than one who's more dominant and aggressive. My advice is to keep things the way they are.

Plus theyre just playing and he's a baby. This is how you want him to play with small dogs. Sounds like youve got a great and gentle dog there. Just because he's gentle with small dogs doesnt make him a woose.

 

LucyDog;

your right... i wouldnt want Luke to eat or kill Herc;however i hope its a case of meekness being confused for weekness...

 

Plus with a name like hercules, i don't think luke had a shot from the start.

 

Social rules are suspended during play. It's very common to see a bigger, stronger dog submit to a smaller, weaker one when they're playing.

 

Sounds like Kamahi and Minnie(miniature dachshund mix), and Minnie is definitely the more dominant of the two.
She's very submissive to people, but when it comes to other dogs she's "the boss". :laugh:

 

My 8 months old pup regularly gets clobbered by my 15lbs Corgi mix. I rather have it that way than the other way around so I usually just stand to the side and laugh (sometimes I point and laugh)

 

Agreed! You WANT your pack members to get along. Just because your GSD is bigger than your mini dachshund doesn't mean a thing - inside he's got a little puppy brain, and I assume your other dog is an adult. That means more in how they're relating to each other than their physical size.

 

My GSD has always been this way as well, and I appreciate it, because at our dog park, the small dogs always come on our side. He's 8 months old, but won't play rough or run/chase with a small dog (less than 15lbs ish). He can and has held his own with bigger rougher dogs though, don't worry. He's just a gentleman. However, his puppy skills are lacking. He'll try to play VERY rough with any sized puppy. It's only adult small dogs he's good with.