Why are you keeping them separate when they clearly want to play together? So long as they play nice and you supervise to make sure they don't get carried away and the puppy gets hurt, I would let them be. They will each need alone time with you and training should be completely away from the other dog.
Jealousy or regression????-long post
I don't know what to do about Victor ( he will be 2 in Feb.) he has completely lost his mind. I have been dealing with behavior problems out of him for the past 2-3 weeks now. I don't know if it is the cooler weather or him being jealous of the puppy. He has been rolling her and pawing her when outside. I have to tether her to me to keep her safe sometimes. He now can't be left alone at all in the yard for even 5 mins. like before. I am now having to kennel him or keep him on a prong collar. He does not want to guard the yard anymore all he is focused on is playing with her. I was kenneling Jamie when I would leave but she started digging out b/c he was enticing her and trying to get her to play through the kennel. I had to start crating her again in the house and he goes outside like he always does when I leave and he is digging holes and just going crazy. He has never acted like this before. He is obedient trained and now he does not want to listen to his commands,constantly distracted. He barks at my older dog through the fence when she is just minding her own business. He runs up and down the fenceline barking at her for no reason. I know a lot of people on here have more than one dog so I am just wondering do you have to keep them separate all the time? We are going to put up a section in the backyard so we can separate them. How do you deal with multiple dog households? He has always been alone and I did not know he would start acting like this. He is so frustrating and making it so hard to spend time and train the puppy. She is having a hard time focusing on me as well because she is always looking for him. I don't want to have to constantly kennel him/prong collar because he is becoming too hard to handle. He gets lots of exercise everyday and has always been a high energy dog. I think he is having a hard time adjusting to Jamie because she is in the house with him and in his areas and taking up my time. I try to have him include in everything so he does not get jealous and I guess that is not working. It is like I have two puppies. Do they need separate areas? Does he need to be kenneled constantly? Can any one give me any pointers or tips on this? I am about to go crazy from his erratic behavior.:crazy:
1 - 17 of 17 Posts
Why are you keeping them separate when they clearly want to play together? So long as they play nice and you supervise to make sure they don't get carried away and the puppy gets hurt, I would let them be. They will each need alone time with you and training should be completely away from the other dog.
I am not keeping them separate yet. I always monitor them because Victor gets way too rough with her. I am having problems with the older one and his behavior. He is acting like a puppy and getting too rowdy with me and all the other animals. He will not listen to his commands anymore. I can not get the puppy to focus on me she is always looking for him. It does not matter if she can see him or not. Victor can not be trusted anymore by himself even for 5 mins. I don't mind them playing I set aside several sessions of play a day but that is all they want to do all the time. It has turned into play time all the time in their minds. I can understand the puppy but he has a job to do as to why we brought him in here. I love him but after years of our other dogs not wanting to do their jobs this is a sore spot with my husband and I. We got him because he was obedient trained and for protection. I am by myself a lot of the time and my husband wanted me protected. He has done his job well up until now. He does not patrol anymore. I can't even let him out by himself anymore all he wants to do is play. This is why I am frustrated. He is my protector and now he is acting like a crazy dog.
You bring home this great new toy - the puppy - and you are surprised that the older dog is thrilled to play with him? Are you taking them for walks together and separate, and training them separately? I'm not sure what you mean by expecting your dog to patrol? Do you really think that if this dog would have alerted to something before, he wouldn't still do so? He's bored and the puppy is more fun. The newness will wear off somewhat and you need to be spending time with the older dog by himself to remind him you are the boss and he has to listen.
At first for about a month he did not want to have anthing to do with her. He would bite her in her face and stay away from her. He had a rough time accepting her and he started following me more. He now has started this new behavior and the rough play. I have been doing all activities with them together except short training sessions with each one. In addition to walking with them I play tennis/fetch with him with her out and she chases him all the time. She has no interest in the ball. He is extremely ball driven. I sometimes have to tether her. I think I need to crate her and just play the fetch with just him at least once a day. He is digging holes and not listening for a reason I know that. I know this is an indication he wants just one on one time with me without her. About the patrolling---He several times a day has to be let out to patrol the fence line. He has always needed this. He is has a high drive and he has always walked the fence to make sure all is O.K. That is why I am trying to understand his erratic behavior which I now believe has to do with jealousy of her.You bring home this great new toy - the puppy - and you are surprised that the older dog is thrilled to play with him? Are you taking them for walks together and separate, and training them separately? I'm not sure what you mean by expecting your dog to patrol? Do you really think that if this dog would have alerted to something before, he wouldn't still do so? He's bored and the puppy is more fun. The newness will wear off somewhat and you need to be spending time with the older dog by himself to remind him you are the boss and he has to listen.
I would put her away while you play with him. I've had a multiple dog household forever and it's so important that you put in the time with them separately.
I'm wondering if his patrolling is him looking to fence fight or is just so bored it's a neurotic behavior. That he's not doing this anymore, to me, sounds like he's in a better mental state.
If someone comes over that shouldn't, I'm sure he will pay attention and deal with it. What exactly do you need so much protection from? Are you in a bad area? I look at my dogs as something that's going to give me enough time to either get away or call for help, not for them to get hurt trying to protect me. It's my job to protect them.
I'm wondering if his patrolling is him looking to fence fight or is just so bored it's a neurotic behavior. That he's not doing this anymore, to me, sounds like he's in a better mental state.
If someone comes over that shouldn't, I'm sure he will pay attention and deal with it. What exactly do you need so much protection from? Are you in a bad area? I look at my dogs as something that's going to give me enough time to either get away or call for help, not for them to get hurt trying to protect me. It's my job to protect them.
No, I am by myself a lot and my hubby was worried. His GPS was stolen from his truck and he was worried they would come to the house as it had our address in there so that is why we wanted a good watchdog.I would put her away while you play with him. I've had a multiple dog household forever and it's so important that you put in the time with them separately.
I'm wondering if his patrolling is him looking to fence fight or is just so bored it's a neurotic behavior. That he's not doing this anymore, to me, sounds like he's in a better mental state.
If someone comes over that shouldn't, I'm sure he will pay attention and deal with it. What exactly do you need so much protection from? Are you in a bad area? I look at my dogs as something that's going to give me enough time to either get away or call for help, not for them to get hurt trying to protect me. It's my job to protect them.
I must admit I was upset at the suggestion of me protecting him and then I really just sat back and thought about it. I would not be mad at one of my non GSDs if they did not protect and I do protect them just because he is a german shepherd does not mean he should be put in harm's way. I was looking at him as just a protection dog and he needs to do his job. I left to go to town today and instead of leaving him loose in the yard I put him in a kennel. He was safe and protected and that opened my eyes to the fact just because he is a protection GSD he needs to be safe also. I appreciate you bringing that to my attention. I felt so good about not having to worry if he would jump out or get into trouble or someone hurting him because he was safe in his kennel. Protection GSD or not he needs me to keep him from getting hurt and I don't need to focus so much on whether he is doing his "job". Thank you!!!
I don't know if I should start another thread or not. Things with Victor have not gotten any better. I have tried separate training sessions, separate playtimes and together playtimes and still the crazy behavior. Victor will be playing sometimes with me or sometimes with Jamie and just go dig a hole right in front of me. He plays with Jamie but when he gets enough or wants something she might have he rolls her or pins her down. She is starting to pick up his bad habits. She snatches rawhides and toys from our smaller dog. Should I try to separate them or not? Has anyone else come across this type of jealousy/bad behavior with the addition of a puppy? I at this point can't trust Victor anymore for 5 secs. by himself. I know he is acting out because of her. I don't want to have to rehome her but the thought as crossed my mind. I don't even know if I did if Victor would go back to his old self. Please I need help!!!
Please anybody I really need help!!
Most dogs are naturally protective-and just the sight of a GSD is a deterrent for most stangers. I recommend reading some books on basic dog behavior...get inside their heads and understand where they are coming from. Dogs are pack animals, separating them is a punishment. You need to be the pack leader, but there will still be a pecking order among the dogs. The behavior books may help you understand techniques for dealing with the dogs. The dogs will work this out and you should be able to deter too rough of play with a verbal command. My girls get a bit roudy and I say "no you don't"...they both immediately stop.
Thank you I will look into those books. I just did a play session with Victor with Jamie tethered to me. Victor was avoiding getting close to me and snatching his toy out of my hand trying to get it away from her. He has never snatched any toy so I definately know it is jealousy and possessiveness. Is anyone else experienced this? How did you overcome it? For now I am keeping her tethered to me to keep her safe. She can not focus as she is obsessed with him. She wants to run and bite him all the time. Am I going to be able to have two GSDs? Victor has always been a very demanding all about me kind of dog and with her placed in his enviroment has made him behave like this. Will he be able to overcome this or is he telling me he wants to be the only GSD?
I have tried a verbal command but here lately he does not want to listen to his commands. He is stressed from all this. He knows "easy" but now he is having such issues now his obedient training has gone out the window when he is around Jamie. He gets way too rough with her sometimes. I for now will keep her tied to me and restrict their together playtime until I can get this figured out.The dogs will work this out and you should be able to deter too rough of play with a verbal command. My girls get a bit roudy and I say "no you don't"...they both immediately stop.
Do you take any OB classes with Victor? Practicing NILF????
Did you see this post? There is a lot of really good advice in many of the threads. The dog in this post is acting aggressive but there are some good ideas to help you introduce your puppy to the pack.
http://www.germanshepherds.com/foru...4994-new-4-month-old-gsd.html?highlight=month
http://www.germanshepherds.com/foru...4994-new-4-month-old-gsd.html?highlight=month
He came from a training facility so he has always been obedient until now. I refresh him on his training weekly as told by the trainers. I can't take him to training classes because I live way out in the country. I do keep up with his training sessions though by himself he does great. I always make him and Jamie do commands before a rawhide or a toy. He just does not do well with her around him.Do you take any OB classes with Victor? Practicing NILF????
Thank you for the post link. Someone else with the same problem. He decided to rehome. I am not sure if he did or not. I am going to keep up with that thread to see what happens. Will keep trying to make progress with Victor. Any help will be appreciated!!! I am not sure yet what we will do.Did you see this post? There is a lot of really good advice in many of the threads. The dog in this post is acting aggressive but there are some good ideas to help you introduce your puppy to the pack.
http://www.germanshepherds.com/foru...4994-new-4-month-old-gsd.html?highlight=month
I am glad you read it.....there are some good ideas on how to introduce the puppy....reread what advice was given and see if it helps....
Good luck...
Good luck...
1 - 17 of 17 Posts
- This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
German Shepherds Forum
A forum community dedicated to all German Shepherd owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about bloodlines, training, breeding, service dogs, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Recommended Communities
