[emjworks05]

We have had our pup for about a month now and i noticed last weekend that whenever my older GSD comes near me to love on me or to come over for me to pet her, my puppy always bits her neck and barks and growls at her until she leaves. I feel bad for my girl because she was with me first and i dont want her to think i dont love her anymore. i just noticed this behavior so i think it just started, im not sure what to make of it its almost as if he's telling her "she is my mommy so go away", is this the problem and if so how do i fix it so they know they are equals?

 

[ellen366]

they can't be equals b/c of the pack hierarchy; one of them will be more dominant than the other; that's just a fact of life for dogs

they'll work it out between them; just give both of them time and love

 

[emjworks05]

Being equals is not really what i meant i meant equals as in i dont want my older dog that ive had longer to think that i like/love the new puppy more, the whole hierarchy is not really an issue he knows shes the boss and she tells him so.

 

[middleofnowhere]

The way I handle that is to give the older dog its food first, its walk first, attention first. It may be silly, it certainly sounds silly, but I referred to the puppy as "your puppy" when speaking of her as in "lets see what your puppy wants" 10 years later and the younger dog knows the older dog is top dog.

 

[krispifsu]

I am still very new to all of this having just got my GSD 7 months ago, but...

I went through something similar with my pup - except her jealousy was focused on my cats. She would whine and bark a high pitched bark whenever my cat would come get affection from me or try to butt them out of the way. To let her know that behavior was not wanted and would not get attention from me by behaving that way - I would pick the cat up and walk out of the room, ignoring her when she acted that way. At first she just whined more, but then she caught on that if she sits calmly too I can pet them both at the same time or she gets extra loving when she has been patient and calm when I am showing affection to one of the others. She learned that she cannot get my attention by being a brat to the other animals in the house or bullying/demanding my attention whenever she wants it. She has to earn it by having manners.

It sounds like your puppy is still young, so I wouldn't really correct her behavior, but you also don't want to reenforce that if she acts that way, she can demand the attention. Somehow figure out a way to teach her that she needs to remain calm when you pet your other dog and that she can earn your affection that way.

Hope that helps and good luck!

 

[BlackGSD]

Originally Posted By: Krispifsu She learned that she cannot get my attention by being a brat to the other animals in the house or bullying/demanding my attention whenever she wants it. She has to earn it by having manners.

It sounds like your puppy is still young, so I wouldn't really correct her behavior, but you also don't want to reenforce that if she acts that way, she can demand the attention. Somehow figure out a way to teach her that she needs to remain calm when you pet your other dog and that she can earn your affection that way.

Hope that helps and good luck!

Great advise. The pup needs to learn that YOU decide who gets attention and when. It is NOT up to her.