puppy question

[kbennj]

Just wondering if it is normal for a 10 week old pup to try and hump an older 11 month olf dog? I know this is a way to show dominence, but should I allow it to happen or should I step in and stop it.
IN other words, my 11 month old is not real alpha like, but she is holding her own. She is hording the toys, argueing for couch position, and does not like me to have interaction with the pup without coming over and asking for attention to. It isn't real bad as of yet, but the pup does persist with her for toys ect. I feel he might have an alpha attitude, a natural one, unlie her who has been given it by being her first. I have read in books some that say we should let the dogs work it out, and some that say the older dog should be dominent. What do you all think? I mean it is not aggressive or anything, but it does happen a lot. It will 3 weeks with the new pup and i assume since he is getting bigger now and more steady on his feet and used to being here now, he wants to claim something as his. So far I have actknowledged my older dog first, pet her first, feed her first ect... but what if she lets him take over in doggie world? Is this something i can control?? Thanks

[trainer]

RE: puppy question

>Just wondering if it is normal for a 10 week old pup to try
>and hump an older 11 month olf dog?

It's normal for any dog to hump any other dog. It's what dogs do.

>I know this is a way to
>show dominence, but should I allow it to happen or should I
>step in and stop it.

The less you can intefere, the better things will be.

>IN other words, my 11 month old is not real alpha like, but
>she is holding her own. She is hording the toys, argueing for
>couch position, and does not like me to have interaction with
>the pup without coming over and asking for attention to.

I think that is completely normal also. Be prepared for that to go on forever. Over time you will probably find that both dogs will do that unless one is busy playing with a toy.

>I have read in books some that say we should let the
>dogs work it out, and some that say the older dog should be
>dominent.

Sometimes its one way and sometimes it's another way. One thing I think you have forgotten about is "puppy license". That allows a young puppy to act most any way he wants too and adults will usually tolerate it. When she can't tolerate it, she will set him straight. Once he as grown out of puppyhood, if she is the dominant one, she will set him straight. If not, she will submit to him and he will be the dominant one.

>What do you all think?

I think its a puppy being a puppy and a teenager being a teenager.

>So far I have actknowledged my
>older dog first, pet her first, feed her first ect... but what
>if she lets him take over in doggie world?

You can do that if you wish and some people thing it will set the pecking order but I don't think it will. Whichever is the more dominant dog will become the more dominant dog regardless of what you do.

>Is this something i
>can control??

Nope, I don't think so, nor should you try. Both dogs will be happy in their place once they figure out what that place is. Don't expect it anytime soon.

Bill Carnes
www.skylarzack.com/rawfeeding.htm
www.k9goodbehavior.com

"Unnatural diets predispose animals to unnatural outcomes"
Dr. Tom Lonsdale

Causing pain, either physical, mental, or emotional to an animal to force him to act as you think he should is wrong. Doing so only reflects the ignorance of the trainer. There IS a better way.

[kbennj]

RE: puppy question

thanks.
I don't normally interfere too much, as whatever it is is usually over before i get there. It just suprised me he would try to be so dominent so early on. It ok because i like the confidense in any alpha, as long as they don't think it goes on with human too.
You will be happy to know, I have gotten Dixie under control with the NILIF technique and doggie school. She is doing great with the jumping thing. I was the one who had the jumping dog that would bite me for attention, as if to pester me into play....I ignored her behavior and it did get worse before it got better, but it has stopped. Now if she attempts I just turn my back and that is all it needs. Most the times she never tries. I started to take her back in to tell her she can't come out with me if she cant be decent about it. That pretty much did it. I was stead fast and it worked.
I also noticed our training with her class started getting easer after that too. We have hit a milestone now and i am proud of her. I see where we went wrong, boy was she spoiled, it was rediculous and it took getting 2 dogs, some sleepless night with a new pup to realize how we went wrong. Imagining both of them doing that was enough for me. I now have the dogs sitting before they go out the door, sitting before getting food and if Dixie is in one of her moods, must sit before I even throw her toys outside. It has turned things around! I think she seems more relaxed too, now she can be just a beloved pet. She is more aware of the limits.
I want so badly for things to go smoothly, but i also understand how spoiled Dixie was for 10 months and bringing in a new live play toy will bring it's own delemas. All really is well. I am sure it will take a good 6 months for the dogs to work most of their stuff out. That's nature.

[trainer]

RE: puppy question

:e) :e) :e) :e) :e) :e)

It's great to hear all is working out.

Bill Carnes
www.skylarzack.com/rawfeeding.htm
www.k9goodbehavior.com

"Unnatural diets predispose animals to unnatural outcomes"
Dr. Tom Lonsdale

Causing pain, either physical, mental, or emotional to an animal to force him to act as you think he should is wrong. Doing so only reflects the ignorance of the trainer. There IS a better way.

[Maryk]

RE: puppy question

hee hee! you should see my 8 year old, 19 lb schnoodle trying to hump her now twice as tall 40 lb dane brother! It's a real riot! He craves dominance, but she can still sling him to the floor. Wonder what will happen when he's like 10x her size!

[tonjad]

RE: puppy question

And you ought to see my 10lb 6 yr old chiuhua(sp?)trying to hump Bud-150 ld harl dane--16 mons old---Bud will actually come and sit next to me when Doolde is on my lap so so doodle will try to climb up on his back to hump him!---he wants to play with Doodle real bad but Doodle is grumpy with him(well,he knows how big those paws are)and that is the only way he can! he will turn around and put his chin on Doodles little head or body while Doodle humps! it is hilarious ! most of the time he will wind up with his head in my lap and Doodle crawling all over him humping whatever part he can grip on....he will hold real still so Doodle won't leave...sometimes he will lay with his legs out in front of him and Doodle roots around in his chest and neck area rubbing and play biting him...he is so sweet and tries to be real gentle with little Doodle....unlike my girl Gabby she would kill Doodle if he even looked like he wanted to hump her!:P