Dutch Shepherd Forum

I have two adult German Shepherds that want NOTHING to do with my nearly 4 month old Dutch Shepherd, Patton. Patton wants to bite them, not to be aggressive, but to play. Not surprisingly, the dogs don't care too much for this. It's not that I want my pup spending much time with them as I don't want him to be fixated with them or any other dog but, at the same time, I need him to be able to co-exist with them in our home. Can anyone offer some suggestions on what I can do to compel Patton to behave himself with my older dogs? Thanks in advance.

Hi Patrick,
In my household, I have found it most helpful to allow my adult dogs to correct my younger ones for being a pest. The adults are supposed to show fair body language and warnings, but if the pup is persistent and the adult needs to school them harshly, my rule is that if there is no blood then its OK.....and sometimes if there is accidental blood it's still OK. If the adult is too passive and not likely to stick up for itself, then I use a leash to remove the pup from pestering and redirect its behavior - understanding that the dog has a lot of mental, physical and social needs that I am completely responsible for meeting. If my dogs don't want to help me with that, then its on me.
Christie

Thanks Christie. One of my adults bit Patton in the face two days after I got him (a month ago) because Patton was jumping in the his face, trying to lick his mouth, etc. and WOULD NOT STOP. The bite drew blood and he had a pretty good mark for weeks, but the bite did nothing to deter him from continuing to do it and so I have kept him from doing it further. But I realize this HAS to be addressed.

I can put him with my adult dogs again and risk that one of them might hurt my pup. Then again, maybe that's what he needs. At the same time, I don't want that they seriously injure him or even kill him.

I have considered putting an e-collar on the pup, pup him on a leash and then give him the opportunity to go after one of the dogs. Upon him doing so, I could give him a verbal correction "Phui!" while administering a low-level correction with the e-collar. Any thoughts on that?

Thanks for your help!

Did he stop when your GSD bit his face? Did he squeal and run? Cause basically sometimes that is necessary. When they are mellow dramatic, I have a very non-nonchalant, suck it up attitude. I may not be the best one to ask because one of our black GSDs has a white line across her nose from getting corrected as a puppy.

You can reinforce if you absolutely need to. That is totally a personal call. I would be more inclined to do it with a leash and collar so that it is personal to the dog and they know that it is coming from me. E collars tend to be more impersonal and my preference is to use them for negative reinforcement rather than positive punishment. Positive punishment can cause some irrational associations to be formed by dogs and I would hate for the dog to think that his presence around the other dogs causes lightening bolts to shoot out of the sky. Also, I am not inclined to put an e collar on a puppy who is still learning, but that is just me.

Thanks Christie!

You're welcome

Christie M wrote: ↑Fri Mar 17, 2017 10:44 pm You're welcome

I decided to put my older (and fat, like her Daddy...Ha ha!) GSD, Fiona, out with Patton. I believed she would put him in his place without KILLING him. LOL again. I think I'll try having them together first and, hopefully, she can get it through his thick little head how he's supposed to behave. Perhaps in a few days I can try and put him with the other GSD, Sammy, who previously bit him in the face and, no, it had ZERO effect on Patton. I'll take them on some walks together. Anyhow, I took video of Patton and Fiona here and I'm curious for more feedback, please. Thanks,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tooBA5MpGiw

I had some left-over steak (a few days old) that I warmed up and cut into little pieces. Then I fed them to Fiona & Patton together. I think these two are going to be fine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6-VX7Pck5Y

I have had great success in letting my senior Dachshund correct my puppy DS' behavior. Now he's bigger and respects him when he barks at him, he doesn't snap or act aggressive back.

I watched the like a hawk in the beginning but now I let them play freely because I have seen a hundred plus times he backs down more out of the fact he know my dachsie won't stop than that he cowtails to him. So he'll do something unacceptable toy Doxie behaviorally. He starts in
DS Kapena rolls his eyes and walks away. He knows he will not win. I enforce the Doxie corrections in our house unless it's unfair and that helps. Dachsie goes at him for bumping or snapping at him, I have no reaction, if extreme I snap and off! If dachsie steel's Kapena's iake him come, drop it, and call Kapena to retrieve his belongings. Might help, I'm not an expert.