Bridget is terrified of new puppy.
Bridget is our 2 and a half-year-old Corgi. She had a "big sister" (my husband's wonderful dog, Dixie) her whole life until last month, when Dixie passed away. Bridget was so lonesome that we decided to get another Corgi puppy, 9-week-old Roxy. She's feisty and vocal and was born on a ranch with LOTS of other Corgis. She's very sweet, but very posessive of me. When she sees me giving Bridget any attantion, she starts barking at Bridget and jumping all over her. And it's sad, because Bridget's ears slick back and she gets sad and hides behind me, or goes to her dog bed.
I've been trying to coax Bridget into playing with me, no matter if the puppy barks. But she's so used to Dixie being the "mama" and she doesn't know how to be assertive yet. It makes me really sad. The main reason we got another puppy is to make Bridget happy, but she's just been scared and depressed :( What should I do? Is this normal? Do dogs learn how to assert themselves over time?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Bev Levy on
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Bridget is still in mourning. When our Buffy died I got a new puppy right away.After talking with the breeder about our situation and Sparty's personality she suggested Izzy a very mellow 4 month old pup. It still took Sparty almost a year before he would play with her. Your puppy may be a little too rambunctious for Bridget right now. Try to give Bridget lots of "only" time and do not allow the puppy to jump all over her. Try to keep their interactions calm and pleasant for Bridget for now. Hopefully in time they will be able to be friends. Sparty and Izzy get along great now but she will never be Buffy for him. Everyone, including you, have to let go of the past relationship and get used to a new one.
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Permalink Reply by Joanna Kimball on
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Your new puppy is, to be blunt, being a giant pain in the neck. Bridget SHOULD correct her harshly and make sure she doesn't behave like that, but if she won't it's your job to enforce the rules. The puppy is NOT allowed to be evil like that. Give the puppy a very firm no and gently but firmly push her away. If she comes back with the same kind of nonsense, pick her up and put her in an ex pen or behind a baby gate. She is not allowed to get affection from you unless she behaves nicely and respects her elders.
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Permalink Reply by John Wolff on
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Bev's comment makes. Bridget's been through a huge fast change that she doesn't understand. Her old pal is suddenly gone, and replaced by this... this... this THING!
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Permalink Reply by Tauna and Kota on
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I love how you say things John ...
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Permalink Reply by laladypoet on
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Well, it's been a few days, and things seem to be getting better. Bridget has chased Roxy around the back yard and made Roxy lie on her back, and now Roxy doesn't bark when I love on Bridget. I think Rox is getting that Bridget is the "elder" and now just wants to be friends. She will try to sleep with Bridget, and Bridget lets her. They also play together, until Bridge gets sick of Roxy. I'm seeing Bridget smiling again, and that means the world to me.
However, my husband is sad because Bridget doesn't pay attention to him anymore. They used to be buddies, and now it seems Bridget is mad at him for some reason. For that matter, she's not super cuddly with me, either. Could this be part of the adjustment period?
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so, Bridget will love us again? I need to hear it! :)
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Oh yes! Just getting used to having another dog in the house. She will still be your baby!
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Permalink Reply by Michelle on
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Your girl will love you bunches and bunches again. HAng in during the adjustment.....glad they are playing together! ^-^
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Thank you! My husband will be happy to hear that, he's been really worried that Bridge is going to be permanently stand-offish :)
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Permalink Reply by Gromit, Sparkle, and Doug on
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We lost both of our Corgis last year and that left Holly our mini-wiener dog and very much bottom-of-the-pack order dog, alone. When we brought Gromit home Holly was completely unsure of what to do with him. He wanted to play and was already bigger than her so she mostly wanted to be left alone, her past experience with Corgis was not real positive. It took a little time but once Holly realized that she was and could be the "top dog" she lost her stand-offishness with Gromit and they became excellent playmates. Even though Gromit now out weighs her by a full 11lbs now, Holly by virtue of her experience and toughness, keeps him in line and will absolutely get in his face and knock him over if he gets too rough. It's actually pretty funny to see.
Dogs take time to figure out a new pack situation, they cannot just work it out with logic and a decision the way we humans can. One thing you cannot do is decide for them how the pack order will be, the most you can do is encourage friendliness and mediate any play that might be escalating into a fight. If Bridget nips or seems a bit rough towards Roxy don't mistake that doggie level "smack upside the head" of Roxy as necessarily being too harsh either. Dogs have their own innate rules and methods of correcting unacceptable behavior by a junior pack member. They play rougher with each other than we humans typically do.
Each dog is it's own unique creature and works out who fits where in it's life and sometimes preferences do change. Sometimes we humans just have to accept that they are dogs and not strange little fur covered four legged humans that share our homes. If your husband takes Bridget for long walks with just the two of them this might help re-establish the bond he had with her but in reality it's tough for us humans to compete with the natural bond that may develop between dogs.
I'm sure in time as the new pack order sorts itself out all will be well. You have two Corgis in the house and that cannot help but turn into lots of fun!
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