Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Laura (and Marty) on January 17, 2012 at 6:19am

Vicki,

 I am going through a somewhat similar issue with my 14-week old pup, Marty, but it's mostly only off-leash.  We go to the dog park and usually its full of boxers.  LoL!  I love boxers, but Marty...mmm, not so much.  He generally keeps to himself, avoids big dogs (since they usually run him over), and will sometimes play dogs more his size.  For him this behavior is only off-leash though.  On leash he's a lot more confident and more interested in other dogs-- at least until he gets boxed in the head by another boxer.  But usually when he's off leash, he'll manage to corner himself somewhere with a bunch of other large dogs sniffing him and he gets nervous and then avoids them the whole time he's there.  He's just struggling with his doggy socialization skills, and he IS still a puppy.

Have you tried working with Sophie with a calm, large dog?   Marty does well with my friend's well-trained, calm German shepherd.  They say "hi" then ignore each other the rest of the day even when chilling out in the same room all day. LoL!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Bev Levy on January 17, 2012 at 8:17am

The big puppy needs to be trained not to be very rough with the others and that may be what your corgi is trying to do. Either way it is important to protect your corgi around much larger dogs, they can be badly hurt by a large dog jumping on them. If the puppy gets too rowdy I would encourage your sister to snap a leash on him until he calms down. Free, unrestrained play may look adorable but it can be very risky.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jane on January 17, 2012 at 8:26am

Both of my dogs HATE it when big dogs use their paws to play...Luke will do the air snap/crying noise and try to get away and Henry just gets snarky if the dog is persistent. I would keep at least a short leash on the GSD pup and not allow her to play so rough. Maybe keep them separated with a babygate. I would not allow the GSD to continue chasing her when she is afraid.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jane Christensen on January 17, 2012 at 8:51am

I agree with Laura that maybe a calm well behaved large dog would be a good way to go. You want to get her "used" to big dogs but that won't happen if she gets bad experiences. Like Bev said she could also get hurt. Sage is used to large dogs but she decides whether or not she wants to play not the big dog going after the little one.In a calm situation she shouldn't feel like she has to snap at the large dog and the shepard needs to learn manners but I think I would work on this if your sister is willing.Maybe have Sophie sit on your lap, your sister have her dog leashed and they can meet at a distance and get closer. eye to eye and under control will hopefully make Sophie feel better. The more work you do now the better for all involved later. Hope this makes sense.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Anna Morelli on January 17, 2012 at 10:49pm

When I first got my Miniature Dachshund she was 6 months old and weighed 6 Lbs.  I would often visit my son and stay there.  They had a 7 month old Jack Russel who weighed about 20  Lbs.,  was hell on wheels and very dominant, even aggressive.  I would keep my doxie on a long leash ALL THE TIME.  Eventually both grew older and more settled and got to feel fine about each other.  Now they will even share the same bed and he has learned to  be very gentle with her.  The leash did not come off my dog until I was 100% comfortable with the interaction while ON leash.  Pups and teenage dogs can be rowdy and you can't speed up their maturing, but you can keep the interaction under control until they are more mature, especially if you are there only temporarily.

• ▶ Reply