Puppy Behavior Towards Other Dogs

[amalfi]

I acquired a Scottie mix about 3 months ago when he was 2 mos old. He's 5 mos now. I also have a 5-yr old female German Shepherd. I got her early last year. I am having trouble having them in the same room together. If the GSD is in the room, the Scottie is in his crate; if I need to let the Scottie loose so he can run around and release all that puppy/terrier energy, I take the GSD into the bedroom and keep her there for a while. If they happen to be together, the Scottie tends to provoke the GSD and the GSD growls in the little one's face and it scares me. I'm pretty sure they're feeling my tension. I'm not exuding calm assertiveness, but I just don't know how to show that because I'm too scared. The GSD is calm, but she tends to get jealous of the little one. She doesn't understand that I can't hold her the same way I hold the little one because she's huge. Meanwhile, the Scottie gets territorial and bossy. He needs to understand that the GSD was here first. How do I make him realize that he's not the boss and that he needs to learn to share with his "big sister"? What types of behavioral patterns can I apply so that he understands this? Is he too young to understand this concept? He's getting sterilized in a week. I am hoping this lessens the aggression on his part; however, it's not so much the aggression I'm worried about. He's very loving but he can get very territorial and bossy. Would sterilization tone this behavior down? I realize I did something wrong along the way and reinforced his "bossiness" somehow. I need to break this. Please help. Thanks.

[Jaybay]

Nurse - you nailed it.  The dogs are running the household because there is a power vacuum in the human department.  The Scottie has decided He's da Man.  The book that helped me the most in a similar situation was The Dog Whisperer's (Cesar Millan) latest, "Cesar's Way."  Watching the show helped a whole lot too.

Amalfi - basic obedience training is essential, but I think you would benefit from having a dog behaviorist come to your home for a few sessions.  Good luck!

[Nurseynurse714]

Luvmypups is exactly right. Your pup as the "new kid in town" is trying to exert his dominance over the GS. The puppy is feeling out his boundaries right now and trying to see if he can be the alpha dog. If your GS just sits back and lets him, then that will become their pecking order: puppy alpha dog, GS follower. There is a way to thwart his efforts but it will require some effort on your and your family's part. Take handing out treats for example: you must make both the puppy and the GS sit first. When they are both sitting, you give the GS a treat and make the puppy wait several seconds before rewarding him with his. This reinforces to the puppy what the pecking order needs to be. MOST importantly, you want the new puppy to understand that YOU are the alpha dog. This also is established by making them both "do" something before they are rewarded in any way. This includes feeding, going outside to go potty, being petted. The dog must sit (or roll over or speak or whatever) before you so much as give them their food in the morning, pet them, or take them outside. Another important point: your other family members must reinforce your efforts as well. There is nothing more confusing for a new puppy than to have you making him jump through hoops and then your husband or child just tosses him treats for no reason. There is an excellent book that you should read which explains doggy "psychology" and offers great insight/training techniques. Since were not allowed to post websites, I guess I can't mention names either. But if you look for this number on any book website, it should get you the correct book: ISBN: 0061010197 Good luck.

[luvmypups]

We are sort of having the same prob with our 13y/o Springer and our new Lab puppy.  I think our older one hasn't yet found his stride as the Alpha (we had to put down our 18y/o Cocker 4 mos ago).
From what I've read, our puppies need to learn from other dogs how to act with other dogs.  In other words, the other dogs will "train" them. In the pack order, the pups mom would normally show him what is appropriate and what is not.  The next logical teachers are other dogs.
So, we're going to start using the dog park, and, enroll pup in obedience classes at Petsmart.  This will help him to socialize, and show him how the pack works.
Hope this helps.