Jealousy

[emms]

Hi our new addition has arrived, in the form of Masie a bouncy, bolshy 7 month old pup. 

I found lots of topics on here about the existing dog getting jealous of the new pup but how about the other way around?

Masie cant seem to stand Isabelle getting any attention, and will push her out of the way or snap at her when she comes for a cuddle.

I realise that its going to take time for both dogs to adjust to the new set up, but has anyone got any advice that could make the transition easier.  This is my first time with 2 dogs so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated

Many Thanks

[emms]

Sorry mods, should probably have gone in behaviour

[LouiseAS]

I got a new addition 3 months ago and am not an expert but can certainly share what I've learned.

Don't interfere and don't show one more attention than the other.  When I first got Jakey both OH and I withdrew a lot of attention from them both until they'd got used to each other.  We had fights, only one bad one where I HAD to give Meg time out, but other than that we left them to it.

We get jealousy from both Meg and Jakey but we do try to fuss them together.  There are occasions when they have exclusive attention and if the other one growls we just say firmly "no" then completely ignore the offender.  Usually they get the message and go back to bed.

This has worked for us.  My two are still getting used to each other and we do still have the odd argument.

[PennyB]

I've had to do same as Louise for some of the fosters I had in --- notably Cassie who AnnieG has now. Cassie wanted all the attention and kept clinging on to me and growling at my two (little madam did this within 1st 24 hours of being here so I had to withdraw attention from all the dogs in the house (well when they wanted it, but would give them attention when I wanted to), which also included none of them going on the sofa if I was on it. Didn't have to do it for long though but it worked. Apart from the sofa thing none of them really suffered (they hated not being able to sit on sofa with me and sulked big time, but it was the flashpoint and causing most of the arguments so it had to be dealt with). As I said it didn't take long for Cass to understand the boundaries.

[emms]

Thanks for the reassuring, this is all new territory for me at the moment.

[emms]

The sofas are definately an issue here, when there is a person on them, so I will try keeping both dogs off to see if that helps.  (Gulp, that means im gonig to miss out on my post walk, cuddles infront of the TV)

The other major trigger is either OH or myself comming home when it becomes a bit of a battle to get there 1st and get closest.

[happydog]

The other major trigger is either OH or myself comming home when it becomes a bit of a battle to get there 1st and get closest.

In that situation I would ignore both of them completely (not even eye contact) until you are in and settled coat off/made tea/sat down whatever and they have both clamed down.

[emms]

I seem to be ignoring both dogs constantly now, except when they both fall asleep 

There are now no toys anywhere, but they still manage to find something to argue over, right now its a piece of bark chipping from the garden.

[happydog]

They're sorting out the pecking order. You tend to think that an older dog will automatically be 'top dog' as it were. It doesn't always work out that way. Maisie may become the top dog. It's all down to personalities.
However you might find that Isabel is giving Maisie a bit of leeway at the moment as Maisie may still have a 'puppy licence' (that allows her to get away with more than she would if she were adult).  I'm not sure how much puppy licence time Maisie will have left at seven months, ( not much probably). So don't be surprised if one day Isabel turns round and gives Maisie a good firm telling off. The less you interfere with this the better. It will improve the longer they are together  .

[LurcherGirl]

I am very strict with this sort of behaviour... no grumbling or pushing out of the way from any of the dogs when I decide to cuddle one. When we first got Flash, Dylan used to get very jalous to the point where he would have a go at him. I dealt with that very swiftly by telling Dylan off and send him away! He soon learnt that if he wanted to continue getting my attention and cuddles, he'd better behave.

These days, he still lifts his head (he is usually asleep on my lap) sometimes when Flash approaches ready to tell him off, but quickly remembers the rules and drops his head again...  I can now give cuddles to all dogs together without the slightest problem and any dog can approach me without fear of getting told off by another.

So in your case, I would just push Masie away (gently) and say "you wait" or "go away" or something to tell her that she is not welcome at that particular moment. I agree with interfering as little as possible, but this is one of two situations where I do interfer and that I am very strict about and won't tolerate any type of aggression (even just push out of the way) at all!

Vera

[emms]

Thanks for the advice, there have been times over the last week when I have wondered if I have taken on more than I can cope with 

I have been putting Masie behind the baby gate (after buying a taller one, she jumped the old one on her 1st day here), when I get home from work, so Isabelle can have a cuddle without getting pushed over or trodden on.

There is lots of chasing, snapping, snarling, barking and general grumbling going on between them, I assume this usual while they are trying to sort the pecking order out but are there any signs to look out for that it is going too far?   

Emma

[LouiseAS]

I try to be quite harsh with my two when they're arguing and try to ignore it.  Meg's a realy baby and will squeal.  When I first had them I thought they were going too far (like you, I'd never had 2 dogs before) but I soon learnt after reading posts on here that they do sound and look aggressive.

You need to harden yourself to a certain extent and learn the signs (probably from your original dog because you know her better) that things are going too far.  Meg's was a bite on her nose which was the only time I've pulled them apart.

I banned my two from the settee (and bed) unti they'd learned to be more civilised towards each other.  I used to get on the floor for cuddles with them.  Now we can just about have them both up with only the smallest grumble from either of them.  They soon learn that growls mean being put on the floor!

You need to be patient and just relax when the dogs are together as they do pick up on tension.  Don't feel guilty about doubting yourself, I did but then suddenly they both clicked.

Try to create distractions by using lots of toys.  I tend to have about 5 or 6 toys around at a time so they can't fight over just 1 toy.

[RainbowClaire]

Hi there,

I have had a LOT of experience of this lately, (Check out 'Sophie growling at my children and new puppy' thread) !!

Don't interfere at all - I know It's a shock to the system but you have to let them get on with it, ( To a certain degree  )and I have also learned that toys seem to trigger the worst reaction from Sophie - remove them all for a while  or have plenty to go around !

Sophie went from HATING the puppy to the extent of not even letting her within 5 metres, to playing together non stop!! Never thought it was possible!

Hang in there! They'll be fine