Advice please for our 16 month and 10 week old puppy!

[Blossy]

Hi.

Just wondered if anyone could advise me or had similar incidents with their doggies.  We have a 16 month old golden little girl cocker, Blossom, and on Sunday we collected our new 10 week old little girl black cocker.  I am pleasantly suprised how well they get on and how Blossom has taken to her. 

The only slight worry i have at the moment is that when the puppy runs across the garden, Blossom runs after her and puts her whole mouth over the puppy's back to stop her.  I am hoping that this is normal play behaviour, but the puppy is really tiny, a lot smaller than Bloss was at that age, and i am afraid she willl hurt her. 

Puppy hasn't yelped yet when she does it, but the two things i wondered if anyone could help me with is:

1 - Would you say this is playing from Blossom's point of view? and
2 - Should i stop it?

I have been saying 'gentle' when Blossom does it, but then all play stops and i don't want to discourage it.  She only does it when the puppy is running full pelt.

Perhaps you have had a similar situation.

Thanks in advance.

[Beth]

If your pup isn't yelping then it sounds to me like Blossom is being extremely gentle with her, and teaching her some doggy manners. I'd closely supervise, but leave them to it, Blossom sounds like she's being a great big sister.

(Can we see pics of them both? )

[LurcherGirl]

Yes, it is normal. I would not interfer too much, though I would stop them if it gets too rough.

Vera

[cazza]

I have Braan who is 16wks and fern who is 18 months  (Oh and Jock the old man, who doesn't get invovled  ) and Fern was like this with Braan till today 

It's just rough play and doggie manners  just supervise them when they are playing like this 

Today i took my three out seperately for walks and I think one lil lady got the hump. (Jock went first, then Fern then I took Braan)

I brought Braan back and put him in the paddock then went and got the other two so they could have a play together and tire themselves out. I had done training with Fern and Braan hence the single walks this morning 

Well Fern just flew at Braan and had him by his little top knot    I intervenved but the little  slipped thro my hands and went for him again, this time had hold of one of his ears    this time when I got hold of her I put the lead on and they all had to come back in. First time the play fight has got out of hand and I've had to intervene.

If saying 'Gentle' stops Blossom then when it starts to get out of hand or you think enough is enough use this word  My lot are  and I had to seperate them as they were just not listening to me at all 


edited to add - they are now all curled up asleep together again

[cazza]

Can I just ask if you leave them alone (as in leave the house) are they seperated?

I have Braan in a crate if I have to go out altho they are all in the same room 

[Blossy]

Can I just ask if you leave them alone (as in leave the house) are they seperated?

I have Braan in a crate if I have to go out altho they are all in the same room 

Hi again.  Thanks all for your really helpful replies, you've put my overworked mind to rest!!  (I hope i have replied correctly, i've not really got the hang of this yet )

Cazza, at the moment they are seperated when we are out, Blossom is shut in the kitchen with her bed and Tilly is in the utility room, next door, in her bed and they have a stair gate seperating them.  We thought this would be best so that they can still be together and see each other, but Bloss gets a bit of a rest.  Also, i was worried because of the size difference that Tilly might accidentally get hurt.  Also, at night, Bloss is on the landing upstairs and Tilly is at the bottom of the stairs (until she masters them of course).  Perhaps we might have to rethink this when Tilly can climb and if its a problem.