Puppy update + fight with older dog

littlemisslauren

littlemisslauren

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Hello everyone!
I haven't been around for a while because we finally got into the new house and setting up internet has been a royal pain in the a*se.
A little Betsy update for any of you that are interested :) followed by a large rant :p
Betsy is 15 weeks old tomorrow :)
We have been going for ALOT of walkies, we have been having 3 or 4 walks a day, all at only about 15 - 20 mins each. She has met horses, sheep, pigs and chickens so far... I dont think she understand the idea of horses and she cant seem to decide if she is scared of them or wants to play!
We have got 'Sit', 'Down' and *some* recall (In the house and garden only! - I do not trust this pooch off the lead yet!)


We do have one issue... As some of you will know, I have 2 other dogs (Another Border and a Ridgey) that are at my parents house. I have been taking puppy there regularly, with her carrier so she still has somewhere for some time out. We have kept her away from the Ridgy because the poor old thing is on her last legs and really cannot be bothered with a naughty pup all over her, she will happily lie down in the same room as the pup - aslong as the puppy leaves her alone!
The old Border is a grumpy little thing and is blind in one eye, with pretty pants vision in the other eye... but he really seemed to enjoy Betsy. They had several sessions under extreme supervision together in the house, just to give them a chance to suss each other out without the tension of one of us holding the pup or restraining him. They got on fine... He gave her a little telling off for playing 'rag' with his tail but nothing to give us cause for concern! :o

Soooooo... everything seemed brilliant, untill we let them go into the garden together! We were all out there watching, so please dont tell me off for being silly... I didnt just feed her to the grumpy old thing.

The old man went for pup... really really went for her. Its the most aggression I have ever seen from any dog :( We managed to get him off her (and believe me he got one hell of a telling off!) and got to Betsy and she was shaking. Luckily there were no injuries at all and after a little cuddle she was bounding round the garden again (By herself!).

She seems unaffected by the attack, she will still run to the gate to see other dogs when they walk past... but if the dog seems interested in her she will cower with her tail between her legs and run back to me or OH.

She met some lovely spangles on a walk yesterday, they were off the lead and came over to say hello. The youngest dog sniffed at the puppy and she started yelping and cowering :( The owner quickly called his dogs off and stood to talk to me for a bit and his bunch sat at his feet, after a short while Betsy was prancing about infront of them trying to get them to play.

Are there any ways we can encourage her to interact with other dogs without dinting her confidance anymore? There is a lovely Lab next door and she is getting better with him, she tries her hardest to make him play but he is more interested in us than her!

I would like to just add - I am mortified by the behaviour of my older dog. He is not to be trusted off lead around other dogs anymore and I know this.

I really really want to prevent this little one forming any issues with other dogs, there are plenty of very well behaved dogs on my new street (I have the worst behaved dog here..... Even the spangles are better!! :p) and I have been offered the use of the patient old lab to help her socialisation... I just need some tips!

And some pics of the little terror for everyone who got this far!
Her fave position!
betsyflop.jpg


In a huff!
34243_403908662265_507637265_453358.jpg


Sitting on her dad!
34243_403908202265_507637265_453358.jpg
 
Just keep doing what you're doing, lots of short bursts of interaction with other friendly dogs and keep everything very light and positive, even if you feel like bricking it, as with everything, any shred of nervousness or tension will be picked up by the dog who will mirror it, act upon it or see it as reinforcement of whatever they were already feeling.

Try not to be too cross with the old man, he's getting on and his vision is restricted and it is easy for dogs to feel threatened and misinterpret signals when their senses are impeded.
 
Just for a change, ditto everything CC says:). My 9 year old GSD is losing her sight, she has always been the most mild mannered dog, was frequently used as a stooge dog as nothing every fazed her. However recently she is far more defensive around other dogs, hackles up etc, I am sure it is because she doesn't feel able to interact on the same level. Your old lad probably feels a bit the same, he probably didn't mean to upset Betsy, was jsut a warning that went a bit far.
 
I was in a huff with him for about a day.. he is my real baby and I have had him since I was 8 so i find it impossible to be cross with him for too long!

Thank you x
 
Ditto CC and MM, older dogs can be pretty intolerant even if they seem great at first, then can go pretty quick when thye are p!shed or cannot be bothered, his intention, to keep her away, and it would have worked no doubt, dont beat ya self up, they both learnt a lesson, her from him and him from you:D
It can commonly take pups, esp the submissive types a few introductions with certain dogs before they stop the peeing and squealing like they are being murdered, withotu a bad experience inbetween so give her time, make it all positive and no picking her up and cuddling her, let her stand on her own 2 feet and see there is nothing to fear, at the same time keep her safe:)
She looks cute as pie:)
 
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Thank you... she has curled up in the most awkward position ever on my knee so I'm having alot of trouble typing!

This is the puppy that I said would never be allowed on the sofa... oops.

Also.... Betsy seems to find cars very scary if we are on the path walking against the flow of traffic. Is she odd?? i mean I know shes a bit derranged - she has to be to fit in with this house but she really poops herself when cars come towards us. When we walk with the flow of traffic she tries to chase the cars...
 
The little cavalier I have in was petrifies of traffic, I jsut flooded her, I would allow her sometimes to sit on my knee in the car (not every journet though):p so she could see the car wizz by, and sat on grass verges with her near traffic, then walked her up and down a not very busy but busy enough road, I did have other dogs, which helped as she could see they where not reacting, but I literally pulled her on by, you could take some little tit bits to take her mind of it and drop them down before her as she walks, as a positive associator.
 
I'd sit on a bench or a seat at the side of the road or even in the car boot with it open, whenever a car goes past, if she shies away or tries to chase, ignore her, when she starts to show no reaction, praise and give her a treat.
My male will still sometimes shy away from very large artics etc along the road but I will not reinforce his fears, he'll get ignored if he ducks and he'll get a pat and a good boy! if he shows no reaction at all.
Sometimes we'll just go and sit on the verge just to reinforce that passive behaviour = good times, shying away = nothing.

I'd start focus training with her, get her to look at you and focus on you if she wants anything like a treat, ball, fuss, so that looking at and zoning out onto things like other dogs, cars etc come second in her mind to looking at you and all good things coming from you. You can't train a dog to do anything if it isn't paying attention to you.

Bear in mind also that she is only 15 weeks old, a baby, so cars etc will be very scary to her and walks at this stage should only really be for getting her out and about and used to different scenarios, rather than exercise.
 
Thank you! All wimpy behaviour is ignored but she does get alot of praise at points in her walks when she is being good :)

We have been practicing 'look' (ie. focus training) and she gets it completely in the house or garden but everything is more exciting than boring mam outside!

Will deff keep working on it!
 
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