It's 3.5 days since Heiland has come home and the cats have all taken to staying out of the house until he is crated and has stopped screaming (60 minutes last night is all) Good!

I do have questions regarding his interactions with my tiny girl who is 5.5. She is healing from Struvite surgery and there is no way I can allow him (wouldn't even if she hadn't had the surgery) to place one of those paws on her - so it's been a bit of a problem - OK a biggish one

He wants to fixate on her - he is not being aggressive, just wants to play, but he is determined to reach her or invade her space.

She growled at him and snapped in the air when he was about 1.5 feet from her - he backed off slightly and then gave a bark and tried to dive back in... I had him on his leash and of course he didn't get near her and I have now widened her personal space and I keep him at least 3 feet from her but...

When we are out walking (I have them both on a leash now thanks to the advice of someone on here) he nearly trips me trying to get to her - I redirect and had him carry a branch in his mouth. I don't allow him to maintain eye contact with her but I know there is more I could be doing and appreciate all advice.

I can elaborate more if needed as to other things I am trying but would rather hear from those of you who brought home a large breed puppy into a home with a tiny mature dog.

While she's healing, I'd keep them separated. As a general rule an older female and a young male will be fine, but your instincts are right I think when you mentions the paw on her, he's just not going top be gentle enough with her right now.

I'd try to make sure that her routine is kept the same and do what you are already, teach him to behave around her.

Baby gates.

Really, that has helped me out immensely in training my German Shepherds to be around my Cairn Terrier. Well, that and my CT is a big old b!tch.

Seriously though, having the dogs able to see each other (but not get at each other) took away 90% of the pup's curiosity and excitement. It works very well if you are playing with the pup and keeping him occupied, rather than letting him fixate on the small dog.

We walked together and also spent time out in the yard (with puppy tethered to me).

I always keep food/toys on hand to distract the puppy and turn it into a training moment.

And honestly, bugging an older/smaller dog is one thing that I will correct a puppy for doing.

Very tired pup on a leash with small dog around is a good place to start interaction.

Thank you Melissa - I am going to look into them. I love it when I read the responses and all the excellent advice.

How's it going, Maggie?

The first week, even with an adopted adult, can seem very very overwhelming.

This too shall pass.

Last night I was feeling like I made a huge mistake. That I wasn't up to the task and I am not referring to him learning how to do things - I have no expectations of that at this point.

He is so fast and sees everything. His desire to play is everything you would want to watch as it's so cute.

But when it comes to his actions with the older dog, well, I did panic a bit last night.

He seems to have his days and nights mixed up even though I try hard to keep him to a schedule. He gets up in the morning with me and eats a bit - not hungry in the mornings much - then after he has a bit of fun outside he just wants to sleep. He sleeps for hours in the day (he is really bothered by the heat and doesn't like a fan on him - so his night time energy levels are very high and mine are low.

Knowing it will pass is helping - if I do it right not only will it pass but he will be a confident happy dog who is well. trained.

I just want whats best for both dogs and working to find a solution that works - lots of video searching, reading the forums on puppies and doing my best to implement the excellent advice I got from people on this site.

Ohh and I am going to write a best selling book on how to lose weight that has nothing to do with food - just one sentence on one page; Get a Malx. I am down 4 pounds in 6 days (grin)

I keep reading Steve's excellent advice and trying to follow it;

"Spend your time teaching and shaping what you want, not trying to stop things you don't want".

I know other people must have had these kind of desperate moments - feel free to tell me your horror stories so I will know it's happened to others (smiles)

Keep your chin up Maggie

As far as night time activity goes, working dogs will work all night if you let them, or if the mission dictates. Fama would work whenever asked, but once the sun was down, it was game on. It was almost like working a different dog. If left to their own devices, dogs are active at night and sleep through the day. It's our human schedule we're imposing on them, so it will take some time.

You didn't really describe what happened to illicit your panic. I hope everything is OK, and you understand how to avoid the situation.

Thanks David - that's what I am trying to implement - not allowing a situation to happen that requires a correction - such as his fixation on my tiny dog - which I re-direct and take him away from her - When I say that it's almost impossible to keep them separate it's not that I am trying to have it my way and not hearing ppl - it's the size of the house - we had to take a tiny tiny house in order to find a place where big dogs are allowed.

There is only a galley kitchen - 2 feet wide of walking space - the combo LR and eating area is 8x10 and the bedrooms aren't an option except for crating to sleep. My tiny dog has a bed at my feet her whole life - I can't put her in a B/R even with a baby gate as that's just not fair - all my time is spent in the front room.

With his expen in it and his bog boy bed, there is hardly any floor space to walk - so even tightly leashed to me he is very close to her and if I am not vigilant, he is fast and gets too close to her, giant paws flopping and flailing,ready to bite her but it's only play bites - but he is way bigger than her and his teeth are sharp and he really wants her tail that sticks up like a flag pole or her very large ears.

So I have had some feedback as to what to do but some of it will take time and I am looking for an immediate solution to a complex problem j/k lol

So just looking for ppl who have had this problem tell me what they did and I will see if it fits my set up - I am willing to try anything that is safe and healthy for the baby boy

Edited by Maggie MacDonald (05/04/2013 11:06 PM)
Edit reason: clarity

Don't let it become a job! Relax and breath!
Stop to smell the roses and the occasional thorn will be easier to handle.

 Quote: Bob Scott

Don't let it become a job! Relax and breath!
Stop to smell the roses and the occasional thorn will be easier to handle.

+1