** Mod note: This message was accidentally posted in the wrong thread. **

Denise,

the issue is the adult dog is correcting the puppy when the owner chastises it. (like the adult is ganging up with the human against the puppy).

It is not a case of a puppy bugging an adult dog and getting corrected for it.

Janice's way is valid, but I think if a pup is bothering an adult dog the adult should be allowed to correct the puppy. In my case, my pup was corrected consistently and fairly by one of my adults. Today he is 8 months and this female is the only one he can be loose with, because she is the only one he respects. He has NO respect for the other dogs, he jumps on them and bodyslams them (so I have to keep them separate, for the sanity of the adults). My one male does correct him but the pup doesn't listen.

This is NOT what the OP was posting about. Her adult dog is aggressively (not fairly) correcting her puppy for NO reason - the adult dog is not even in the room when the puppy gets chastised.

In my case, I allow the adult to correct the pup for infractions against that dog (jumping on them for example, or behaving rudely). Not for any reason they feel like, or an infraction against the house rules, for instance. I hope that helps.

** Mod note: This message was accidentally posted in the wrong thread. **

YEs I agree Angela, I missed the way the dog was correcting and why,,,,,yes, that kind is NOT allowed.

no, the issue is older dog is softly growling/sometimes pinning to floor really annoying pup. sonny does the head butt play with me thing, roxie says hey, beat it little dog.....

i wasn;t talking about my adult dogs correcting the pup unfairly, or ganging up on him. Also, if i give a correction to any of my dogs, none of the others get involved, unless it is to make stink eyes at the offending dog.

alot like angela was saying, i was curious if allowing the older dog(not bart) to correct the pup for headbutting/slamming, etc.

i'm not sure where you all got that i was allowing an older dog to unfairly and for no reason correct a pup....

 Quote: Angela Burrell

... In my case, I allow the adult to correct the pup for infractions against that dog (jumping on them for example, or behaving rudely). Not for any reason they feel like, or an infraction against the house rules, for instance. I hope that helps.

yes, that is what i mean, you said it better, are situations like this ok?

Edited by Connie Sutherland (07/26/2008 05:12 PM)
Edit reason: mod clarified quotes

ok, i think my thread is being confused with this one
http://www.leerburg.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/193675/page/0/fpart/1

Mallory I apologize, I did indeed post in the wrong thread!! Sorry for that!!! I didn't even realize I did that.

Now that I've read your thread... I allow my adults to correct my puppy... I just make sure the adults are fair and are "correcting to the level of obedience" as Ed would say. As in not going overboard.

My adult female would snarl loudly and knock my puppy to the ground with her teeth on his throat (basically alpha roll him). She would let go when he submitted. This alarmed almost everyone who saw it, but the puppy would just jump up and repeat his idiot behaviour, so obviously she was not correcting him too hard (he seems to be a hard dog).

So what I mean is watch the puppy's reaction. If he is frightened, you need to step in but if he stops his annoying behaviour and acts normal after the correction, it's fine, IMO. I think it's good for a young puppy to learn pack manners and how to respect other dogs when they say "no".

Our older boy quickly teaches puppies where the boundaries are when we bring them in. BUT we know he will be fair and consistent. The other two of ours are lower ranking and want to play too so don't tend to correct puppies. Our Elvis NEVER causes dog fights with puppies. He corrects them with a quick grab and growl. The puppy submits and it's over with in less than 2 seconds. If he tries the same thing right away Elvis will correct him harder to make his point. He will give them an especially hard correction if a puppy reaches for HIS food but he doesn't aim to injure or fight. He simply teaches the puppy to not touch his food and they don't forget. They may squeal in surprise but he isn't hurting them. We as the pack leaders handle adult dogs but as the top ranking out of our dogs he is allowed to deal with puppies.

It may sound dangerous but with the amount of fosters we bring through our house Elvis is very used to strange puppies.

I never allow older dogs to correct pups. Not companion dogs, no type of dog. The potential for something to go wrong is too great and in my household I do the correcting. I don't allow pups to romp around with older dogs, thus eliminating puppies ability to pester older dogs and removing the need for a correction to take place.

Wow, a pack of five. That must be fun!

 Quote:

Am I just totally wrong, but dogs do some correcting just to let other dog know where things stand, there is rank among the lower members and they have to sort it out with growls. I never let all correction be done, but if one dog is just letting the other dog know, hey, dont step that far,,,,,,as long as not in extreme, would that be a problem....SOrry didnt mean to hijack

Actually this is related. When you own a pack of dogs, and you leave for work, friends, etc. A new dog steps up as pack leader since dogs ALWAYS need a leader. That's what Mallory's older dogs are doing. Telling the little one leave me alone, I'm above you and that behavior is unwanted by me.

With that said, I do the same thing as you are currently doing. Since I foster, we have a lot of dogs come through the house, often ADORABLE puppies. I let my guy correct them, but watch every move he makes. He can be a little harsh at times, but it seems that he is more assertive with the more pushy puppies, and a less vocal, growly with the pups that get it immediately. All the puppies learn their lesson quickly 'don't poke the older dog'. You know your dogs best, you know how far they will go with their corrections, so it is hard for someone else to make that call.


Mallory, I have heard that when you do own a pack of dogs (who live as a pack), you don't correct all of them you are supposed to correct the beta (lead dog, but not alpha, you are alpha) who is in turn supposed to correct the lower dogs bad behavior. Do you use this? Or see the alpha dog beta pack member correcting the others' behavior?

 Quote: Jennifer Marshal

I never allow older dogs to correct pups. Not companion dogs, no type of dog. The potential for something to go wrong is too great and in my household I do the correcting.

 Quote: Cameron Feathers

I never allow them to correct one another.

I couldn't agree more.