Hello

I have a 4 1/2 old Giant Schnauzer puppy that I am training in SDA and Schutzhund. He is doing exceptional with his training and is so smart. I could not be happier with him. He has amazing focus and engagement, not to mention he catches on to things so quickly.

The problem that I am incurring with him is his excessive biting and nipping of my other dog. I know that Thor, my Giant Schnauzer, is still just a pup and things will get better as his training advances and he gets older, I just want to make sure that I am doing everything that I can. I eventually would like for our dogs to be off leash in the house together and not to bother each other. So any advice or suggestions on what I can do would be greatly appreciated.

Both of our dogs are kenneled next to each other during the day but sleep separately in different rooms, they have separate training sessions as well as training sessions with both of them in the yard, and are taken outside separately for potty breaks. About 3-4 times a week my husband and I walk the dogs together, the rest of the time they are walked individually. When I am home alone, Thor is usually in an ex-pen while Tucker, my Standard Poodle, is on leash at my side or lying on his bed. When my husband is home both of the dogs are out and on leash but are never allowed to play in the house. If they start getting to rambunctious, they are put in their kennels for a time out.

We will occasionally try to let them both off leash in the yard together, which starts out fine both running and playing nicely but ends with Thor getting very rough and mean. Tucker is a soft natured dog and is easily intimidated so when this happens I try and redirect Thor’s attention on me, which is fine if I start a training session and am quick with my commands and rewards otherwise he will dart right back over to Tucker and bite anything he can get a hold of. Otherwise if they both won’t listen, they get put on leash and the playtime is over. This also happens when we take them to the beach and we let them off leash, however training sessions are easier for some reason then after the training session we end on a good note, put them both on lease again and continue on our way. I’m thinking they are better at the beach because it’s usually in the middle of our walk so they both had a little exercise first.

Like I said, I know that he is still young and things will get better. I just want to know if I should be doing anything differently or there is something better I should do. Right now I just continue to try and train him through it and take the good with the bad, some days are better than others.

I appreciate the help and insight.

Sarah

I personally wouldn't give the pup ANY opportunity to be rough and mean to your Standard poodle - it is really not fair to the older guy! Your desire to have them play nicely together may simply not be a reality; there are many folks on this forum who have two dogs which can not be off leash together and who are managed separately 24/7. I'd have the poodle off leash in the yard but a line on the younger pup to STOP/PREVENT any aggressive play/attitude BEFORE he gets the chance to make contact. Zippo.. nada... NO biting/mean behavior allowed. (Everytime he makes contact, it is self-reinforcing the behavior to him!) Best of luck and he is a great looking pup!

 Quote: Barbara Schuler

I personally wouldn't give the pup ANY opportunity to be rough and mean to your Standard poodle - it is really not fair to the older guy! Your desire to have them play nicely together may simply not be a reality; there are many folks on this forum who have two dogs which can not be off leash together and who are managed separately 24/7. I'd have the poodle off leash in the yard but a line on the younger pup to STOP/PREVENT any aggressive play/attitude BEFORE he gets the chance to make contact. Zippo.. nada... NO biting/mean behavior allowed. (Everytime he makes contact, it is self-reinforcing the behavior to him!) Best of luck and he is a great looking pup!

Huge ditto!

No member of my pack is allowed to do this to another. Making sure it does not happen is part of the pack leader job.

 Quote: barbara schuler

I personally wouldn't give the pup ANY opportunity to be rough and mean to your Standard poodle - it is really not fair to the older guy! Your desire to have them play nicely together may simply not be a reality; there are many folks on this forum who have two dogs which can not be off leash together and who are managed separately 24/7. I'd have the poodle off leash in the yard but a line on the younger pup to STOP/PREVENT any aggressive play/attitude BEFORE he gets the chance to make contact. Zippo.. nada... NO biting/mean behavior allowed. (Everytime he makes contact, it is self-reinforcing the behavior to him!) Best of luck and he is a great looking pup!

Thanks for the advice, but I all ready do this. The second that things gets rough 'playtime' is over. I always have my husband with me to help manage both of the dogs when they are off leash so that things go easier and are safer. We do allow on leash "social hour" for the dogs so that they can be together but if anything goes wrong we have control over the situation. We also do give them about 2-3 minutes to play off leash in the back yard about 1-2 times a week but like I said when thigns get rough play time is over. Things are getting better, they both have such a high prey drive though, that when one runs....well, you know what I'm talking about They are a blast though, and really smart.

I have all ready tried keeping the poodle off leash with the pup on leash but my poodle then tries to play to rough with the pup because he knows that puppy can't do anything back. Ahhh, such is the life of owning dogs! I love them both, they keep me on my toes.

I realize that they both may never be together off leash...but I would like for them to be civil around eachother. And I would like to try to do everything that I can while the pup and poodle are young (4.5 months and 1.5 years). Was just curious if I was doing thigns right or if there was anything else I should be doing. All of their time together is supervised 24/7, both are working dogs so I know that they may never be off leash together.

Thanks for the advice and if you think of anything else I could do, please let me know.

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

 Quote: Barbara Schuler

I personally wouldn't give the pup ANY opportunity to be rough and mean to your Standard poodle - it is really not fair to the older guy! Your desire to have them play nicely together may simply not be a reality; there are many folks on this forum who have two dogs which can not be off leash together and who are managed separately 24/7. I'd have the poodle off leash in the yard but a line on the younger pup to STOP/PREVENT any aggressive play/attitude BEFORE he gets the chance to make contact. Zippo.. nada... NO biting/mean behavior allowed. (Everytime he makes contact, it is self-reinforcing the behavior to him!) Best of luck and he is a great looking pup!

Huge ditto!

No member of my pack is allowed to do this to another. Making sure it does not happen is part of the pack leader job.

This is not a problem in my household. I am pack leader and I make sure to keep my pack safe at all times.

I do not let the behaviors continue until things get out of hand, I seperate/time out/correct the dogs in accordance to what is going on and their behavior at the time.

Because they are both so young I know that there are other things I could do with them to lead up to the day they can be off leash together and I am just not thinking of them. I also realize this may never happen.

I know that training advice is hard on the computer because you don't see/know the dogs or the people so therefore don't know what they do/do not do, but thank you for your advice.

Sarah, I'm going through the same thing right now with a new puppy--a 4 month old that wants to wrestle and gnaw on all his older housemates. I chalk it up to the pup just having more energy to burn than an older dog, teething, and puppies are generally wild and don't know how to behave.

I'm doing the same that you are. 95% of the time, the pup's on a leash. If things seem like they are getting too rough, play time is over. My house, my rules.

But I am letting mine interact together, in increasingly longer play times---and things are getting better. I can pretty much now just offer a hand clap or a "Nah" to break things up. If that doesn't work, then the pup's back on the leash tied to my belt.

While I in no way believe in the "let them work it out themselves" notion--I do think that allowing dogs (and puppies) to play like dogs is socially healthy. I've more than once observed one of my older dogs "end the play time" with the puppy because he was just getting too annoying. They didn't want to play with him any more. Being shunned a few times sent a message to the pup.

I also make a point to observe that when they are playing (wrestling, chasing, play biting, etc.) that it is mutual. If both dogs engaged in the play are actually enjoying it (and taking turns "pretending" who's winning) then I think it's fine. This is, of course, supervised by me. And it ends when I say so.

It does get better. In just the 4 weeks I've had my newest pup, I've noticed significant improvement in his pesky pup behavior.

So--short answer--you're doing it right, IMO, just keep it up!

Thanks a bunch for your in put Tracy. (Sorry it took so long to reply, have been without a computer for a while.) Things are getting better as they get older and I am doing pretty much the same thing that you are. I am now able to take both of them for a walk at the same time so they get more positive interactions together. How is your pup doing now?