Ok, I've got an interesting situation that I'd like some feedback on. As everyone can see I have a 1 yr old female Great Dane, her name is Cassy. She's a very sweet girl, submissive, and does well with verbal corrections. I've had her for about 10 months, and she knows my voice, and what is expected. If I ever on the rare occasion have to raise my voice to her she puts her ears back, head down, tail between her legs a little bit, and goes to her spot and lies down. Then she looks at me with her big sad brown eyes like the world just ended. But anyway, that's Cassy. I'd have to say 99% of the time, she's fine.

Now I've got my little chomper dutch pup (13 weeks old, 11 lbs), Leo. Mr drivey mouthy puppy that has no fear of anything, and is quite the antagonizer, but doesn't like to be bothered when he's not "in the mood". He is quite submissive with me and the kids, rolls over on his back for tummy rubs, sits when he wants to be petted, and is generally well behaved besides his mouthy-ness which is getting better.

Now the interaction between the two for the most part is fine, they play well for the most part, they take naps together, even play with the same toys. As Leo is getting older, even over the past few weeks, he is getting to the point now where he isn't putting up with Cassy nudging him with her nose to play, and is flipping out on her. Then I go and break it up, because she gets all cranked up and starts running in circles and instigating him to keep going by swating at him with her paw, or giving him a body check with her head (which is almost the same size as he is).

This in turn just gets him riled up and he goes after her (that's right, 11 lb pup goes after the Great Dane!), all the while she's jumping around trying to avoid the ankle-biter. They both get the verbal correction , and a time out to cool off. This all happens in seconds, so the correction and split up is immediate and swift when the infraction occurs. Now there's other times, when they're playing together and wrestling and he's having the time of his life. All the while they antagonize each other and nice play continues.

On occasion he is obviously not in the mood to play, all he wants to do is lie down and take nap. So Cassy takes it upon herself to try and get him to play, which he respondes with growling/barking and lunging, and then avoidance/ignoring to try and go on his way to be left alone. It's almost as if Cassy takes it as a thumbs up to initiate more play, then he does the same thing. So I go and give her a verbal correction and tell her to leave him alone and stop being a bully, so she backs off and Leo comes up and bites her which just gets her going again. So they get split up for a time out, and all is peaceful once again.

Now another part of this whole thing is when Leo does his mouthy thing and puts his teeth on human skin, he gets a verbal correction and redirected to a toy. Then Cassy feels the need to save the day, and give him her own correction to "help out" and be "mommy", so she runs over and gives me a sniff and a small lick and proceeds to put her head on him to hold him down. Which obviously he doesn't like, and that starts another tiff with him snarling, barking, growling and lunging & biting. Cassy's hair goes up, tail gets stiff, she stands up tall and it's game on. Time to show the pup who is higher rank, yet Mr Pup doesn't see it that way and will continue his display which just escalates things. They get corrected, and seperated as soon as this behavior starts.

Obviously this is a pack behavior issue, what I'm wondering is, should I allow her to establish her rank over him and let her put him in his place to resolve some of this conflict, or keep with what I have been doing, and wait till they figure it out?
Obviously too, I don't want him to get hurt, but I honestly don't think she would hurt him. Maybe give him a good nip. Opinions?

IMO, no dogs should be allowed to correct each other, or play hump, or steal toys, or display any kind of dominant posture. In my house, there is only one leader and that's me. I don't need or want any help. All dogs, regardless of size or age are treated equally.

Keep correcting for these small infractions. Zero tolerance policy. That's the only way to have a multiple dog household that doesn't include separation. I know some people manage multiple dogs by separating, but I'm just not doing that. I'm not going to be a prison warden in my own home.

 Quote: Ben McDonald

(that's right, 11 lb pup goes after the Great Dane!),

second night I had Pisa home, she weighed 12.5 pounds, Bridget 215. I had Pisa on mylap on the couch with a pig ear, bridget came over like she did when a cat was in my lap, slowly and calmly for a sniff, well Pisa tore into her face, barking snarling and growling.....10 month later its getting better

in my being worried that my new pup would have good interactions

I let my big girl down.........
and I still feel like a grade "A" s**t

I don't think you've let anybody down. After 10 months it's better so you must be doing something right.

As you've seen, size and age seem to matter more to humans than dogs. Obviously you can't correct a baby pup in the same way as an adult-- but age-appropriate correction/re-direction/whatever it takes is still important.

A bigger or older dog shouldn't have to put up with a pushy smaller or younger dog, just because of their size/age difference. And you shouldn't expect the older dog to help give corrections.

Just keep monitoring them. You know them well enough to anticipate when one of them is even thinking about starting something. You can stop it with a look.

Equal treatment, equal enforcement of the rules. It's not that hard. It just takes consistency from you.

Thanks for the advice, I've gone into the zero tolerance policy and things are already turning around. Incidences are getting less frequent, and they ignore/tolerate each other alot more, so far. I'm going to be keeping a close eye on it, and when I can't, Leo can play in his ex-pen.

Terrific! And just so you're not always the bad guy, remember that the opposite side of the coin is to praise them for behaving in ways that you do want. Even if it's just laying quietly together in the same room or both sitting and watching you (rather than each other)--those are praiseworthy.

It's much easier to be a good leader when you are more interesting than anything else in the world--especially the other dog in the household. Whatever it is that makes you the center of the universe (tug toy? treat? belly rub?) is a great way to re-direct the energy of a dog who's feeling like being a punk.

And exercise. That can't be emphasized enough as the very first thing to think of when a dog isn't behaving. A good long hike is both cure and prevention for a lot of household shenanigans.

Thanks Tracy, very good advise indeed. I think they do in fact could use more excercise then what they're getting. I can take them both outside to the fenced in yard and let them romp around, which they are fine, they both run around and sniff everything, or chew grass. I'm always afraid she's going to step on him though, or run him over, she is so clumsy sometimes. They get to do other things too, but they romp around outside in the yard mostly.

I found out today that they can't both have marrow bones without puppy being a pest, he tried to take her bone and got nipped. So they found out that type of behavior was not going to be tolerated, and the bones went away. They seem to be fine with toys, it's more food related items. They get fed seperately, Leo gets fed in his ex-pen, and Cassy in her usual area. I think he learned his lesson after he got nipped though, he stayed away from her after that and went to go lie down.