[Davis41]

Hi Everyone, I am new to this forum. But after reading over the threads very glad I found it. Here's my problem. We have a new member of our family, a 9 1/2 week old Shih Tzu. Most of the time she is a sweetheart but lately she will turn into a Tasmanian devil dog! She throws a total temper tantrum if she doesn't get her own way. The first time she did this with me was when I stopped her playing with my older dog as they were getting too rough. She growls, snarls and snaps when she does this, like a crazed puppy. I am not sure of the right way to control and stop this behavior. (I have read in the books that this is normal when there is a need not met. But no details) She seems to do this when I want her to calm down so have looked at it as puppy overload. We have a play pen as well as a crate. I hate using either as a place to be punished as I want her to feel good about "her place" in the house. When she is in this mood she does not calm down when place in either one of these either. Instead will start barking her head off.

My older dog was 12 weeks old when we got him and he never did this, so I am very confused and a bit frighten by this behavior. He is also not a Shih Tzu but a Cairn Terrier mix. Not sure if this is a breed behavior.

Any help you can give me will be much appreciated!

[Davis41]

Thank you ... I wasn't sure if I got a crazy baby or not. The blood I worry about is her hurting the older dog. He has been wonderful with her but she will get a hold of him with those sharp baby teeth and hurts him! I wish my old gal was in any shape to take care of her but she is a 14 year old German Shepard and can hardly get around. The baby seems to know that she can't mess with her and leaves her alone. My old gal trained Sammy and I really wish she was in shape to help me with Zoe! perhaps we should make a play date with MOM?

Yes I think you are right, I should have waited a week or two if they would have. But this little gal is very sharp and has already learned sit, down and we are now working on stay. Only think she is not getting is we pee outside and don't have to use the pee pee pad! I took a used pad and put it on the lawn. Shadow and Sammy are doing their best to show her how too, but she is more interested in eating the grass... Oh well I can deal with that, it is the temper tantrums that are my concern.