Help, I have a labrador bitch she is 8 months old,I have my son's dog for 2 weeks also a ladrador who is 3 years old.she is frightened of the younger dog who only wants to playwith her,my dog keeps nipping her legs.Any ideas how I can make them get along together.

[german sheep]

Hi nikkilordy,

the lab from your son is not a part of your intern pack.
So the dogs are trying to find a command structure. That has nothing to do with playing.
The younger dog must test the older one, who is stronger and gets more affection. This looks like it is funny but for the dogs it is elementary to check this out, IF no human is showing them that every little bit depends on him.

So take the dogs to their crate and let them have a rest there. When you are going out with them, go with every dog seperate to have the full attention on the one you' re out with. Let them work for you while you are outside.

If your dog tries to find out what the dos and don'ts are, dont leave it alone. You have to show the dogs, that you are the leader in the pack and that there is no need to do it of their own.

A dog has a hard dependency to the human beings and dogs are not made for taking decisions in a life together with us. That is our job.

When you see that the older one does not feel comfortable, because the younger one is nipping her in a way, then you have to be directly there and seperate both by going between them. Don' use your hands, just stay between them and push the dog aside which startet the interaction.

Consider this:
From the dogs piont of view they are acting in a correct way, they don't do mistakes because everything they showing us is from their perspective correct and appropriate to the species. So don't victimise them (by screaming or shouting)

LG
gs