[chalcedon]

HI I have a 7 year old yorkshire-husky-pomeranian mix. Very smart and fit. 6 month ago we go our additional puppy - a border collie-labrador-staffordsherterrier-doberman-pointer mix. Now my smaller dog reacts very aggressiv towards here when i am trowing the ball and her aggression is getting more and more. the puppy is not aware of her size and sometimes bumps into her. I wonder is the aggression her only way to protect herself of the big puppy? She is a lovely dog but very possessiv regarding her toy (not against me, but any other dog). the puppy does not react aggressiv against her but starts to chaise her now and my little one is constantly barking and growling against her (when running with her toy). I am pretty annoyed with the aggression and dont know what to do: how can i stop her aggression? It seems to be that she think alpha when i am far away.

[lange]

Hi. I'm new to having a multiple dog household and it's been an interesting couple of months! Your 7 y.o. could very well be alpha to your puppy.

Some questions...Does your 7 y/o get a chance to play with a toy without your pup interfering or taking it away? Does she get alone time? Do you favor her less because of the puppy? Enough individual attention with you? These are just some things that may be playing into what is happening that I can think of.

My suggestions are you can either; 1.) give toys (or play catch) when they are apart. plus they can each have individual play time with you as well. 2.) Give them their own toys. Correct the dogs when they grab the wrong one. Somewhat like you would do if they were chewing on something that was yours. By doing 'Leave it', then exchanging for appropriate chew toy & praise. 3.) Teach tolerance by distracting her- concentrating on you/obedience/treat.

But ultimately, I would think if you can't control the aggression then control the circumstances of when they get toys.

[chalcedon]

thanks, that are some interesting suggestions. I also changed plan the last couple of days and it works very good. If puppy or my older dog is showing any form of aggression by fighting for the toy or if the pup is bullying the older one i just correct them with the sound - i just don't let THEM figure it out anymore. By correcting both at the same time some magic happened- i guess i just fullfilled my job as a boss and they are glad. puppy doesnt chase her and older dog doesn't fight for the toy.

the second strategie is this: i let the older dog sit and throw the toy and the puppy will get it. I release the older dog and she fully accepts that the puppy has the toy now and the other way around: I let the puppy sit and throw the ball for the older.

The interesting thing is: when i throw the ball and both are running for it....the dog who gets it first, gets it and the other accepts it. So VERY interesting. I first thought that i should let the dogs figure out their individual positioning but by doing that, they started to bully and to show aggression which got more and more. By showing both of them, what is ok and what not, they somehow figure it out and all is fine.

[lange]

That's great! I'm glad you posted what worked. Sometimes the answers are really that easy!

Have you tried the second strategy you posted or it's your next move? You could use a lead on the one sitting while you train the other. I bet you could have them running for the ball on command by using their name like "Rufus Catch"..so that they could know verbally who is to go after the thrown toy. You could get there with your two since they listen to you so well. Then when you want to let them race for it you can say "RACE!" LOL

That is something I would LOVE to do with my two but my pup could careless about catching the toy unless my older dog is chasing her.

[chalcedon]

yes i alredy started the second strategy today. Puppy of course still has to learn to stay and sit but my older dog is very well trained. The main goal is, to choose one of the dogs, say the name and "get it" and the other one knows to back up even she would be the faster one. I will try that in this way:

first: one dog has to sit, i call the name of the other dog and "get it" and she will run for it and the dog has to sit until the other reached the ball

second: one dog has to sit, i call the name of the other dog and "get it" and she will run for it but before she reaches the bal and release the sitting dog and will make sure that she won't take over the ball

third stage: both dogs are free, I call one name and "get it" and both run for it but the other dog won't take it.

I am sure it will take a while as my puppy is still very much "puppy" and has to learn a lot but this could be a very peacefull and exciting game