Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi folks!
We currently have a 14 year old dog (Boston Terrier) and a 13 year old cat. We've added an 8 week old English Springer Spaniel puppy to the group. The problem is the puppy is way too active for our elder Boston Terrier. Constantly following and nipping him. The Boston snaps at his face without actually biting him and then finds a safe place for a bit. This goes on the entire time the ESS is out of his crate. It's driving us all crazy! I find myself confining him to his crate more often. My only solution is to block off part of the living room where he can play and all other pets are out of his reach. This way I can use the crate for it's original purpose and not have it be just a convenient way to separate them. Does anyone have any suggestions on what I can do when the Boston and ESS are together? I would rather not use punishment on the ESS for his bad behavior and want to reward for good behavior but there is never any good behavior to reward when they are together!
Thank you for any suggestions.
Macky

>>Hi folks!
>>We currently have a 14 year old dog (Boston Terrier) and a 13 year old cat. We've added an 8 week old English Springer Spaniel puppy to the group. The problem is the puppy is way too active for our elder Boston Terrier. Constantly following and nipping him. The Boston snaps at his face without actually biting him and then finds a safe place for a bit. This goes on the entire time the ESS is out of his crate. It's driving us all crazy! I find myself confining him to his crate more often. My only solution is to block off part of the living room where he can play and all other pets are out of his reach. This way I can use the crate for it's original purpose and not have it be just a convenient way to separate them. Does anyone have any suggestions on what I can do when the Boston and ESS are together? I would rather not use punishment on the ESS for his bad behavior and want to reward for good behavior but there is never any good behavior to reward when they are together!
>>Thank you for any suggestions.
>>Macky

>>>>>>>>>>

You could have the pup drag a leash so you can call the puppy away from rough play and use the leash to make sure he comes. Give him a treat for coming and give the other dog a treat for coming, too. Keep stepping back and giving a tree for stepping up to you, 3-5 times in a row, to fully take the pup's mind off the rough play. Then release, and if the pup gets too rough again, repeat calling and rewarding for coming. Also, do let the older dog correct him, and do not leave them alone together until both are safe and comfortable and pup is older than 4 months.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series at www.veterinaryforum.com

Kathy, Thank you. I will begin doing this today.