Dog interactions

[SnakeyMcBadass]

Just after your thoughts, dog lovers. The spaniel is 3, the cockapoo is 18 months. Both are males, both neutered. They get on well the majority of the time. The pup is an annoying little brother, though, and will try and instigate play when the spaniel is sleeping. He does this by making all kinds of growly whiney noises, slapping him on the face and mouthing his ears. The spaniel is mostly good natured about this, and will roll on his back and they do that walrus mouth duelling thing. However, just lately, things have got a little out of hand. The spaniel will jump to his feet and go on a wall of death, body slamming and lunging at the pup. The pup curls his lip and lifts his paw at him, but then lunges after him. Just now when it happened, the pup also cried. I separate them when I suspect it's going too far, but should I do anything else? Neither dog is ever injured. The pup always starts these episodes, then ends up scared and runs to me to save him.

[Booboostoo]

Sounds normal. I would let the older dog teach the puppy boundaries. Puppies have an awful squeely noise they make, it doesn't mean they are hurt it just means "I am little take care!". If they have a proper fight you will know about it and see injuries.

[SnakeyMcBadass]

Oh, I know they're not fighting. Just wondering if I should step in more? The pup really is a wind up merchant, but he ways 6kg to the spaniel's 17kg. I think the spaniel thinks 'You want to play? Come on then let's play!' And then we have a batshit wall of death spaniel thundering around the house and a puppy as a hat

[SnakeyMcBadass]

Weighs! Eugh. I hate myself.

[tomanyanimals]

Sometimes you need to let them have a little scrap ours did for a while once the younger dog learnt her boundaries nothing nasty has happened obviously step in if you can see an injury coming but pups do make an awful noise.
My next door neighbours dogs fight constantly that's isn't pretty but nothing I can do about that.

[marne2]

Mine are 1 and 5 years old, when the youngest was a pup we used a crate for him to sleep in and to give the other dog a break but we no longer use it and the dogs will often sleep together, the youngest will often pounce on the eldest but she will growl at him to tell him off ( I just let them sort it out ).

[Bubble2bubble]

I would say they will eventually sort it out themselves.
I very occasionally 'time out' a puppy who is being annoying to the older dogs, but that applies more to younger pups getting overtired and hyper. I prefer it if they learn from the older dog really, even if that seems a bit harsh sometimes.