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Original poster

Bully puppy - please help!

18 replies

Disenchanted3 · 21/08/2009 19:17

Hello!

I got a pup a week and a half ago, I have been in close contact with the breeder since then, updates, questions etc ... She still had 1 pup left after this time and after talking it through we decided to take the 2nd pup.

We collected her today but all they do is fight!

The thing is the newer pup (who is alot smaller & thinner) is happy to play fight at times but the other pup just wants to CONSTANTLY!! And the other one seems to come off worse and has whimpered a few times too!

Any advice?

OP posts:

BitOfFun · 21/08/2009 19:30

Two dogs is an awful lot to take on- I'd be tempted to return the second one back to the breeder as it hasn't been long. This will be an on-going issue.

Original poster

Disenchanted3 · 21/08/2009 20:38

Sorry, no thats not an option.

We have been onto a dog behaviorist.

They have said we need tp assert ourselves as top dog and let them work out a pecking order between them, once one has dominace over the other (with us still being higher in the pack than both) they will stop fighting.

I believe 99.9% of dog issues canb be solved with timew and knowledge rather than just getting rid of them to make lifwe easier

OP posts:

BitOfFun · 21/08/2009 20:57

I don't go around chucking puppies in rivers in pillowcases! But I am thinking you were a bit rash, and are still in a "cooling off" period consumer-wise.

BitOfFun · 21/08/2009 20:57

I don't go around chucking puppies in rivers in pillowcases! But I am thinking you were a bit rash, and are still in a "cooling off" period consumer-wise.

BitOfFun · 21/08/2009 20:57

I don't go around chucking puppies in rivers in pillowcases! But I am thinking you were a bit rash, and are still in a "cooling off" period consumer-wise.

SalVolatile · 21/08/2009 21:05

Sorry Dis, but yes, BIG mistake. Two pups are a problem not just because of the dominance issue, but because they will find it more fun to play with each other, when you need to be the source of fun in their lives in order to be the trainer. I do know quite a bit about this btw. If you are adamant that you intend to keep both puppies (what breed, btw?) then presumably you are prepared to invest in support from a professional dog trainer since that will make the job much, much easier......good luck.

Original poster

Disenchanted3 · 21/08/2009 21:09

They are pugs.

They have already seemed to calm down a fair bit, they are sleeping together now on their puppy bed! sweet!

OP posts:

BitOfFun · 21/08/2009 21:12

Gosh, I'm very insistent on definitely not being a bad person, aren'tI? Sorry, not sure what happened there

Original poster

Disenchanted3 · 21/08/2009 21:21

lol

Sorry, bit defensive as I obviously thought it through throughly and I know its double the work plus some more! But I feel its worth it watching them sleeping now.

Bit like kids eh?

OP posts:

BitOfFun · 21/08/2009 21:26

They do sound veeeeerrry cute.

Alambil · 21/08/2009 23:38

are you sure it's fighting and not playing?

my mums lab is a REAL wimp - the GR gets her in a headlock and she howls for mercy... the GR isn't even hurting! They are both very vocal when they play too and make horrific growly noises intermingled with whimpers from the lab lol

It's true - once they're in order, they'll just play and then the higher one will dictate when and where, and if it has enough it'll deal with it in a doggy fashion which is usually barky and bitey, but not viscious - it's more like grabbing someone and saying "Enough already!" rather than battering them iyswim

Dogs sound horrific when they play - well, my mums do - I always ask "is that normal!?" when I hear them at it lol

Original poster

Disenchanted3 · 21/08/2009 23:46

Yes Lewis!

The behaviourist is coming to see if it is even fighting.

May just be playing, they sound like gremlins!

OP posts:

Original poster

Disenchanted3 · 21/08/2009 23:52

heres a wee pic

OP posts:

spugs · 22/08/2009 08:56

Two litter mates are very hard work and a lot of breeders refuse to sell two from the same litter. Your going to have to work very hard to make it work. You need to do everything separately with them to ensure they bond strongly with you and not each other. Feed,walk,train,play with them separately. Get them both a crate and use them. They can be beside each other but not in the same one. Two puppies loose in the same room unaccompanied is a bad idea.

I have two pups that are 3 months apart in age, my older one was already house trained and had basic obedience down but its still been 4 x the work of just having one! My two fight the younger one in particular sounds like shes being murdered but its just play and if they start getting too rough there split up either into separate rooms or crates.

Im sure bella or someone more experianced will be along soon, good luck and enjoy

spugs · 22/08/2009 08:57

There very cute by the way are they both bitches?

bethoo · 22/08/2009 09:06

i had two litter mate boxers, brothers who played with each other throughout their lives. yes they sounded like pitbulls fighting but they were not.
i dont regret getting the two but there are a few mistakes i made on the way which i now know not to do in future.
crates is a good idea as mine would destroy the house as pups but not when they got older.
get them socialised as my two were dominanant with other dogs due to thm already having an established pack.
train them separately to guarantee good manners and good walking habits. i used to walk mine together and they were cometitive with each other to walk in front of one another!
also ensure you spend alot of time playing and interacting as sometimes one would not come to me unless the other did!
but other than that they were a joy.
sadly one passed last year but have got another puppy for company.
good luck.
and dont let your pugs cute faces fool you, as they are not daft and will take advantage of you!

bethoo · 22/08/2009 09:12

if you think one is bullying the other it is because they are the same age and litter mates that the one who has been there the longest even if a day or two is trying ot establish that they are the alpha role in the pack, had you got another puppy 18 months later there would already have bene an established pecking order that the puppy would understand. your first puppy is just letting it be known that it is the boss of the house and notthe second.
if yo are happy with this being hte case then feed the first puppy first so the second relises where it comes in the pecking order.
but remember that you are the alpha over them both and let it be known.
have you watched the Dog Whisperer as it is really enlightening and may help with ideas and tips on how to prevent severe sibling rivalry as pugs are stubborn.
hth
xx

Original poster

Disenchanted3 · 22/08/2009 09:39

Yes Beth, this morning i pretended to eat their food first, then let Poppy eat & finish hers then Lily was allowed to eat.

Lily is already submitting to Poppy, regularly so I'm hoping it wont taKE TOO LONG BEFORE THE PECKING ORDER IS ESTABLISHED.

Ooops caps, sorry!

OP posts:

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