Dog Community

Jealousy/Barking

Posted : 9/28/2010 5:25:18 PM

So, we're having some issues with Penny. Penny has been an only dog for all her life, until about 2 years ago when we got Daisy. She's always had some jealous tendencies, but I thought that maybe they'd fade away once she got used to having another dog in the house. However, that doesn't seem to be the case. It's extremely frustrating. Penny is tall enough to jump on and off the bed and couch no problem. Daisy on the other hand is too short and has to ask to get up and down. Well, Penny FREAKS when Daisy wants on the furniture. She barks, growls, lunges, just spazzs. Daisy has and will snap at Penny, putting her in her place. Daisy is not an aggressive dog whatsoever, it takes quite a bit to aggitate her, I can't really blame her for getting annoyed with Penny, but I do tell her NO! because it's not acceptable on either end. The barking is getting to the whole family. Daisy can barely move without Penny freaking out. The minute she hears Daisy's nails on the hardwood floor, it sets her off. Penny has always been a yapper, even more so than Daisy, a Chihuahua. I think she just likes to hear herself speak. I suppose kicking her off the furniture would help out the situation, but I work all day long and I know the rest of the family lets her on the furniture. Plus, when no one is home, she has free range of the house and spends most of the time of the couch or bed, sleeping. She doesn't have accidents or chew in the house, so I never really saw it as an issue. Plus, she's been used to being on the furniture for 7 years and we don't have carpet, just hard wood floors, so I guess she's likes the furniture because it's comfy. I always try to make sure Penny feels loved. I feed her first, say hi to her first, etc etc. I just don't know what else to do to keep her from getting jealous? There has been times we have Penny and Daisy have gotten into scraps, nothing too serious, but it's not something that I'd like to continue. They're okay with sharing bowls, walking on a coupler, etc etc. Penny just hates sharing the furniture.

Liesje

Posted : 9/28/2010 5:42:08 PM

It's your furniture, so it sounds like you can rule it which would mean confining or correcting Penny because she's not the boss, YOU are, or you can let Penny control it which means confining Daisy to protect her. I don't think it's jealousy but guarding. If Penny already has control of the furniture and doesn't let Daisy on, she has nothing to be jealous of but a resource to guard/protect. Generally, my rule is that the resident dog doesn't lose privileges because of a new/younger dog coming in, but in this case it sounds like the original dog is the problem. IMO you decide who gets on, not Penny. That means if Penny is guardy about it, she has to get off until she learns it is not hers to control.

tiffy

Posted : 9/28/2010 7:26:46 PM

I agree with Liesje. Its obvious Penny refuses to share, so until she can learn to share no more furniture privilidges for her.

jennie_c_d

Posted : 9/28/2010 10:18:43 PM

Bean has never been an only dog, living her life with a rotation of resident and foster dogs (we've lost two residents in her two years here, Toby and Emma). She recently has decided that the furniture is hers, too. She's currently sleeping.... on the FLOOR. Horror of all horrors. She's also been demoted to a crate, if I leave her home alone. It's not acceptable to me, period.