Dog Community

Is it play or future conflict.. a bit of both?

Posted : 3/15/2011 5:42:29 PM

I am a worrier... I will admit that. I see everything as a problem or potential problem but I feel like it prepares me to nip things early. So here's the possible issue... Seven week old Royce has stopped being growly already with us. Great! He's learning at such an imcredible rate it is amazing. He already has the sit thing down and immediately does it when he wants attention or food (talk about smart.). T Bone does great with him bit Royce has started being more growly with T. He will jump up on T and growl and bite at him. He will growl at T if T mouths his head/neck area T Bone does NOT suffer an aggressive dog but seems completely unphased by this. He either (rarely) holds Royce till he squeaks and releases (not hurting him.) or ommediately stops and just looks at him. Royce will them choose to calmy show his belly once T bone stops touching him most of the time. Sometimes Royce appears to slink away from T almost not wanting to be around him. Then T bone lays down and Royce comes over wagging and theyll play. Eventually royce growls and jumps and it repeats. I remember my beagle siblings doing this and it looked and sounded awful. They never cared though. T Bone certainly doesnt. Should I intervene? Would T Bone be teaching him if it were going to be an issue? Is Royce just finding his place? This usually happens at high state of arousal or when he is very sleepy. Some people seem to think because I have two males theres no way they will get along. I dont believe that entirely but its definitely causing me to stress now. Over reacting O hope?

Liesje

Posted : 3/15/2011 6:27:11 PM

Can you video this? Honestly I don't think anyone can say for sure. I think it would be rare that a seven week old dog was already showing *real* fear or aggression. My GSDs are INSANELY growly. Like, this is pretty mild for dogs playing at my house ('cept Nikon gets her a bit too hard and she yelps, but you can see how he instantly backs off and looks sorry): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FH0npyRIIVY When Pan and Nikon go at it I call it a snarling contest. They both growl like crazy, but it has never escalated beyond that. Not saying that it won't, but I don't like to label a dog as aggressive at only 7 weeks, most are still living with the rest of their littermates.

Beejou

Posted : 3/15/2011 6:51:28 PM

I'll try to get s vid uploaded.. I always end up with file too big message. I call the behavior in the vid you shared "snouting" lol and we have our fair share. This seems to me ad a more /leave me alone/ thing but I could be way off

Beejou

Posted : 3/15/2011 8:24:03 PM

So watching further I realize Royce also does this behavior to stuffies when he is really playing hard. The same pounce, paw slapping and growling. I might have my first "chatty" dog. Maybe the problem is /MINE/ and I need to stop micromanaging and take a chill pill. But what if I dont pit the growlies on check and it turns out to be an issue or worry people? Will upload video tomorrow frpm in laws. ETA okay the behavior just happened again. Started with a play bow and then royce willfully submitting. I think paranoia of aggression has set in from the past two massive failures to introduce the right dog into my home. I still think he may be getting over stimulated during play. I should start a settle command with him, shouldnt I?

Liesje

Posted : 3/15/2011 8:52:21 PM

Again, take this with a grain of salt b/c I can't *see* what's happening, but if it's just play, I guess I don't see any reason to stop it every single time. If that's all it is, it's not going to lead to aggression. If I interrupted my dogs every time they growled during play, that would be every 5 seconds, literally. A vocal dog is a vocal dog. When mine get so loud it annoys me, I separate them so they can't play (rather than having to break it up all the time), or I shoo them outside. The rule here is that OUTside they can be as loud and rambunctious as they want. I don't really see this as being OVER stimulated by play. Play is stimulating, the only real solution is not playing, but that's really no fun. I would make sure there are plenty of times where he plays with YOU rather than T-Bone though. He needs to have a relationship with you. This is something I work hard at because I am more laid back about letting my dogs interact with each other. I don't have the energy to micromanage every little interaction.

Beejou

Posted : 3/15/2011 9:06:29 PM

Lies, I really appreciate the input. It does look like the video you shared but with more drama. Royce seems to get a little huffy and will stalk off for a minute after the interaction. He does come back though... Creep up and pounce, etc. Truth be told my beagles did this even more alarmingly but I figure Beagle siblings are probably not going to turn truly aggressive and they never did (my ex has them and they continue to do well). I just know every dog is an individual and as he's an infant and Ive only had him less than two weeks I cannot correctly interpret him yet.