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Feet biting!

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  • AuroraLove
    • Gold Top Dog

    Feet biting!

    AuroraLove

    Posted : 3/11/2008 3:10:24 PM

    Rory has started this extremely irrititaing behaviour by biting Primo's legs everytime she wants his attention or wants him to move. Leg biting has always been her signature move when play fighting but now she does it when he is trying to drink water, when he is just chillin, when she wants him off the couch, when I'm giving him lovin....well all the time now! Its as if I can see the wheels spinning in her head "hey come play, hey get outta my way, hey I wanna lay there"!
    He is Mr. Cool about everything, he hardly reacts but his legs are starting to get red and it pisses me off. I correct her if it isnt play but in reality Primo is the type of dog I would trust correcting her......I cant say that about any other dogs I know. He can remain still with snarling dogs in his face, he is never ratteled and liek I said...is the epitomy of calmness.
    Currently he gives in but he is the type to pick his battles, he gives her the couch, walks away from the water dishes but i can tell he is getting irritated with this.
    Should I continue to intervene or let him do it? He would never lunge or lash out at her....he rarely growls or snaps at her but when he does she liistens.

    Some of you may remember I posted awhile back about her excessive licking as a way to assert her dominance. I nipped that in the bud but it seems as if only to exchange for this behaviour. I've gotta say I much preffered the licking.
  • schleide
    • Gold Top Dog
    schleide

    Posted : 3/13/2008 12:55:08 PM

    If it were me, I would probably intervene (particularly in instances where Rory is butting in while you are interactig with Primo and because his poor legs are getting irritated)...  I know a lot of people would let the dogs work it out - but I think I would feel that it was my job to protect Primo and let Rory know that while playing is great, it is not always an ok time to bite his legs... 

    I think the way I would handle it would be to just send her away each time she does it.  If she gets to pushy towards him, she not only doesn't get to play, she doesn't gett he couch, the water, love from you - whatever.  What she gets is that she has to go lay down on the otehr side of the room, or something like that.  This is JMHO, and I only have one dog - but that is how I would handle it...
  • AuroraLove
    • Gold Top Dog
    AuroraLove

    Posted : 3/13/2008 1:25:19 PM

    I've been doing pretty much what you've said and its been helping a bit. We just got over obsessive licking.....she would lick at his face when she wanted him out of the way, I corrected that and now she moved onto to this. So its as if her pushiness is getting more desperate.

    I'm starting to see other things I don't care for either......like when DH mows the lawn, Primo tries to bite the tires of the lawn mower and Rory goes through the roof! Its almost as if she thinks he is trying to get DH and she roars like a lion and body blocks him from the lawn mower. Same if I try to play tug-o-war with Primo, fetch, or any other game.

    When she does this I put her in a sit/stay and she does well but she is literally vibrating with anxiety until I give her the ok command. Its as if she cant handle seeing me interact with anotehr dog.

    She is on strict NILIF, always has been and has never had serious behavorial issues.They are fed seperatley, not left alone together, they typically play and interact very well. I grew up with pit bulls primarilyfor hunting so they had limited interaction....I like to think I'm pretty dog savvy but I was wondering if anyone had a inclination as to wether this is going to escalate or not.