I still think we have a long way to go. Last night, Red was all over Sky and really biting her collar. I stopped it in the end as it all looked a bit one sided to me. Just think it needs careful managing.
Sky and Red. They are playing more but Red is still too full on with Sky and we have to stop it. I try to redirect Red with a toy and last night I started a game of 'find it' which they both loved - tired them out but also me!!! Need more ideas to stop/channel Red's puppy exuberance.
That's a beautiful photo xx Do you have a snuffle mat? Mine is great 'tho I paid a lot for it - I realised that a really bobbly bath mat would do the same job. I buy small dog kibble for snuffle and 'find it' games as it's in much smaller pieces so goes further. I find training tires Mollie more than anything. If you look at KC Good Citizens there's lots of training in there to be going on with. We are working towards silver. Tatze does it all alongside the pups, she enjoys it.
So pleased things are going in the right direction for you - Sky looks beautiful and quite comfortable with Red in the last photo - long may it continue
I have just ordered a large shuffle mat @Boogie. Yes they are expensive but reckon it will get well used. I have some small kibble I use for games. Had a quick look at KC Good Citizens - will read up more later. Sky seems to be enjoying the games we play especially as it involves food - she has always been obsessed with food .
Last night was the last night of our puppy follow on course. I feel sad that it has finished as I looked forward to Monday evenings. Laura, the lovely trainer is not going to do any more courses until late summer. Red has amused me, in that she takes to all the new tasks we are given - it's another matter away when we do them at home! I really want to continue training so will look for other courses but I might have to be patient. I am finding the evenings at home quite tiring. This is when Sky and Red are together the most. Most of the day whilst we are busy we keep them separate so Sky can have her own space. They both eat at the same time and Red is very respectful by sitting and waiting whilst I give Sky her food first. I generally walk Red for 30 minutes at some point. They have a kong each. I have the snuffle mat but they quickly find all the kibble! I play 'find it' inside and out which they both love and Red amazes me with the length of time she can sit/stay. I do some sit/down/upset/stand and touch. This is my current repertoire. After all this, I encourage Red to go in her bed. She does settle eventually but not until she has jumped on Sky and attacked her collar. DH says they are playing - I accept this up to a point but I do not like the level of 'aggression' for want of a better word Red displays. I feel myself getting very stressed whereas DH says they need to play and develop their relationship. They do play 'bitey face' but we separate them when it gets a bit boisterous. Quickest way of getting Red to calm down is putting her in her crate for 5 minutes. She does calm down very quickly and waits quietly to be let out. I don't like her being in there really. Will she learn to approach Sky in a calmer way? The last hour of the evening, both dogs are in their beds. I am usually totally worn out at this point!!! I suppose what I want to know and perhaps no one can tell me - will Red eventually stop this full on behaviour towards Sky? Is there anything more I can do to encourage nice play?
Are you stopping the game because you don't want the excitement, or because you think it's too much for Sky? It sounds to me that Sky is playing well with Red now and so I'd be tempted to let her be the one to tell Red when she's had enough - which should be done by her shaking or just turning away. Red needs to learn doggy body language for "game over". Of course, another game can start again immediately, a shake just means that portion of it is over. If you think Sky looks unhappy or stressed, though, of course you should step in. In time, Red will grow up and this will become less frequent and maybe a bit less boisterous (although my two older dogs still play rough with one another from time to time), but that may be many months away. She's young and wants to play. If Sky is playing back - and it's not wrecking your house - I'd say let them get on with it It sounds like maybe you could also do more work around settling. What you're doing to entertain Red is great, but you shouldn't feel like you have to occupy her every second. You could pop her on her lead and stick your foot on it from time to time to get her to settle on a bed by your feet while you have a cup of tea. Then reward her with a little game or training.
