Anyone help please we just got a pup had him 2 weeks he’s now 3 months old and my older lb is 4yrs old. The pup is very mouthy and bites a lot, which now my older one flinches when he comes near him and jumps onto the sofa he runs to get the toys off my older lab and my junior lab just lets him and drops it quick before he nips him. Finding it so hard with both of them not getting on any suggestions??
Do you keep them separate for periods of the day? I would advise you do and make sure all interactions are supervised. If necessary have the puppy on a lead so he can’t nip the older one. Teach a settle so the puppy learns to lie down on a mat (using a lead). Then place a mat for the older one near the puppy but not so close he can be got at. Give them both a kong. The younger one will grow out of the biting (but I wouldn’t allow him to bite the older one). Lots of structured activities bringing the two together like ‘find it’ and using a ruffle snuffle mat. I had to do this last year with my puppy and then 10 years old for different reasons. It was very very hard and I felt I was ‘on duty’ all of the time. However, it did work. Even now they love to lie on the mat and eat their kongs alongside each other. The older one had never had a kong before so new excitement for her. I’d also teach an ‘enough’. Occasionally my two play/play fight and if I feel the older one has had enough then I call ‘enough’ which stops them.
Hi there During the day pup in his cage and older lab roams round the house so all is good. When he’s out the cage running around he jumps at older lab to nip his private parts or his tail or face so then the big one jumps on sofa to get away. When pup tired he is better he sits on my lap and I put them close and he just sniffs the older lab. But I do find myself shouting more at the older one saying he’s making things worse instead of growling or barking I’m sure That would do the trick.
Yes we were frustrated that our older Lab wasn’t more assertive. It was very upsetting seeing her running away or rushing to us. We felt if she had been a bit forceful, things might have settled down more quickly but in the end it worked out for the best. Our older Lab is very quiet and gentle and she has been/is a good teacher to our younger one.
Awwww thank you for your reply In hoping They will both settle soon really hard work at the moment with Work also. Our Older Lab is also very gentle and timid I really feel sorry for him at the moment.
Yes it’s a horrible feeling. I felt horribly guilty for ages and with the hard constant work made me feel quite ill. Just make sure he has lots of time alone and with just you. You will get there.
I’m going through the same thing right now. 3 month old pup and 2 yr old. My poor Luna is covered in bite marks but she won’t bark at the pup, in fact most of the time she encourages Ripley to play. It’s exhausting. We have baby gates and separate them but the instant they’re together it’s full on wrestling!
Well I wish ours would wrestle lol my older Lab just runs off and the little One keeps going after him even more Knowing he’s scared of him it makes it hard work for us don’t it.
