Ashima is almost 5 months and life has certainly improved since our days spent together in Incarceration Kitchen. One thing that’s tough is the issue of my 7 lb, 8 year old shihtzu Daphne. Daphne loves all other dogs great and small, but Ashima is a typical pup and Daphne is not impressed. Ashima does not take the hint and nips and lunges and tries to play...and Daphne snarls in return. I monitor it all and never leave them alone, intervening when appropriate. Any ideas as to how to make it stop?
You seem to be doing the right things , just make sure that when it becomes too much for Daphne , Ashima is removed from the scene and put into her crate or play pen . Its perfectly normal behaviour but sadly not all older dogs have the nature needed to tell the pup off when it becomes a pest , so its up to us ! Try distraction too , maybe entering into some fun short training sessions with Ashima when she is pestering Daphne x
I'm going through a pretty similar situation with my 3 month pup and my sister's dog actually. He's 12 years old and was poorly socialised so as a result he's pretty much had no interactions with any other dog for his entire life. Unfortunately, from time to time my sister will have to look after my pup so we've been trying to carefully introduce them to each other. Like you, we have been very careful, never leaving them alone and intervening when they get too close. My pup being a pup, just wants to jump all over my sister's dog and he isn't remotely interested. Luckily so far he has shown no signs of aggression, just runs away. Alas I don't think we'll ever be in a position to let them enjoy each other's company but I'm grateful the older dog will at least tolerate my pup's presence.
It's taken me working and worrying with Moose (lab pup) and Miley (chihuahua) until now. Moose is 4 months old now, and has learned to play carefully with Miley, and she enjoys it. I'm so happy to be able to say this because I have been worrying for 3 months! But Moose and Miley have worked it out. She will play with him if he's laying down. As soon as he stands up, play is over for her, she either comes to me or gets up on the back of the sofa (Moose isn't allowed on the sofa). A much happier household now!
