Hi, I'm wondering how other families are "coping" with their newish additions? We've had Murphy 9 weeks now. We also have a collie x called jack who is 15 years old. Rightly or wrongly we got Murphy 2 weeks after losing our 16 year old. We love Murphy to pieces but by golly he is hard work, and I think by reading some of the posts on here we've got it fairly easy!!! My biggest gripe with him is him barking at Jack. I know he only wants him to play but jack doesn't want to play and Murphy insists on barking. He's a wee character though and we wouldn't be without him. Is it wrong of me to be wishing him puppy days away though?!?!?! Maybe it's just been a particularly stressful day ]
Re: Murphy at 17 weeks old No not wrong to wish those puppy days away, I remember the stressy early puppy days. Sorry, not sure what to suggest with the barking and older dog. Maybe separate them, give the older dog some peace, and a kong or toy to the younger one. Otis at a year is still a pup and wants to play. However he no longer play bites, no painful puppy teeth. It does pass and it will get easier. Im sure he will grow up to be a great dog, Maggie x
Re: Murphy at 17 weeks old Whilst I'm chuckling a bit at poor Jack under the table for some respite from your 'terror' ;D I think it would be a good idea for him to have a safe place that he can go to when he wants some peace and quiet from his new playful brother!your post doesn't say that anything is escalating between them so sounds like jack is tolerating the verbal ok,it's just annoying? I'm no good on advice as I'm just enjoying my owning my first dog so haven't any relevant experience......there are many forum members that have and I'm sure they will stop by to give you a hand ;D Hi by the way,my dog is a yellow boy and 20 months old Welcome from Angela x
Re: Murphy at 17 weeks old It definitely gets easier as they get older. I sometimes think it would be good to do it again - I have learned so much on here and think "if only I had done it this way". But it is jolly hard work getting it right. So satisfying at the end of the day though to have a well brought up and behaved dog (or so I hear ;D ) Yes I would do it again, but not unless I could semi retire first.
Re: Murphy at 17 weeks old Aw they are both adorable and poor Jack bless, the separation advice along with distraction sounds good to me although learning the comand No might work. My puppy is 8 months now and she loves to torments our cats, she is slowly getting to understand that they are not one of her toys and a firm No and leave is finally starting to work.
Re: Murphy at 17 weeks old hehe, the photo actually looks worse than it is. This is where Jack has always liked to be, he's not hiding from Murphy - honestly Jack has been fantastic with Murphy, I am really proud of him, and Murphy has brought out a puppyness in Jack that I thought was long gone. The barking doesn't bother Jack as much as it bothers me. He was barking at me this morning when I was putting out his breakfast and a very load NO from me seemed to do the trick, so I think I'll work on using that strategy. I do feel like a bad mummy wishing his puppy years away though. I think I'm just use to having two old boys for the past 16 years and Murphy is a shock to the system!!! Thanks for your comments as always xxx
Re: Murphy at 17 weeks old Aargh it drives me mad the way posts sometimes just don't appear!!! I wrote a reply saying that I feel your pain as I have been through something very similar. Our old boy was 13 and I felt very guilty that he was being bullied by the puppy - but once she reached about 5 months they became good friends. Just make sure Jack gets quality time with you, and that he can get away from the puppy for some peace if he needs it.
Re: Murphy at 17 weeks old The dogs are lovely - my question though is how do you keep such beautifully clean carpets with 2 of them!!
