Last fall folks moved in to the cabin across the road from us and shortly after they brought home Maggie. She's a Lab Aussie cross with definite leanings to the Aussie personality. She is quite fond of Edsel, to the point of pestering. At times she simply will not get out of his face. She will lick his face continuously and no amount of his evasive maneuvers will shake her. It's obvious it is driving him buggy as he is usually trying to retrieve or play in some way. At times she will stop the licking but then just turns to snatching away whatever ball, stick etc he has and walking off with it. He is infinitely tolerant and has never snapped or shown any guarding or aggression but I know it's frustrating him and frankly irritates me. Maggie's momma seems to feel badly about it but at a loss as to what to do. Maggie seems to have the upper hand with her too. Any ideas on why this behavior or suggestions I can pass along on how to help her mom address it?
I know a couple of bitches that are like this with Charlie - one is my own 3 month old puppy! I just stop her doing it. She wears a little harness and if she is off lead with Charlie (and also often in the house) she trails a light line. When she starts jumping at Charlie's face, I just pick up the line and hold it so she can't quite get to Charlie. When she stops trying, she gets a treat. At first, she would just then go straight back to jumping at Charlie's face but I'd pick up the line again etc. She is definitely doing it less now. It also helps that Charlie will always, always try to avoid her but if she stops, Charlie will interact with her. Only once has Charlie barked at her to tell her off, which did stop her so I sort of wish Charlie would tell her off a bit more. It's obviously puppy behaviour, and she does it with any adult dog (and most find it irritating).
Edsel is such a good boy to put up with all that How old is Molly? The constant face licking and pestering is a pretty 'babyish' behaviour. If she's only young she may gradually stop doing it, as she starts to grow into an adult. I'm guessing that fences aren't a big thing where you live..?
She's just coming up on a year. No fences! Lol. They are both only out when with someone but it becomes tiring at times when trying to just go about things in the yard with Edsel when he can't be at peace. Maggie is not treat driven at all. Or toy driven. Or driven by much of anything that we've been able to determine to use as a reward to try to modify the behavior. I think her mom is hoping Edsel will take a stand but that's not his personality at all. He just continues to try to play while she torments him.
Charlie is the same - I think it's unfair to let a very tolerant dog be pestered so much he eventually tells off a puppy. It just doesn't seem right. So I just stop Betsy from doing it. Maybe you could suggest that Edsel and Maggie are out at different times to give him a break?
We've gotten better at sneaking out into the back yard undetected. And she will often update me if she's heading out to town so I know Maggie will not be out then. Hoping it will resolve with maturity. On the few occasions she doesn't seem obsessed with it they will actually play and run which is nice.
