My dogs DO NOT get along

[Zeusophobia]

My mother has an 8 year old toy poodle. She didn't socialize it properly with other dogs, and she bought it from a backyard breeder so it's completely blind.

Recently I bought a 10 week old Beauceron, and at 10 weeks old it's 4 times the size of the poodle. It's still in that puppy stage of nipping at everything and the poodle is not havin it.

At first it was every time the Beauceron would get nippy the dog would growl and snarl. Now it's every single time the Beauceron gets near it.

I'm afraid if the poodle continues this behavior when the Beauceron is grownup there might be a fight that the poodle doesn't walk away from.

 

[MK&C]

Does your mother live with you? Young pups don't know better and they think everything is meant to play with, including adult dogs. Your mother's toy poodle is blind? So we have a pup that canstantly wants to play and is teething, and a totally blind dog who was not socialized properly at a young age. Close your eyes and imagine there is a new, HUGE, active pup who wants to nip and play-wrestle with you almost all the time. Worst of all, you can never tell when or where it's going to happen. Would that startle and/or scare you? It would for me.

I'm thinking that the poodle doesn't hate the new pup, but she's just afraid of what it might do to her. All I can reccomend you do is start training right away. Teach your pup that she's not a toy, and not to play roughly (not just with the poodle!). Also, make sure the pup has PLENTY of toys to play with, and is occupied most of the time. If you can't keep on eye on the pup (gender?), you may want to teather the pup to your belt loop while you do some chores or homework to promote bonding with you and to keep him under your control without being isolated.

 

[bubbatd]

I think we need more input to help ^^^

 

[Zeusophobia]

The poodle lives in the house. Me and the Beauceron both live in a transformed gradge. Although my mom wants the dog to get used to the family and the poodle so neither are perceived as strangers.

 

[Rubylove]

On first reading of this, it sounds to be as though the poodle is terrified. It can't see, it's 8 years old (so, getting on a bit!) and it has a boisterous, new, giant puppy invading its space, playing with it too roughly, and generally freaking it out.

Separate them and start from scratch. Baby gate, no unsupervised contact. The poodle leads the way at all times - makes contact etc. Don't make this poor dog feel unsafe in it's own home when it is blind as well. The poor thing is scared to death!

Also, dogs rely on smell more than sight when they can see, when they're blind their smell is everything. The poodle can smell this puppy everywhere, all over the house it used to call its own, that alone will be freaking it out, too. Especially when the smell gets stronger and it knows the puppy is coming closer. Towel them both off with the same towel - get their scent all over each other. It might help at least with the initial `getting used to each other' stage.

But most importantly, look after this poodle. Its confused and frightened.

 

[Carolyn]

Rubylove that was excellent

Poor Poodle is trying to teach naughty pup some dog manners. If the poodle wasn't blind it mighten be as bad, because she would be able to see who it was she was trying to teach.

Just try and look at it from the poodles point of view. As said, heres this obnoxious rude mannered youngster, driving it nuts. And worst of all it can't see when its going to drive it nuts. Of course puppies are rude, and obnoxious, but its up to us also to teach them appropriate manners and behaviour.

The poodle must be above the pup, as it was here before. Practising NILIF with your pup too will help teach it where it belongs and some good manners

Good luck

 

[Barley'sMom]

We have a similar problem. A 3-legged chihuahua/whippet, Oso, and a 35lb chow mix puppy, Barley, with amazing energy. We used the child gate all the time to separate them at first, and also kept Barley on a leash whenever he was in the same room as Oso, so we could grab him if he started in after Oso. I also noticed that they interact excellently when outside - it's only inside the house that gets troubling. Try socializing them outside - on neutral territory, but because your mom's poodle is older and blind, she may never accept him fully, and they may never be buddies, unfortunately. Just keeping them safe is probably the #1 priority. Good luck!