New Puppy Being Aggressive Towards Older Dog

[Chaos Theory]

Help! I'm not sure what to do next and I'm turning to this great forum for advice on my new puppy.

I have a new female Shih Tzu puppy that is 12 weeks old named Rio. I also have a male Shih Tzu named Keiko that is 3 years old. Rio was purchased through a kennel that specializes in small breeds.

She is full of energy, loving, and is actually learning a lot of good things each day. She's caught onto crate training nicely. I don't expect much from her at this age but I am noticing a problem with her behaivor towards Keiko. He's trying to get use to having a new dog in the house and he has always been a very passive animal. Keiko rarely barks, loves people and has no problem with other dogs. He's a good dog. Their interactions during playtime are fun to watch. He doesn't try to over power her and she likes to run around and fly into him.

Rio is displaying a lot of aggression when it comes to toys, food or water. She is possessive and seems to not want him to have any toy and now when he attempts to get a toy she runs up to take it away from him and snaps at him aggressively. He stands his ground and growls back but he lets her have her way and walks away. This is the problem I am trying to correct because I notice it's starting to escalate into a full out fight between the two.

I don't know which technique will be most effective to stop her from doing this. It's so easy to want to run up and say "NOO Rio No Bite" and get excited, grab her, seperate them. I know this isn't the right way. I've read a lot online about ways to obtain the behaivor you want from your pets and what can re-enforce what you don't want from them.

I am using these techniques.

1. A sturn "No" (3 out of 10 times it's worked)
2. Putting her on a 10ft retractable leash and watching for the behavior to happen again and giving a stiff tug with a sturn "No" right before the attack happens (Not sure if this works long term. She seems to understand it at them time and stops going after him but hours later off the leash she goes right back to attacking

3. Calmly walking up to the situation, picking her up gently and placing Rio in her (empty) crate for a extended time out.

Those are all I know. Is there anything else I'm missing? Could it be that this is normal and that I'm overreacting? That Keiko will be omega and Rio will become Alpha? That possibly her behaivor was learned from her first weeks with her littermates/Dam at the kennel? and if so what can reverse it?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I know I will probably need to seek classes for her and extensive social activities for her but I'm really upset about what happened tonight and I don't want to feel like I've made a mistake in getting her.

SUMMARY: New female puppy snaps and bites at older male dog when playing with toys. Doesn't want him to have anything. She is becoming aggressive

sorry for the wall of text. here are some pictures of the two.

thank you for your time


Keiko

Rio

 

[RedyreRottweilers]

Stop interfering. She is being a normal puppy, he is being a normal dog. He will tolerate all sorts of things for her until she is about 4 mos old, and then he will insist on a little respect.

Interfering in the interactions of your dog and puppy can cause more problems that will be more severe down the road.

Relax. She's just behaving like a puppy bitch normally would to an adult male.

 

[Christin Luvs Dogs]

I know that this type of behavior from a new puppy can be disturbing. You don't want your older dog feeling badly etc because of the new puppy. But please realize that for the most part this sounds very normal. Like Red said, he will probably let her get away with it for a little bit longer and then put her in her place. Until then, when treats are given, he gets his first. Food put down, his goes down first. Simple things like that will show him that you affirm his status in the pack...below you, but above her.

Obviously, if things are getting too rough you will step in, but the behaviors you are describing are very common.

I would also respect your older dog's space. The two of them shouldn't be together all the time, since he might need a break from her. It's ok to kennel her in order to spend a little quality time one on one with him.

Sounds like you're doing a great job!

 

[Chaos Theory]

Wow. Thanks a lot guys for your advice and those kind comments. You don't know how relieved I am to know this is normal behaivor between the two. I don't want to get envolved with their interactions and it was making me feel terrible trying to step in. Their interactions today was really good. She snapped at him a few times. I just watched and let them be dogs. Keiko didn't mind it to much and at one point he placed his paw over her mouth as if to say "no don't do that". Kinda weird and funny He also went after a toy a few times. He'd just bulldog his way in there and get it with no fear.

I didn't know about the treats and feeding technique. thank you! I will try it. I'm not wanting him to be better or walk all over her. I just want him to know he is important, adored and that this is his home. Possibly teach Rio that she shouldn't grow up to be a crack head. :yikes:


take care and thanks again. won't forget it.