Havanese Forum banner

Should I be concerned?

2K views 15 replies 11 participants last post by  kawboy 
#1 ·
After being so thrilled with how well the two dogs were getting along now I'm worried things have changed for the worse. Little Molly has seemed to become very aggressive with Tasha. When Tasha wants to break off the play Molly keeps going at her biting her tail and ears. Molly is growling regularly where Tasha only growls when she's in my lap and Molly gets too close. Whatever toy Tasha is chewing on Molly takes it away and Tasha doesn't fight over it or growl. There is an abundance of toys for both dogs. Tasha is not innocent in the rough play but she seems to know where to draw the line. Since we never had two dogs before I'm not sure if this is normal or if I should be worried. Tasha is the sweetest dog and I don't want anything to change her personality. Maybe as Molly gets older she'll mellow out. My wife is worried because when this aggressive behavior got me angry earlier I told her the puppy would go before I'd let Tasha become unhappy in her home. Right now they are laying together at my feet in peace but there is too little of that. Is this just what to expect with a puppy that needs to learn how to play nice? I saw a video here once of two Havs playing and it sounded and looked like they were fighting so maybe it's just me and my inexperience with two dogs.
 
#3 ·
They're probably just playing and working out their pecking order. I would certainly say something to stop them if it's getting too bad, but sometimes it looks much worse than it really is. Give it a little time. There was an adjustment period with each one I added to the pack.
 
#4 ·
They were really going at it earlier and I yelled at them and separated them. Since then it's been quiet with both of them curled up on the couch with me. I think I scared both of them because I don't raise my voice often and I'm sure the neighbors heard me.
 
#5 ·
I have the same question. My 11 wk old anatolian pup, Oz, and my 8 month old 1/2 hav pup, Ollie, they bicker. it sounds like a fight, but they are 3 inches away (or closer) from each other's faces, and both 'talking' back to each other. sounds aweful, but they aren't putting teeth on each other.
I wonder do I let them work it out? do I interrupt when neither backs down?

they play well together, but I do notice that my anatolian pup wants to play or instigates play more often. Ollie gets snarky if he plays too rough, instead of doing the puppy yelp.
 
#6 ·
I was feeling exactly as you when my Havanese puppy came come two months ago and my 5 y/o Chihuahua was NOT happy at all. My Chi is a very shy dog and not well socialized, so I had a little more complicated situation. I was not able to have them together for some time. You can... so that's good. I think that when Tasha seems to be getting tired of the playtime you should give the puppy a time out and give Tasha a well deserved break. I mean, separate them for a while. Like someone else said on another thread, if Tasha keeps looking for Molly then she is surely enjoying the rough play.
I tried to play with them together using treats to call their attention so they were together but not "rough playing". I walked with them all around the house, using treats and praise, trying to make them focus on me and not on each other for a while even when they were together. I don't know if it is a good idea but it worked for me.
Everytime the puppy approach the older one in a nice way, without biting or jumping over her, I said "gentle" and treat her. I did the same thing many times and it helped a lot. Now I say 'gentle' and she looks at me and she knows what I mean... I also treat the older one for her patience, haha. Really, I treat the older one because the idea was "good things happen when they are together".
My trainer always encourage me to relax because the dogs catch our emotions easily. Good luck and I hope things get better soon. :)
 
#7 ·
I think they are probably trying to decide who gets to be boss. If it gets 'to' rough just put them in their corners to break it up a minute. I hope in a few days one will be following the other everywhere, and you will know who the boss is. :)
 
#8 ·
I concur with what's been said...sounds like they are working out the hierarchy, which wil take time. But Tasha probably does need a puppy break every now and again.

I think Guapo and Paisley are still working things out at times and it's been about 2 months.
 
#9 ·
My wife pointed out that Tasha instigates the play as often as Molly. We had a quiet night with all four of us on the couch. I had both dogs on my lap close together with no growling from Tasha so I'm probably worried about nothing. I think the time out approach is a good idea. Today when Molly started growling during play we just told them to stop and they did. I guess it's just a matter of getting used to having two and the changes that result. Thanks.
 
#10 ·
Dexter and Jack went through the same thing....I had lots of concerns.... a four pounder against a 13 pounder.

I separated them at times just because I could not stand the pure loudness and aggressiveness. It went on for a good 2 months of fussing back and forth....Dexter wanted to remain boss. I am still waiting to see if Jack to going to be over-all boss.

90% of the time, it is very quiet around here. Both play together and they are close in weight now. Dexter fusses at times if he thinks I am fussing at Jack, so he fusses at Jack.

It does get better....you have to learn to ignore some behaviors. Divert the behavior onto something else (playing, going for a walk, training) whatever. They have to work it out.

Praise all good behaviors together.
 
#11 ·
Our Dizzie is a very gentle Hav and he lets Nellie take his toys etc,but even so when they play it gets really noisy with Dizzie doing this weird growly/roar,and now Nellie has learnt this.We let Dizzie have his time out from Nellie,he is aloud to sleep on the bed next to me now,which never happened before Nellie arrived,she just wants to be friends with him but sometimes it gets to much and he needs a break and she doesn't know when to stop.I will let them go so far but then tell them to stop in no uncertain terms because after all I am the pack leader!!
 
#13 ·
That's great to hear :D My friend who has 4 havs, she always says that it takes her oldest hav 1 month to start being nice to the new one, but he's always fine after his 'warming up period', as she calls it..and after that, they act like best friends.

Kara
 
#14 ·
With four female dogs, two English Shepherds and two Havs, I have experienced some rivalry. I have heard it is more prevalent with females...is that where the term 'bitchy' comes from???

Anyway, my little girls ( the Havs) are mother/daughter so not too much fighting there. And my two big girls are also mother/daughter. But when the English Shepherd male, that my daughter owns, comes into the mix it can get very testy. Have had a couple down and out fights that were very scary and when I corrected them (in not such a calm manner), they backed off and seemed to realize it is not acceptable behavior.

Yes, it is a dominance thing but I think it is also jealousy--or what we could call jealousy--because if I give all of them separate attention they seem to cool off.
 
#15 · (Edited)
:biggrin1:I had a different situation. Both dogs were puppies about a month apart in age. They did growl and play and growl and play all day long and they were rough with each other. It got on my Mother's nerves, she was so afraid one was going to put out the other's eye as they were very mouthy, biting at head, ears, etc and yelping. She decided to put one of them in the the crate. The one outside came over to the crate with a pull toy/sock..the one in the crate grabbed it and the other pulled the crate all over the house (wood floors)..they continued to growl and bark. :biggrin1: Nothing stopped those two for the 6 months they were together each year for three seasons
I think age would have helped, but mine died, so we never found out. Talk about grieving..my mother's little dog was so upset, it was pathetic. Once he left to go to his winter home he was okay because my little dog was never there.
It does take a while, when new pets come in and there is ALWAYS an adjustment period. For the dogs and you.
 
#16 ·
What seemed like rough play to me was probably just normal because the little one never yelped. I blamed her for being too aggressive with Tasha but Tasha never yelps either and it seems like they are having fun. It has calmed down now and they lick each others face which I'm told is a sign of affection. They both seem to be happy so I'm happy. I'll have to get some more pics when I'm home longer. Thanks again.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top