How to Train a Puppy to Respect an Older Dog

Hello Pat, First, I highly suggest crate training the puppy. Use the Surprise method from the article linked below to gradually help her learn to be calm in the crate and to relax by using rewards for being Quiet. https://wagwalking.com/training/like-a-crate Crate pup at night and when you leave, and you can use an exercise pen with some toys in it also. When you cannot directly supervise the dogs together, puppy should be crated or in the pen. For the biting, I recommend teaching pup Out and Leave It. Out - which means leave the area. https://www.petful.com/behaviors/how-to-teach-a-dog-the-out-command/ Leave It method: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-shih-tzu-puppy-to-not-bite Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Hello Melissa, First, I recommend teaching the dogs to "honor" each others retrievals - which is when one dog is taught to sit and watch and wait while the other retrieves a toy, until its there turn. This is something commonly taught to hunting dogs since they need to only retrieve their person's ducks and not someone else's from the hunting group. I would play fetch letting the dogs take turns instead of compete for the same ball - since both dogs will be highly aroused while chasing the ball down, and arousal makes dogs feel more aggressive. Practicing the waiting with the chasing turns can help both dogs learn better self-control. I recommend teaching both dogs Out and Leave It, and using those commands to enforce Arwin leaving your lab alone when it comes to the biting, and when your lab tries to go toward Arwin when they get the ball first. Out - which means leave the area: https://www.petful.com/behaviors/how-to-teach-a-dog-the-out-command/ Leave It method: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-shih-tzu-puppy-to-not-bite Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Hello Hollie, First, I highly suggest crate training the puppy. Almost all puppies will cry the first two weeks of crate training - it is new to them and they have to be given the opportunity to learn to self-sooth and self-entertain to prepare them for environments they will have to be in later and prevent dangerous destructive chewing habits that happen without confinement. Use the Surprise method from the article linked below to gradually help her learn to be calm in the crate and to relax by using rewards for being Quiet. https://wagwalking.com/training/like-a-crate Crate pup at night and when you leave, and you can use an exercise pen with some toys in it also. When you cannot directly supervise the dogs together, puppy should be crated or in the pen. When you are supervising, teach both dogs the Out command (which means leave the area) and make whoever is causing issues leave the area as needed. Out command: https://www.petful.com/behaviors/how-to-teach-a-dog-the-out-command/ Decide what your house rules are for both dogs and you be the one to enforce the rules instead of the dogs. No aggression, no pushiness, no stealing toys, no stealing food, no being possessive of people or things, or any other unwanted behavior - if one dog is causing a problem you be the one to enforce the rules so that the dogs are NOT working it out themselves. For example, if pup comes over to your older dog when she is trying to sleep, tell pup Out. If she obeys, praise and reward her. If she disobeys, stand in front of your older dog, blocking the pup from getting to her, and walk toward pup calmly but firmly until pup leaves the area and stops trying to go back to your older dog. If your older dog growls at your pup, make her leave the room while also disciplining pup if needed. Be vigilant and take the pressure off of your older dog - you want her to learn to look to you when there is a problem, and for puppy to learn respect for your older dog because you have taught it to her and not because your older dog has had to resort to aggression. If you want pup to be free but don't want to chase after her while you are home, you can also clip her to yourself using a six-foot leash, so that she has to stay near you and not wander near your other dog. Whenever puppy enters the room, give your older dog a treat while pup is not looking. Whenever she is calm, relaxed or tolerant of puppy also give her a treat. Try not to let puppy see you rewarding her though so that she doesn’t run over and overwhelm her. Right now your older dog probably feels overwhelmed by pup and because of her age it’s harder for her to handle her and keep up with her energy. She needs to feel like you are the one managing puppy, protecting your older dog from her pestering her, and making her appearance pleasant for your older dog. If you can take the pressure off of their relationship and help their interactions to be calmer, then she may adjust to puppy's presence as she grows, especially when he calms down when older. Don’t expect them to be best friends. The goal right now is calm, peaceful coexistence. They may end up bonding and enjoy each others company as adults later, but they don’t have to play or be thrilled right now. I find that about half of all older dogs find new puppies stressful at first. Many do adjust as puppy matures though and may even become buddies - you have to add structure and boundaries to help their relationship be calmer and not force interactions though. I would also recommend enrolling puppy in a puppy kindergarten class that has time for moderated, off-leash play with other puppies to help pup learn how to control the pressure of their mouth (best learned during play with other puppies), and socialization. If you have friends with puppies you could also go to each other's fenced yard and set up play dates with them. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Hello Sarah, First, I recommend spending thirty minutes a day having a training session for Murphy where you work on teaching the following commands in the coming weeks. These are good commands for building self-control, respect and trust for you, calmness, and give you a way to direct pup where he should and shouldn't be. Thresholds: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-w28C2g68M Heel article - The turns method: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-poodle-to-heel Working and Consistency methods: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-doberman-to-listen-to-you Quiet - Quiet method: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-shih-tzu-puppy-to-not-bark Out - which means leave the area https://www.petful.com/behaviors/how-to-teach-a-dog-the-out-command/ Leave It - leave it method: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-shih-tzu-puppy-to-not-bite When pup is being pushy, send them to Place or use the Out command. Enforce that command very calmly, confidently, but firmly - pup will be trying to get a reaction out of you because they probably find it fun. Calmly insist on follow- through, keeping a drag leash on pup while home if you find you need it to direct pup to Place or out of the room. Once pup is out of the area, or when pup needs to be crated, if they are barking in protest, calmly tell pup Quiet and briefly spray a small puff of air from an unscented air canister called a Pet convincer at pup's side. You may need to tether pup to something with a leash that's long enough to remain on place comfortable, without giving tension on the leash unless they leave place, when its time for pup to give space and they haven't learned a long place command quiet yet. Just as important as the boundaries and corrections is rewarding the right behavior. Have pup work for what they get in life by doing a command before you give them something - like Sit before petting, Down before a game of fetch, heel during walks, ect...When you catch pup doing something polite on their own, like lying on Place quietly, tolerating Monty getting petted without coming over, ect...Calmly place a treat between pup's front paws. Pup needs boundaries, better communication, and rewards for doing the right behavior to help them feel more secure, respect you more, and understand the rules of the family - but remember that pup is young and still learning. This age is essentially puppy teenage-hood so take comfort and compassion in that too. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Hello, If you have any friends with older puppies, whose play you can moderate, I would have supervised playdates where you can moderate their play, separate when they get too excited or one pup needs a break, practice a couple of obedience commands, let the more timid pup go first to see if they still want to play, and then let the other pups go too. Puppies learn bite inhibition best from each other before six months of age - don't want! They will often give each other feedback when something is too hard or stop the game, helping the other pups learn to adjust and be more gentle. You will need to help that process a lot by giving breaks if your pup or another is too rough too. With your own dogs, work on teaching your puppy the Leave It and Out commands, and use those commands to be the one to tell pup when they are being too rough with the older dog, and make pup take a break, calm down through some obedience practice with treats, then allow play to resume if your older dog wants it, once pup has calmed back down. Out - which means leave the area https://www.petful.com/behaviors/how-to-teach-a-dog-the-out-command/ Leave It - leave it method: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-shih-tzu-puppy-to-not-bite Place: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O75dyWITP1s I suggest tethering pup to you with a hands free leash when you can't moderate their play and interactions, and using an exercise pen with dog food stuffed chew toys for the younger puppy to give your older dog a break at times too - puppies tend to need a calm down time when they get especially rough because they are actually overtired. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden