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Pupforum presents your training questions answered by professional dog trainers.
Elaine has been training dogs professionally for 14 years. She is a CPDT as well as an endorsed member of NADOI. She is also certified in narcotics detection and is one half of a (twice) certified explosives detection team - the other half being her Dutch Shepherd Spawn, who is also titled in several protection sports. Elaine is the owner of Canine's Best Behavior, a Los Angeles based training company, offering Basic Manners, CGC, K9 Games (soon!) as well as behavior modification for aggression fears phobias etc.
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[Edit]
3/5/2007
I have an 8 week old American Bulldog. He's a wonderful puppy, but he plays too rough with my Boston Terrier. She holds her own, especially because she's still bigger for now; she's a tiny one, only 12 pounds. I'm afraid this is making his temperament too aggressive little by little because she gets just as rough. I use the "easy" command pretty much the entire playtime, but always end up having to separate them. I know my Boston can play well. She plays with our cat all the time, but he gets her just too riled, and then all heck breaks loose. Is there anything else I can do to stop the madness? I'm just afraid my Bullie will end up too aggressive. (1piglet, New York )
Don't be surprised if the Boston ends up ruling the roost!!
You are on the right track to interrupt play. Instead of it being an end result, interrupt often with a happy thing (who wants a cookie!!? or a squeakie toy?) and let them play again. That way they will learn to play only to a certain level of arousal. By letting them get out of control and then separating them it may shift from play to agg
ression quickly and someone could get hurt. Most likely you, if you try to get in-between two fully aroused terriers!
I would also work on having them do other things like retrieve games and little bits of obedience. That way they don't view each other as the 24/7 WWF Sunday Smackdown. Reward calm time together too and socialize them with other dogs outside your home. If your young impressionable American Bulldog only gets to play with the Boston, the Boston may be the only dog he gets along with later in life. Pack play (in general) is rougher then play with novel dogs, he needs to learn calm greeting skills too. If your veterinary clinic offers puppy parties, take him there.
It's OK (and preferable) to have two 4 legged dogs than one 8 legged one, separating them daily will help prevent that mind meld.
In a nutshell, less play, more calmness. Bigger social stratus now, pays big dividends later in life.
A great book to read: Feeling Outnumbered by Patricia McConnell
Elaine Allison CPDT NADOI
Canine Behavior Consultant
Canine's Best Behavior
1.866.K9s.Best
www.caninesbestbehavior.com
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