Why is my puppy so rough with my old dog? Is it dominance behavior?

As long as he isn't actually hurting the puppy, I would let them alone to work out their hierarchy. The Westie is probably letting him know that he's top dog. Don't leave them alone together yet, until you're sure they are getting along. There is probably some play involved, but they're going to have to establish their pecking order. If the westie starts injuring the puppy, you will have to separate them unless they are directly supervised.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Humping isn't always sexual in nature, dogs can hump to show dominance or from anxiety. All this is very new for Cubby. It has only been one day and he will need time to acclimate. I would always keep Cubby leased to an adult and when he starts getting rough, make him sit or lay down and give him a treat. Consider the muzzle gentle leader to control him better. Be sure to provide adequate exercise and play with Cubby. They can be jealous about how affection is given. If the behavior doesn't start to calm down I would call your Vet monday for temporary "doggie downers" to calm him. I hope this helps and I wish everyone the very best!

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! They are so cute! I think basic training for both dogs is VERY important. If Bolt doesn't listen to you that is a problem and can become worse over time. I would always have him on a leash when they are playing so you can pull him off the new dog when he becomes too much. I really like the gentle leader harnesses that go on the muzzle because it give you great control of the head and eliminates pulling. In some ways the new dog will hopefully teach him when enough is enough but I would try to avoid that as he may react incorrectly and start a fight. He needs to learn proper play and pick up on the ques other dogs give that he needs to stop. I hope this helps! https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=9052

Hello, rough play is ok as long as they are not showing teeth or biting each other. It is also ok, as long as both of them want to play and not one picking on the other. If you think they are showing some aggression or if it is getting too rough, you can separate them for some time. Also ensure they have enough toys, especially chew toys so that they can redirect their rough play to those chew toys in particular. Hope this helps.

Hi there! Wrigley sure sounds smug! I think you're on the right track with him having his own area to retire to in the playpen. You can also try a kennel or crate. Put the pen or crate in a separate room so he can calm down and nap alone and just relax away from all of you a couple of times a day. Your older dog may just not care about the toys or bed, but you can always get an extra bed for the elderly dog. Correcting Wrigley over and over, although redundant and somewhat annoying, is the best way to get him to keep to his own things. If he has his own toys and steals the older dog's toys, tell him "no" take the toy (as long as he isn't trying to bite you of course - if so call a trainer right away) and then give him his toy, and praise him. Also, you can try playing with his toys with him, and rewarding him with pieces of kibble or a treat he really likes. If you still feel like you're having trouble, I'd advise calling in a trainer. They can help you set some ground rules in the home, so things don't escalate into a fight one day. Sometimes our older dogs will only put up with so much, and may snap at times. This is not to say that your older dog will definitely do this, but just keep it in mind. The older dog may just not care at all, and be fine having a friend and sharing, but I always say, just pay close attention to be sure. I'd also always be sure to feed them separately. I never feed two dogs in the same area, especially with a puppy who is stealing everything. In fact, part of getting a puppy used to a crate or kennel, is to serve them their meals in it. Then they associate it with something good and will be more likely to just go in and relax there. This in turn again, will give him and your older dog some quality alone time. Be sure to spend some alone time with each dog as well, so neither of them feels left out. I hope you find this answer helpful. Best of luck!

Hi There. It sounds like Bobby is trying to establish his dominance over the new puppy. This is quite normal and provided there are no fights, may resolve with time. There are some great resources on Dr. Sophia Yins website (draophiatin.com) that discuss dominance aggression. You may also want to consider working with a certified trainer or a veterinary behaviorist. You can find one in your area on www.acvb.org.

I'm sorry to hear of your concerns with Beckett. It is frustrating when our pets don't always get along. From your description it does sound like he is too rough with the other dogs. It may be possible to correct this behavior, but I think it would be best to get a certified animal behaviorist involved. They will be able to observe how the dogs interact and be able to develop an in-depth plan for how to correct the behavior. It may be a matter of just recognizing when things are getting out of hand and separating the dogs or more significant behavior modification may be required. It is impossible to know without observing the dogs in action. And good behaviorist will be able to do this for you.