[happygolucky]

Now I need some advice, do I give my jealous dog more or less fuss as we have a 9 week old pup?  She is not aggressive at all but takes all the toys off the pup and gets between me and the pup when I want to make a fuss...I want to nip it in the bud!!

[Alistair]

I'd be trying to have play time alone with the pup and do some basic training, I.e. Recognise name, recall, sit & liedown

We always have a 'play area' when there's a new pup, it's a wire pen about 6ft x 4ft up in the lounge with the toys in so the pups got a safe place (plus crate of course) to play etc

Don't think you'll ever stop the toys being taken off the pup if they're in the open, we never tried to be honest, 4 dogs & toys = unmitigated disaster in the house, unless they have their own toys and you are willing to train the older dig not to touch the pups toys - not sure how that would work though

As for the jealousy thing, we just work on using leave command with flat palm hand signal to the elder ones whilst the pup gets fuss, and then allow them to come and have a fuss as well, also strengthens their leave command as well as there's more going on (we re doing this with the new cat at the moment too and it appears to be working)

Obviously as the pup gets older, bigger and less exciting to the old dog things will naturally become more equal and calmer

[happygolucky]

Thanks, I have been bringing her in to be with me alone to play but did find it sort of funny that all the stuffed toys that have been around for ages are in tact, yet any new ones bought for the pup are destroyed.  She does already sit on command, and her recall is of course good as she wants to be with me, I think Rohan, the yellow lab, knows she should not take some stuff but just cannot help herself...when a pink teddy came out you could see the strain on her face, she so wanted that toy,.my daughter says she is in her eyes, still a pup.... I shall certainly do the things you suggest, I sat on the floor and was very nearly flattened buy her last night, purely to stop me being near the pup   I do feed them together and they pup is often told off buy the others for trying to eat their food but it works.....

[doganjo]

If there's no aggression involved let them sort it out - they need to decide what order they are in - so long as the pup isn't being harmed. Don't favour any one over any of the others. Treat them all equally and it'll work out.

And make sure the pup gets enough time in her bed on her own to rest without the others bothering her. She needs time to grow.

I never feed pups beside adults; that's asking for trouble.  Feed pup in her crate and leave her there till the other three have finished and the bowls lifted.

[Alistair]

Totally agree re feeding

[happygolucky]

The others leave her alone all the time, in fact she gets up to find some one to play with while they sleep, poor Rohan usually is the one she pesters, but she is a very good and calm pup, she even goes off to her special area in the garden for the toilet and leaves the others to go......I also have no issues when they are feeding, I give all their food at the same time, I say  no when she goes near any of them and they eat very quickly, not much problem other than she takes a long while to eat her own....and as she is having extra meals its time consuming.....Non of the dogs have been one bit possessive about their food, I can take bowls away at any time, they are very good that way. 
I also make them all sit for treats and they all do, although little one cannot sit for too long as she jumps  up!!!
I have Brinjal in for a while to play, I worry more about people with busy house holds having pups as I know just how important sleep is for them and me!! Rohan is a dog that likes all the attention but she is never aggressive, I am sure she thinks she is still a pup!! Thanks    I must add, they are all in the same room for feeds but different areas so I can very easily monitor when the pup is going to go to look, nothing more than a growl as yet and of course mum Rhum would let her eat but that is not going to happen, funny thing both the 2 younger dogs were brought up together and both will share their food, well who ever eats the quickest would get the food, so I watch that as well otherwise we would have one fat and one thin dog!!  I would put a video on here if it was not so difficult......its dark in the garage where they eat  and I have to keep my hands free

[in the hills]

Agree with Doganjo.


I feed Kate in a different room to Alf. She eats at twice the speed and would push him off his dinner .... he would let her    but he needs his dinner    and she would learn a bad habit. When she is a wee bit older they will be fed together but she will know a few commands by then and be told to leave him until he is finished. I won't start any commands (apart from recall and no command until she is about 6 months old) so can't do it yet and she is a baby and so has no self control .... well very little!


If I fuss pup, Alf comes as well. Not at all jealous but always comes if there is any fuss or play going.  [size=78%] Would think that's pretty normal and not jealous. Is older dog being spiteful or just doesn't want to miss out?[/size]

[size=78%]Alf has only ever shown aggression once and that was when my dads lab came to fuss me. Alf dived between and growled. In that case he was told off because I don't need protecting and thought it a mistake to let him think that it was acceptable or necessary. [/size]

[size=78%]Depends how your older dog is behaving. [/size]

I think it's difficult when you have an older dog and pup. I remind the children to do things like greet Alf first sometimes before Kate. Say his name first. Give him his treat first. Make sure pup has individual time but also the oldies.

[in the hills]

Cross posted HGL.

[happygolucky]

  ...think she is learning from the others...I usually (not this time) blow my dog whistle when I am going to feed the pups, then they run to me, so then they are easy to get together, this time, my several whistles were not handy and I was too tired to find them before the feeds.  I am sure she knows her name although I do know at this age they like the security of being near their pack, in a little whiles time is the test, their teenage years!!
I am off gun dog training with her when she is a bit older, only fun stuff for a start, I love it, its fun for both of us and handy.....the rest of the dogs are very easy to train and can see this one going the same way!!

[doganjo]

Non of the dogs have been one bit possessive about their food, I can take bowls away at any time, they are very good that way. 

That isn't the issue.  Puppies need all their own food and need peace to eat it without distraction of watching other dogs.  You could be called to the phone, the door or just to nature as an urgency and you wouldn't see what was happening.  A crate is best for pups. 

Remember she needs to be around 5 to 6 months to start her gundog training.  Rough ground too much for baby puppies.  Obedience in the  garden is enough for now - recalls, sits, stop at distance, turns, whistle recognition -  is enough till then.

[in the hills]

Exciting isn't it HGL. Wondering what they will turn out like.


We have done recall since we had Kate but only through word association. Shouting come when she is already coming and as you say when its feed time and so on. She knows "no" up to a point but not taught formally as a lesson.


She will be a "baby" and do nothing else until at least 6 months of age, maybe older, just depends on her maturity and so on.


Everyone does it a bit differently. I like to listen to everyone and learn.


Can't wait though 

[happygolucky]

The older dogs finish their food very quickly and never take the pups while I am around, no doubt they would if I went out of the room but  I stay with them anyway, no telephone signal in there and I am around all day to get answer phone messages. I never leave the pup, she even comes with me in the car as its not hot any more.
 
Feeding is not an issue, she is a big healthy pup according to the vet and the jealousy is only a minor thing, I just want it not to become an issue that's why I have asked advice.
None of the three older dogs are at all aggressive with each other.
The gun dog training is not an issue either, I have many expert friends that are there to help and advise , the stud dog owner for a start, and I know just how much little a Labrador should exercise until they are 18mths, also its a good idea to get them used to the sounds and smells and very basic gun dog skills, the ground where I train is no rougher than most places we walk or a badly  kept lawn.....Its all good fun at this age and I know how good she will be but we will never do any competition, I just want a well behaved dog rather than an award winner!

[happygolucky]

in the hills, I hope to have much  more time to dedicate to this pup, the others are good anyway, they are easy dogs I must add....it is exciting.....   although when we went for her first vet check, they were very impressed as she stood, like a show pup, on the table with out budging an inch...I was not sure if she was frozen with worry or just fixed.....she so far is as good as gold, great at asking to go to the toilet, although a couple of puddles due to me not watching her get up, and quiet when going to her bed!!

[in the hills]

Ahh bless. How old is she now?


Kate is quite nervous with strangers and at the vets. We don't see people much up here and there is no background noise either so having to try hard to get her out and about. The village is about 4 miles away but it's very quiet there most of the time. Am dragging all humans in for a cup of tea!    .... And lurking in the village at "busy" times. 


If feed time works for you and yours then it's not a worry.    I would have an even thinner Flattie and a pudding of a pup but yours are all labs so feed time is probably over in a flash.

[happygolucky]

Over in a flash indeed, especially as I got some cheap fresh mackerel!!! The pup is 9 weeks today, she is going to be good I know....hope not spoilt, I do understand the dangers of feeding time at the zoo,, I never forget throwing a chip when we had a GSP and a Lab, the chip when in the air and all hell broke loose, learnt my lesson that time, I am the same with my chips!!!
Thanks for your help too!