6
Answers Home
» Behavior & Training
» Socialization
How can i tell if my dogs are fighting or playing? I have a chihuahua/pug mix that is 1.4 years old and a 8 week old pit
They do not growl but sometimes it looks pretty serious. The puppy has made the older dog cry a couple of times.
Asked by
Member 1138275
on Oct 30th 2012
Tagged
in Socialization
Status
- Cast your vote for which answer you think is best!
Answers
You have created a Pack.
You should support your resident Dog (C-Pug) in every way you can, to be the Alpha animal.
When they seem to fight, it is because the Pit is trying to dominate, That is wrong and the Pit should be scolded. Do some research on how Packs operate, and follow the rules.
SNEAKERS
answered on 10/30/12.
Helpful? 
/
0
Disagreeing STRONGLY with the previous answer, especially considering this is a PUPPY we're talking about. Dogs play fight all the time, and it can indeed sound scary.
If the puppy stops or lets up a bit when the older dog cries, I'd say there's nothing to worry about. He just bit a little too hard and hearing the other dog yelp informs him of this.
If you feel the need to, break it up. Pick the puppy up and let them both calm down for a bit.
Gray Dawn Treader
answered on 10/30/12.
Helpful? /
3
Totally bogus stuff from Sneakers. Honestly..you have 2 dogs that are quite different in size. Puppies learn etiquette from mom & littermates. Your puppy is playing. Your dog is trying to teach him bite inhibition, manners, & limits. BUT being so much smaller than pup it could lead to pup accidentally hurting him.
It has zilch to do with alpha crap or dominance.
Monitor them carefully. If you see pup getting too rough, separate them until pup calms down. It might be better if you can can find pup some bigger dogs to play with until he has learned how not to be too rough.
Do NOT favour one over the other..how stupid is that? You have enough love for both. Give each dog special one on one time. Create a place for your older one to escape when pup gets too rough. When he is in that spot..do not allow pup to pester him.
Wiley
answered on 10/30/12.
Helpful? /
2
If the dog is crying, seperate them. Should be learning bite inhibition in the next coming weeks.. you should teach him this for humans too by yelping loudly when he nips at you. As far as Alpha... Let dogs be dogs, they will figure that out themselves. It's really not the humans responsibility to figure it out. The sooner the 2 get that worked out the better off they will be. If you try to control that situation the pit (if he's acting dominate) will get a chance when he's older and take back his rights.. It may not be as pretty then as it would be now... You may be interested in finding a reputable trainer for training class (NOT PETCO etc..) I did this with my pit and it helped considerably.
Koda
answered on 10/30/12.
Helpful? /
1
