Bossy pup!

Lately I've been having some difficulties with little Pepper. She is VERY bossy and pushy with the older dogs, always hassling them and being a nuisance.

She sees ALL toys we have as hers and doesn't allow the other dogs to chew on them for a second. Even if she's busy with one toy, if another dog is chewing something else she HAS to have that one - sometimes she doesn't even chew them, she just makes sure all toys are hers.

She also barks to get the other dogs to move from "her" sleeping places, whether it's on the couch or in the beds - where Pepper wants to lie, she lies.

Unfortunately neither of the other dogs tell her off, they just give in and walk away and this is making her behaviour 100 times worse as she knows she can get away with things now.

I step in and tell her off when she's being possessive of toys as I know this will cause trouble when she's older and stronger. She never growls at me when I take toys away from her though, it's only the other dogs she has issues with.

Should I keep punishing her (usually done through a very stern "Pepper! No!" followed by me stomping over to her and growling at her) or just wait for the other dogs to start telling her off? Could it be that because she is a puppy they let her get away with things? Will things change when she's older?

I could really use some advice on this as I do feel quite bad for the other dogs since they never get to enjoy the toys I buy for them :(

Edited by cecilia - 14 July 2010 at 2:28pm

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cecilia Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Puppy Joined: 01 July 2010 Location: Letterkenny Online Status: Offline Posts: 48	Post Options Post Reply Quote cecilia Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Bossy pup! Posted: 14 July 2010 at 2:28pm
	Lately I've been having some difficulties with little Pepper. She is VERY bossy and pushy with the older dogs, always hassling them and being a nuisance. She sees ALL toys we have as hers and doesn't allow the other dogs to chew on them for a second. Even if she's busy with one toy, if another dog is chewing something else she HAS to have that one - sometimes she doesn't even chew them, she just makes sure all toys are hers. She also barks to get the other dogs to move from "her" sleeping places, whether it's on the couch or in the beds - where Pepper wants to lie, she lies. Unfortunately neither of the other dogs tell her off, they just give in and walk away and this is making her behaviour 100 times worse as she knows she can get away with things now. I step in and tell her off when she's being possessive of toys as I know this will cause trouble when she's older and stronger. She never growls at me when I take toys away from her though, it's only the other dogs she has issues with. Should I keep punishing her (usually done through a very stern "Pepper! No!" followed by me stomping over to her and growling at her) or just wait for the other dogs to start telling her off? Could it be that because she is a puppy they let her get away with things? Will things change when she's older? I could really use some advice on this as I do feel quite bad for the other dogs since they never get to enjoy the toys I buy for them :( Edited by cecilia - 14 July 2010 at 2:28pm

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Pepper Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Joined: 27 September 2005 Location: Melbourne Online Status: Offline Posts: 9679	Post Options Post Reply Quote Pepper Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 14 July 2010 at 3:02pm
	It must be the name! LOL My pepper is always stealing my Wilson's bed at nite and he barks his head off til we come move her LOL My advice would be to continue to let her know what its not acceptable to be greedy with the toys, when she's being really possessive of them, i would take every toy away from all dogs as a consequence, no more play! she sounds a right bossy mare and start as you mean to go on as as you say its only bigger and stronger she is going to get! Dogs (when two or more are involved) also need to find their own pecking order without involvement from us humans and yes believe it or not teeny tiny puppies can cause havoc with pack order, but by the sounds of it your other dogs seem to be quite submissive to her which is only reinforcing her authority over them, which is fine as long as there is no serious agro for you or the other dogs involved! I would look into some training classes for her, even if its only puppy socialization class, there she'll meet other dogs who will stand up to her in a supervised environment and have fun! My Kas was a very very bossy little mare when she was a pup (still is really LOL) only i didn't know it at the time, i saw it as cute when i seen her jumping and pulling at her other litter mates thought she was just playing, but after a few years of learning about dogs and their behaviours i now know that she was and still is a dominate female. Thankfully my pepper is a submissive lady and there was no upset when we brought Kas home, the just got on with thing! And Wilson (my great dane) has learned to do the same... LOL its quite funny seeing a tiny little dog be the boss of one of the worlds biggest dogs! But they all get along swimmingly and they all know their places with each other and there is harmony in our house!


cecilia Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Puppy Joined: 01 July 2010 Location: Letterkenny Online Status: Offline Posts: 48	Post Options Post Reply Quote cecilia Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 14 July 2010 at 3:26pm
	Yeah I've been meaning to sign her up to some puppy classes so she gets a bit socialised and so she can learn doggy behaviour, otherwise I have a feeling she's going to turn into a monster. When I tell her off for things, the other dogs think they're in trouble and start cowering - which she picks up on immediately and starts bullying them (pulling their ears and biting their legs/necks/tails/younameit) even more. She is turning out to be quite a handful! But her personality towards humans is wonderful, she's very affectionate and loving and always gives lots of kisses. She's just a terror with the dogs. Also, she seems to be more submissive towards my boyfriend as whenever he comes home from work and greets her she pees herself. o.O

Pepper Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Joined: 27 September 2005 Location: Melbourne Online Status: Offline Posts: 9679	Post Options Post Reply Quote Pepper Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 14 July 2010 at 7:02pm
	sounds like rough play... your other dogs, i don't think, would tolerate too much if they weren't happy and would correct her themselves! They'll soon learn that the "trouble maker" is the one being told off and won't bat an eyelid... they're prob just not used to your raised voice! Have you tried teaching her any little tricks yet, even something as simple as sit could distract her and hold her attention... just cos she's a pup doesn't mean she can't start learning! Or one on one play with you to tire her out a bit ... i'd say she's just chancing her arm, puppies have a great knack of wrapping us round their little fingers and getting away with it coz they're "only puppies" and so cute! LOL


Dober Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Puppy Joined: 01 September 2004 Location: Ireland Online Status: Offline Posts: 147	Post Options Post Reply Quote Dober Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 14 July 2010 at 10:20pm
	From Cecilla, "She also barks to get the other dogs to move from "her" sleeping places, whether it's on the couch or in the beds - where Pepper wants to lie, she lies. Unfortunately neither of the other dogs tell her off, they just give in and walk away and this is making her behaviour 100 times worse as she knows she can get away with things now." You have just answered your own question. She is already the leader of your pack of dogs!!!
	Dobermann for Life

Peter Banks Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Alpha Webmaster Joined: 25 January 2003 Location: Hill of Allen Online Status: Offline Posts: 1349	Post Options Post Reply Quote Peter Banks Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 15 July 2010 at 9:37pm
	Some great bits of advice here for owners of "bossy dogs". How old is she? Also, how old are your other dogs? I'm just thinking along the lines of Dober but, I could be wrong. Some of the smallest "puppies" can be the most dominant amongst the others, but their pecking order isn't determined until they've matured and the other pack members have "accepted" this fact. What I'm saying in a roundabout way is that the older members still see her as a small spoilt brat and "tolerate" her childish behaviour. But, as she gets older they probably will correct her with a nip or bark. Only time will tell? Our Lindy-Lou who is now just two and a half years old is also a bossy so and so. Jumps all over the others and hoards her (and their) toys. But she doesn't dare go anywhere too near Milligan (still the Alpha Male and her father) for fear of him nipping her. And, as others have said, she also is the smallest of the lot of them. I firmly believe in the "Napoleon Syndrome" ... Strangely enough he (Milligan) used to savage the twins (his two boys who are now five years old) if they "annoyed" him and it's still the only time I've been bitten by any dog. I foolishly tried to separate one such disorder which got out of hand with him literally been held up whilst still clinging onto the neck of his younger lad ... ah well, the joys of parenting and having more than one dog in the household! Thankfully, old age seems to have chilled him a bit and he's far more tolerant and even allows the twins to sleep within biting distance?


cecilia Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Puppy Joined: 01 July 2010 Location: Letterkenny Online Status: Offline Posts: 48	Post Options Post Reply Quote cecilia Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 16 July 2010 at 9:32am
	Pepper the pup is around 12 weeks old now and the other dogs are 1 ½ and 2 years. This morning I had to tell her off for snapping at Tippy (the oldest) for getting into the same bed as her. I'm hoping things will get better as she gets older - but if she keeps bullying the bigger dogs when she's grown up (with a nasty set of teeth to match) we will have a problem.