New to puppys....Any advice

[Tara n Rocky's Mum]

Hi, i'm new to this site, i've come in search of some advice.

I have Rocky who is approx 5 - not too sure as he's a rescue dog, and we have recently adopted Tara who is 8 weeks, who has been abandoned by mum.

Thinking that Rocky would be the gentle giant he normally is on our first day of having Tara, we decided to introduce them. Unfortunately it didnt go to plan and he went for the pup a little (it looked like she was a bit confused and went to suckle of Rocky...) Since then we have kept them seperated they are both showing a lot of interest in each other with a barrier between them - wagging tails etc. but as soon as she goes near him he runs away.

As Tara is the first puppy we have had i just worry about them getting along. She is quite a playfull pup and quite forward. She mouths at things a lot but even though she is only 8 weeks, she has already mastered sit and lie down, because she was only six weeks when she had to be seperated from mum, she had her first injections at 7 weeks and has to wait until 16/12/06 before she can get her secondary jabs. I'm finding this quite frustrating as i have to wait until she is able to go to puppy lessons. which i am desperate to take her to.

Do's anyone have any advice on how i can get my two to get one, tips on mouthing and how to stimulate the pup (especiallly house training)

Cheers

[Sharon Marples]

I question the fact that her dam "abandoned" her. It sounds more like a bad breeder to me, that left the puppy on the dam that long and expected the dam to keep feeding the pup. The pup should have been weaned at 4-6 weeks and should have already been on solid food by 6 weeks of age. It sounds as if the breeder did not do their homework or fulfill their responsibility to this litter.

For your questions......

First of all, READ, READ, READ!

You are asking questions that are asked here everyday. Here are a couple of posts for you to start with:

http://www.rottweiler.net/forums/pup...uppy-home.html

http://www.rottweiler.net/forums/pup...nance-etc.html

After you finish them, do a search (see the blue bar up at the top of the page with the word "search" in it? Click on "search" and enter the topic you are looking for - you will find tons of information on biting and housetraining). There is really no use in us having to give you all the info again when it is readily available through the search engine

With regards to your older dog, is he neutered? I would give them a lot of time with a barrier inbetween them before attempting a face to face again. It sounds as if he has never been around small dogs and with her being a typical puppy who wants to bite and suckle, it is not his fault he does not want her around him.

When you have them separated, give them both equal parts of your time. Don't let him think the puppy is there to take his place. Play with him just as much as the puppy but don't make him be a target for her biting, etc.

When you get them together, have her on a leash so you can control where she goes. That will eliminate her jumping or biting him, you don't want him to bite back! Just the fact that he is running from her indicates that he is not comfortable with her and you will have to re-introduce them at a slower pace so he does not hurt her.

I think that with time and patience he will come around. But in the meantime don't let him be a target of her bites and puppy behavior, that is your job to keep her off of him. Not all big dogs like little dogs. He needs time to adjust to her presence and to get used to her.

[spoiledbabies3]

Originally Posted by Sharon Marples

I think that with time and patience he will come around. But in the meantime don't let him be a target of her bites and puppy behavior, that is your job to keep her off of him. Not all big dogs like little dogs. He needs time to adjust to her presence and to get used to her.

Sharon has given you excellent advice! When we introduced Deja Vu (3 1/2 mo) to Samson (10 1/2 yo) we made certain she did not IRRITATE him. He doesn't feel as if she gets more attention...in fact, if one of the other dogs is getting attention and she is persistent in "me, me, me" then she has some "down time" in her crate until she calms. This has helped to acclimate her to the household...no issues from either older male...but I am persistent on her not "bugging" either of them. She is still a pup...so she has her own time just like the others...I devote special time to each on a daily basis. Good luck...pups are lots of work, but worth it!

[TR Young]

You'll not find much better advice than that from Sharon, so I would like to welcome you to the forums, and let you know that any pup named "Tara" HAS to be a good pup.....

I'm not partial, not at all.....

[spoiledbabies3]

Originally Posted by TR Young

any pup named "Tara" HAS to be a good pup.....

I'm not partial, not at all.....

LOL...hmmmm....Why does this NOT surprise me?