A little back story - As some of you know (and some of you do not know) my Mom's dachshund Reba had a puppy... he's a male, and he's 8 weeks old now. My mom had a home lined up for the puppy, but she decided that the timing is off and she can't seriously commit for the life span of the pup. Which, I'd rather her decide that now rather than later on down the road.
She hasn't made any serious attempt to find the pup a home since then. I asked her last night if she was keeping the puppy, and she said she is not sure.
Anyway, we both agree that he needs socialization from us, regardless if she's keeping him or not. I'd actually like to take him out with Maddie and I, but now I have a problem.
Maddie doesn't like the puppy.
Maddie's well socialized, and she's been perfectly ok with foster dogs - including a couple young puppies in the past. In fact, she's helped me with them, if you know what I mean.
The puppy bites at her nose and ears; she growls at him to let him know he doesn't like it. He usually stops, not always right away, but he does normally back off. He's even rolled over on his back to show his belly to her. But he keeps going back at it. And now she growls when he walks near her, when he tries to jump on a couch she's on, and now when he's nipping at me. It's almost escalating - she doesn't want him near her at all anymore.
My mom gets upset when she does this, and yells at me to correct my dog. She's put Maddie in "time out" in my room while I'm at work because she says Maddie 'attacks' the puppy. I have seen her nip at him, correcting him and then backing off, so I think these alleged 'attacks' are exaggerated. BUT if she's giving him a good stare down or a warning growl, and someone pushes her, swats at her, or pulls her collar (I only know this because I've seen mom try it - and have instructed everyone NOT to do this) she does throw herself at the puppy, growling and nipping.
When she's growling or staring down I can say "leave it" and then distract her with calling her to me and putting her into a sit or down stay - or getting her on the couch or stair well away from the puppy's jaws. . . then she's fine
Is there anything I can do to help them get along better? I believe he has a lot he can learn from Maddie, especially if we're out and about.
She hasn't made any serious attempt to find the pup a home since then. I asked her last night if she was keeping the puppy, and she said she is not sure.
Anyway, we both agree that he needs socialization from us, regardless if she's keeping him or not. I'd actually like to take him out with Maddie and I, but now I have a problem.
Maddie doesn't like the puppy.
Maddie's well socialized, and she's been perfectly ok with foster dogs - including a couple young puppies in the past. In fact, she's helped me with them, if you know what I mean.
The puppy bites at her nose and ears; she growls at him to let him know he doesn't like it. He usually stops, not always right away, but he does normally back off. He's even rolled over on his back to show his belly to her. But he keeps going back at it. And now she growls when he walks near her, when he tries to jump on a couch she's on, and now when he's nipping at me. It's almost escalating - she doesn't want him near her at all anymore.
My mom gets upset when she does this, and yells at me to correct my dog. She's put Maddie in "time out" in my room while I'm at work because she says Maddie 'attacks' the puppy. I have seen her nip at him, correcting him and then backing off, so I think these alleged 'attacks' are exaggerated. BUT if she's giving him a good stare down or a warning growl, and someone pushes her, swats at her, or pulls her collar (I only know this because I've seen mom try it - and have instructed everyone NOT to do this) she does throw herself at the puppy, growling and nipping.
When she's growling or staring down I can say "leave it" and then distract her with calling her to me and putting her into a sit or down stay - or getting her on the couch or stair well away from the puppy's jaws. . . then she's fine
Is there anything I can do to help them get along better? I believe he has a lot he can learn from Maddie, especially if we're out and about.