Okay, so Mom is pretty decided in that she wants to keep Pip (who is a Mini Aussie, currently 3 months and around 9-10 inches tall). The issue we're running into is how we're going to ever be able to live in a situation where it's not crate and rotate with Simi and Pip. Simi is a working bred GSD, very high prey drive, and at this point in her life (9 months old) has practically no impulse control.
They've met several times through Simi's crate and Simi is calm and okay with Pip play bowing in front of her crate and all (as long as Simi doesn't have a chew or anything -- but that's another story) and they've been out and about, only the two of them, together before. In that case, Pip will lay down at Simi's feet and try to engage in play, and Simi will respond okay. Usually a lot of nudging her around with a closed mouth, a little play with her paws, but sometimes she'll open her mouth and mouth on the pup a little bit. Not biting, but with an open mouth nonetheless. If anyone holds Pip, Simi is instantly more interested in a trying to grab her kind of way, and if anyone pulls Simi back by her collar (or Pip gets loose when Simi is and you grab Simi) Simi is way more "let me at her, let me at her" but that makes sense.
We're just wondering now what we should do to try and make it so they can at least be supervised together. We don't know if it's a case of just waiting for Pip to grow and Simi to mature, or if it's a case of them never being able to be together. Simi is a VERY high energy dog, of course, and so is Pip. If it weren't for their size difference they'd probably really like each other, cause they'd be able to play. But the size difference is the big issue now.
We realize that Simi and Pip may never be able to be trusted like we trust our other dogs (throw the dogs outside, go cook a meal, etc., and leave them out) but it'd be nice for them to be able to at least meet each other in passing or be out in the house together, where we can see them.
I'm thinking maybe a muzzle at first? But at the same time, Simi could easily do damage with her paws.
Thoughts? Or is this a hopeless cause and I should just admit defeat?
They've met several times through Simi's crate and Simi is calm and okay with Pip play bowing in front of her crate and all (as long as Simi doesn't have a chew or anything -- but that's another story) and they've been out and about, only the two of them, together before. In that case, Pip will lay down at Simi's feet and try to engage in play, and Simi will respond okay. Usually a lot of nudging her around with a closed mouth, a little play with her paws, but sometimes she'll open her mouth and mouth on the pup a little bit. Not biting, but with an open mouth nonetheless. If anyone holds Pip, Simi is instantly more interested in a trying to grab her kind of way, and if anyone pulls Simi back by her collar (or Pip gets loose when Simi is and you grab Simi) Simi is way more "let me at her, let me at her" but that makes sense.
We're just wondering now what we should do to try and make it so they can at least be supervised together. We don't know if it's a case of just waiting for Pip to grow and Simi to mature, or if it's a case of them never being able to be together. Simi is a VERY high energy dog, of course, and so is Pip. If it weren't for their size difference they'd probably really like each other, cause they'd be able to play. But the size difference is the big issue now.
We realize that Simi and Pip may never be able to be trusted like we trust our other dogs (throw the dogs outside, go cook a meal, etc., and leave them out) but it'd be nice for them to be able to at least meet each other in passing or be out in the house together, where we can see them.
I'm thinking maybe a muzzle at first? But at the same time, Simi could easily do damage with her paws.
Thoughts? Or is this a hopeless cause and I should just admit defeat?