My Dog Is A Chew Toy For My Puppy!?
So I have a 7 week old Great Dane and he is good for the most part, but is going through the biting stage. I realize that I took him from the litter a couple weeks early and am planning on taking him to puppy classes soon. My question is I have a 6 year old golden retriever and my Dane chews and nips him like hes a toy constantly! I have been letting him do this so my golden can sometimes snap at him and let him know he bites too hard and I want him to be comfortable playing with dogs. Am I encouraging bad behavior? I don’t think I could stop him if I tried, he loves playing with him and my golden doesnt mind much…usually just walks away. Should I stop it when they start to play rough or let them go? I kind of rely on my golden to show the pup some good habits.
Filed under: Dog Questions and Answers
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That is exactly what your golden is doing! This is very typical puppy behavior. It’s how they learn to be dogs!
we have a similar situation, with a 4yr old Golden and a 6 month old lab mix puppy. The puppy pulls the golden’s tail, etc. They just kind of wrassle around. When the big dog has had enough he barks or growls in a different, non-playful way and the pup leaves him alone.
This kind of play is an important socialization for your puppy, and goldens get along with other animals so well. He’s teaching him doggie manners and the whole hierarchy /dominance thing.
Your Great Dane puppy will soon be much much larger than the easy-going golden. You’ll have to keep an eye on the playtime and maybe intervene for the older dog, telling the puppy NO very firmly. you can grab him by the scruff of the neck like a mama dog would when you do this. No it won’t hurt the dog.
I don’t think you’re encouraging bad behavior with either dog.
PS with a Golden Retriever and a Great Dane I hope you have BIG house , LOL.
Your fine and you should leave it alone. It is up to your golden to set the standards. With getting your pup early it missed out on socialization within the pack so now it is up to your golden to teach him.
it is probably okay as long as ur golden doesnt mind. other dogs teach puppies how to act and as ur golden is doing, is teaching ur dog manner that he will need. as for playing rough….if ur dogs dont go to far i think that should be okay!good luck!
If you cannot stop the pups behaviour physically try going out to Petsmart or Pet Value or Pet Cetera and get this green apple spray stuff. Dogs hate the taste! Spray your Golden’s legs with it and you G.Dane will not bite him anymore! My dog used to always bite her leash but sfter I sprayed it she put it in her mouth and dropped it because it tasted so bad! If you dog likes the flavour (very few do) their are many others to choose from, and some brands that make them say if your dog isn’t grossed out you get your money back! Also Beware that this stuff isn’t water resistant, if your golden gets wet you’ll have to re-aply it! Best of Luck.
You are doing the right thing your golden will leave him know if hes being hurt its the best way for a pup to learn as its what would happen in the wild. All pups do this and your not encouraging bad behaviour your lucky you have a older well behaved dog to show him the limits. Id say keep doing what your doing
it is natural all dogs do it
At this stage it is fine. The golden will let the pup know if it is out of line, but you want to keep an eye on this behavior as it gets older. Also, make sure the pup does have chew toys available. If this continues after the pup is done teething and is maybe 6 mo old, think about doing something. Be sure to support the golden if it is not a very dominant dog.
Adult dogs have an amazing tolerance for small puppies. My girl would let a retriever puppy lead her around by her long fluffy ears for weeks. But when the puppy gets older, your older dog will proabaly come to tolerate less “puppy nuisance” and be less tolerant. Don’t worry, your golden is probably in control and will put an end to the nipping when it’s too much and the puppy is a bit older.