So need some guidance please! - Page 1

A small story to tell you how we got where we are!!


So i got my new sar prespect puppy about 2 weeks ago and i currently had 2 adult gsd's. One male and one female. The adult female when i got her i was told was dog aggressive so was very careful when we went out etc. So when i decided to get a new pup was concerned of course how she would react.

Pup was here for a few days before i gave them a controlled meeting. Pup on leash and adult on leash. When i let the pup out the adult did the opposite of what i thought she would so and was playing with her within minutes. No hair standing ,no teeth, no growl. Just a play stance and tail wagging.

So all would be we'll you say?

Not exactly. The adult has always been a soft dog per say. Now that the pup is here and my attention is somewhere else at times she is so incredibly soft it is scarey. Ears are back at all times,tail between legs and so close to the floor she is basically crawling. You would think she was a beaten dog. If i raise my voice to get puppys attention she slinks off to the bathroom or wherever she can get away. And she stares at me all day with this look like i broke her heart.

We are still walking twice a day and playing when i can get her to interact but i dont know what to do to help her get over this.

Somebodys got to have an idea:)

How old is the pup?

The pup is 12 weeks

Just seems odd for a young pup of that age. Like to see them a bit more confident.

Its not the pup that is acting that way its the adult female.

The pup is awesome and will be a great working girl.

it seems like since all your attention went to you little pup. she feels like vase in the corner maybe?
if like having 2 children, the younger one always gets the attention for abit.

my yorkie use to do that when i got my pup. but now i play with him in bed, he sleeps with us.
but yeh no more red around his eyes. stress. he eats fine. and he stop running under the bed when i speak loudly.

could you maybe bring them both on a walk together? so she knows that shes still loved?
walking them both would maybe make the problem reduced?

o-yeh when all your dogs are sitting for a treat. puppy gets treat last.
dogs will know...

Two things run through my mind.  One maybe she really got in trouble in the past for being "dog aggressive".  It could be that they misread her also.  But that could be the reason for her acting like she ate the canary.  She may also be very much under stress because your attention is split and she needs a LEADER.  Sounds like she is not quite sure how to act, or what to do.  I think what you are doing is good.  Keep them inter acting...and encourage play...High praise when they are playing together.  She sounds like she has lost her confidense since the new pup came to your house...and that might be from a bad expierence she had in the past.  How would her past owners know that she was dog aggressive unless she acted it out.  You might find out what they did when she displayed that side of her personality.  Try to have one on one time with her building her up...and then bring in the pup.  Every time she interacts correctly with the pup high praise...just so she knows that it is OK with you for her to be with the Pup.  Sounds like she may have gotten in trouble in the past.  She might also be jealous, and feels some what displaced with the new pup.  Your dog needs some confidense.  Try and build her up. Her shrinking attitude towards your pup clearly shows that she is confused and really needs some guidance.  Make sure that she spends as much time as she can with the pup, supervised until she gets it......the puppy is staying!!!!  The slinking around when you raise your voice makes me think she had a bad expierence with another dog....and that is what she is reacting to.  Good luck.  I think the more time they spend together...the better it will get.  Make sure you supervise them.

I agree with demeras.

I've had a full on dog agressive bitch, she would go into immediate kill mode, whether it was a adult dog or pup.

sounds to me like's she's confused, and expects to be reprimanded since the new pup is there.  probably associates the pup with the correction she received before coming to you.

of course, I acted the same way when my mom joked about another child in the house.  I pleaded and begged that I would be good, I would do better, promise, just don't do that to me! lol.