So I have a 5-year-old smaller schnauzer, Joplin, who’s never really been socialized much with other dogs. I just rescued another dog, a puppy, and I thought after a week things would calm down. But Joplin has been going crazy, barking nonstop, and it’s like super high-pitched and insanely loud. The puppy just wants to play, which I get, but we’re 5 days in and there’s not much improvement. Anyone have any tips or been through something like this?
Yeah, I had a similar situation with my dog. It’s totally normal for older dogs to get agitated with puppies, especially if they haven’t been around them much. The barking can be exhausting, but it gets better over time. Maybe give Joplin a safe space where the puppy can’t get to her?
@Gerald
Same here! My older dog hated my puppy at first. But yeah, having a place for them to chill away from each other helped a lot. Also, I’d recommend keeping them separated when unsupervised, just to keep the peace for now.
@Gerald
Oh, that’s a good idea! I didn’t think about giving my older dog a space to call her own. I’ll try that and see if it helps.
I’ve been dealing with this too! It’s tough, but just be patient. It takes time for the puppy to learn boundaries and for the older dog to get used to it. I found that using mind-stimulating toys like a Kong helped distract the puppy a bit, so it wasn’t constantly trying to play with the schnauzer.
@Lyana
Yes, toys are a game changer! I use the treat dispensing ball, and it keeps my pup busy for a while. I think it helps with the energy levels too.
@Lyana
Thanks for the suggestion! I’ll get one of those. My puppy definitely has way too much energy for the older dog to handle, lol.
The behavior sounds pretty normal, but if Joplin’s aggression gets worse or seems out of control, you might want to look into training or talk to a professional. Also, keep rewarding Joplin for calm behavior. Positive reinforcement works wonders!
@oliviamartin
I’ve heard positive reinforcement works well, but how do I get started? Should I just use treats when she’s calm?
Bright said:
@oliviamartin
I’ve heard positive reinforcement works well, but how do I get started? Should I just use treats when she’s calm?
Yeah, exactly! Whenever Joplin stays calm, reward her with a treat. You can start with smaller treats and gradually work up to bigger rewards. It’s about catching her in the act of being calm and rewarding that behavior.
It might also help to train the puppy to stay calm around Joplin. Start with simple commands like ‘sit’ or ‘stay’ to keep the puppy focused on you rather than Joplin. This way, the puppy won’t overwhelm her as much.
@Meryl
Great point! I think I need to start doing more training with my puppy. I’ve been focusing mostly on Joplin’s behavior, but I’ll work on the puppy’s too.
I totally get where you’re coming from. My dog was super aggressive with my new puppy at first, but it definitely got better after a few weeks. Just keep them separated when needed and use some calming techniques. It’ll take some time, but it’s worth it!
@Pupp
That’s reassuring to hear. I was starting to think it would never get better, lol. But I’ll keep at it and hopefully things improve soon.