puppy is so dominant!
This is my first post, although I have been reading the forum for some time. We just adopted our first OES puppy, named Fergus. He is just as cute as can be! We also have an 8 month old Bernese Mountain dog (spayed female) named Mojo. Mojo has always been quite submissive and easy-going, so it's probably not fair to compare Fergus' behaviour to hers. However, we're finding Fergus' behaviour pretty dominant! He has already challenged Mojo on several occasions - unfortunately she just submits. He also challenged our friends Schnauzer (Hunter) in his own house, on their first meeting. Quite a bit of barking, snarling and bouncy puppy antics. Hunter tucked his tail and hid - which is unusual for this dog. I put Fergus on his side and got him to calm down and he was a bit better. But he did it again today as well - and this is at 8.5 weeks old! I also find Fergus to be EXTREMELY vocal - whether its whining, snarly type noises, barking or funny squeaky noises. We're not used to that with Mojo, who only barks when the doorbell rings. We got Fergus from a reputable breeder; I met both the parents, who were lovely, quiet dogs. He is in good health and does not seem to challenge people in this way (at least, right now!). So far he has been very affectionate with myself and my kids, so this doesn't appear to be a breeder or lack-of-socialization issue. Is this a common thing for OES puppies? Any advice on keeping Fergus in check? I'd hate to be the lady at the dog park with the animal that terrorizes all the other dogs  Thanks! jen |
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| I would not right off the bat assume he is being dominant. If he is bouncing around being playful while vocalizing he sounds like just a normal puppy. The other dogs he has met may just be unused to an exuberant puppy, that doesn't mean they are being submissive. Their behavior may be abnormal.... not the pup. |
My limited experience is that OES's puppies are very very playful and outgoing. And if the other dog won't play, the sheepie will do everything in it's power even if it means aggrevating or being a pest to get a 'rise' out of the other dog...  When Heart was in puppy class, she was very vocal and attention grabbing. I have to say, most of the other dogs were goldens or labs and Heart looked like a BABY HUEY compared to them~ So, they were a little guarded about this huge ball of fluff, bouncing around ~~HOWEVER, the first time she was able to play with her 'own kind' ...well...lets just say, Heart was in the mix and having a ball!!! I hope this helps!!! And Welcome to the forum!!! When are we going to see pictures of your two furbabies??? (((we lovee pictures!!))) |
| I think the less euphemistic term to describe an OES puppy is an #@!hole. LOL. They can be obnoxious, in-your-face dummies and it's a major turnoff to some dogs. My two sheepdogs love each others' annoying behavior but if my Komondor could roll his eyes, he'd be doing it constantly. I always think of him as being locked in a room with two comedians that he does not find funny! Also, I wouldn't worry too much about your older dog submitting to the younger one. They're both young and maturing on their own-- sometimes the natural pecking order doesn't wind up being what you think it should be but the dogs work it out. As long as no one is upset, scared or getting hurt, I wouldn't worry about it. |
| How long have you had him? At only 8.5 weeks old he must still be getting used to you and his new surroundings. I wouldn't worry much, but I would correct any behavior issues firmly. Sometimes removing them from the group is enough, but you must be consistent. Shellie |
| I think your 8 week puppy is being a puppy. People, of course, think little puppies are extremely adorable, but it seems a lot of adult dogs find them annoying and have low tolerance for them. An adult's dog reaction to a little bouncy obnoxious puppy can differ depending on the adult's personality. Mady is TOO tolerant, and she gets swarmed by the young 4-6 month old puppies at the dog park, they bite her fur all over, especially at her face and we can tell sometimes Mady finds it too much and just tries to back out. I know a lot of other dogs would have snapped (not bite) at the puppies to tell them to "piss off". I know because some of the park regulars did this to Mady when she was 4-5 months old. Recently, there were several regular puppies on Mady, and one of Mady's friends, a husky, decided it was too much for Mady and she intervened and snapped at the puppies. Just one important note, this is NOT aggression or danger towards the puppy. Too often, the puppy owners get all upset at the adult snapping dog's owner, but the adult dog is behaving correctly, and the puppy is learning proper dog social skills. Just this past weekend, Mady met and was playing with an 8 week old OES puppy from the same breeder. Mady had a lot of fun, but at times, the puppy was just too much, he even had a puppy deathgrip on her legs and face a couple of times where Mady backed away and the puppy was attached to her and off the ground. We actually pulled the puppy a way a few times to give Mady a break. Mady is just so sweet and tolerant she doesn't complain (when she really should). So I would think your puppy is just being a typical rambunctious puppy. And the other dogs are being too tolerant and sweet, and just backing off instead of putting the puppy in his place. Here are some pictures of the Mady and the puppy together:   |
| Hey everyone: Thanks for your advice! I guess I am so used to seeing Hunter & Mojo play together - Hunter played eagerly with Mojo when she was 8 weeks and his reaction to Fergus was so different... hence the concern. But I so agree that I'm probably being a worried "mom" and that I should realize that he is just a newborn! Fergus is definitely WAY more energetic and confident than Mojo was at that age. We picked Fergus up 4 days ago and he settled into the house in record time. I do wish that Mojo would put down some rules, as she is becoming the puppy's favourite chew toy! But I'll let them work it out. I'll see if I can figure out how to post a picture! jen |
I have a 11 month old Sheepie we rescued 4 months ago as well as 2 labs, 9 and 4. My sheepie wants to play ALL THE TIME and if the labs wont play with her she will bark in their ear or grab them by the scruff of the neck. She doesnt hurt them but gets them up and moving so they can wrestle. It took my older lab 3 weeks to accept her and play with her, now they wrestle ALL THE TIME!  I think sheepie puppies are just naturally full of energy and do whatever they can to get attention. |
| In your first post about Fergus, I thought you were describing our pup Howie. He was/is pushy, vocal, dominant (stated by my vet), controlling, energetic, mouthy ( the biting has stopped), and smart as a whip. These qualities seem all negative, but as Howie grows up I am appreciating his personality. When we go to the doggy parks, even the most grumpiest dog ends up romping with Howie. Because he is controlling he pushes himself on any dog until they give in and play. He is gentle with smaller dogs and pups. Howie is very vocal at home...we are working on this, ugh. We have tried everything to get him to stop the LOUD YAPPING. A few weeks ago I started to say "show me" and Howie will now stop barking and lead me to whatever he was trying to tell me. Everyday is a challenge with Howie, we need to be firm and consistent with our actions otherwise he becomes the boss of the house. It is a lot of work, but he is so worth very ounce of our energy. I bet as time goes on Fergus will become a lovely, gentle, smart boy. Having all your family members follow the same training rules & puppy classes will make a difference. Oh, and remember Fergus needs lots of sleep. Hope to see some pictures of Fergus soon! peg & 8 month old Howie |
| i know when i got dreamer he was a devil and barked at everyting till he was about 5 months old it drove me and duffy crazy but he seem to grow out of it hang in there and welcome |
| When I brought home my puppies, I got two litter mates. They were their own favorite chew toys from day one; they still are. Even at 3 years old, their version of "play time" can be a lot more rough than many dogs we know. Three month old "playtime"; notice how one dog is airborn:  Six month old "playtime":  of course, it never hurts to get the upper hand in the situation early on. Your other dog may not want to be dominant, but make sure you are! Your puppy will need to respect you, and its much easier to get that respect while they are 10 pounds, than it is to demand it of them when they are 50 or 100 pounds! |
Those pictures are wild! Looks like fun.  peg |
| Hi: I also have a 4 month old Bernese Mountain Dog and seems quite agressive to our 3 year old Bernese Mountain Dog. He also has a very loud bark, which at times gets a little annoying to be honest. My main concern is with the amount of attention this pup demands from my 3 year old Berner. I suppose it doesen't help the situation that Lincoln, our 3 year old has had nothing but our full love, kindness and attention for his whole 3 years. This puppy seems quite agressive by Lincolns' standards. They play together and for a time, Lincoln seems to get into it, however, I notice Lincoln offering the pup his tail, which I understand is a friendly gesture, but the pup just grabs his tail and is still agressive. Lincoln has never chewed anything or eaten baseboards and door casings in his whole three years, but this pup has. What an eye-opener! Lincoln has been a true Angel puppy in every way imagineable for 3 years. He also does not bark, but this pup sure does! Is this behaviour normel for a 4 month old puppy or do we need professional help here? |
FergusMom wrote: Is this a common thing for OES puppies? Any advice on keeping Fergus in check? I'd hate to be the lady at the dog park with the animal that terrorizes all the other dogs Thanks! jen Hi Jen and welcome!!! I had to laugh because I'm going to be the lady at the dog park with the terrorizer too. At ten weeks, Charm exhausted two boxers in one day, and shredded their necks with her puppy teeth.  It's all in a good romp for her, and at eight months, Charm is still all over the boxers. The difference in the breeds I guess. Give your dogs a break from each other frequently. Mine just usually collapse and sleep Looking forward to any pictures |
Puppy kinder, till all vaccinations are completed, then later on off to some form of Obedience classes for fergus to learn some manners in a controlled situation on lead & be able to socialise with all sorts of other breeds  Males grow so much bigger usually then the females in this breed, so yes it is something you need to get on top of, sooner rather then later. Training also socialises them and you learn too and fergus will learn and have fun with all sorts of breeds, better now as a pupper then a big fully grown male.  |
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