Problem Pups!!!

Hi

I have a 6 month old black flat coated retriever called Monty. He is the most lovely puppy I could have asked for, he's not overly destructive, he's happy, playful, nice to other dogs and people he just has a lovely nature.

We got Monty at 8 weeks and introduced him to our other dog Luke, who is a x- breed terrier, aged 13 (ish) he again is a lovely dog, the most well behaved dog I've ever known!!! At first Monty was nervous of Luke (only the first day) as Luke was a little bigger and wanted to play, since then Monty (who is hugeeeeee) now just pulls at Luke knocks him over and tried to make him play, Luke does not want to play with him anymore, ever. And even when we tell Monty off and no he still pulls at him to the point where we have to separate them. Neither are aggressive to one another but Monty does get too rough and hurts Luke which is why Luke dislikes his play so much. He will not stop and I was hoping someone might have had a similar experience and know how to overcome this problem, we want our dogs to be around each other harmoniously, they can be in each others company but more often than not Monty tired this rough play, especially on walks!

Please help!

Thanks
Emily

At 6 months he is a baby and playing is what is natural for him. If your other dog won`t play with him, then you will either have to find him playmates (do you know anyone with dogs he can socialise with?) or play with him yourself.
As he`s a working breed, he should take to scent and retrieve games like a duck to water (literally, perhaps).
I play with my dogs a lot when we are out.

Hi

Thanks for your reply! I play with him every second I get but Luke is more interesting to him than us or his toys!

I have taken him to see my Aunties dog who is also a young puppy ( slightly older than Monty) and she didn't like his play either as he was too rough. We also take him to puppy classes where he plays with the other puppies who however when playing with these pups he is not as rough and doesn't play in the same way as he does with Luke, with the puppies he actually plays, chases, rolls around wrestles but with Luke its pushing him into things, knocking him over and really pulling at his ears, tail and body. It's very strange behavior really.

Thanks
Emily

You need to find a safe haven for Luke to get away from the boisterous youngster, at his age rough and tumble is to much for him, as he is showing ...

You can only do what you are already doing, separate and give the old boy some time away.

Has he got a cage /den to escape to , maybe put up some baby gates.

You will also have to teach he youngster that when you say leave him, he does as he is told.

Its like a frail old grandad being hounded by his toddler grandson lol. When that happens grandad usually retreats to his bedroom so get him a nice comfy crate as his bedroom and teach the little rascal that he is NOT allowed in that space

We had this with my German Shepherd and Cairn Terrier, similar size difference to yours I would think. By the time Jake was full grown he decided he wanted to play/pick on poor Sam and Sam was too small and getting on a bit (10) and he didn't want to know. In the end Sam was quite wary of Jake - like Luke he knew what was coming. So I separated them completely when I wasn't there and ensured that Sam was with me or in a place of safety when I was about. We have quite a large garden and if they were both outside I couldn't keep my eye on them. Indoors Jake has to do as he is told. Sadly I lost Sam a couple of years ago so it's not an issue anymore. It would be a shame for Luke's last few years to be spoilt by this bouncy lummox!!!! lol

My mum had a similar problem with her old English cross pup (Harvey) mouthing at her older springer cross (Pheb) on walks. She taught the Harvey to pick up something to carry in his mouth on the walk. Normally he pulls up some long grass, He still does it even though Pheb has been gone a while and he's an old man, and he looks daft by the end of the walk cluching a soldiery blade in his mouth but solved the rough play!

I've got a flatcoat bitch, just over a year old, who is still very much a puppy and I don't expect her to mature until a few years of age, it's part and parcel of the breed I'm afraid, and my girl is pretty laid back in comparison to others of the same breed.

I do suggest you find a good training class to engage with him in what he has a natural ability for, ie gundog work. You don't have to shoot anything, you just have to learn about retrieving and what motivates them to retrieve. Flatcoats aren't the easiest of breeds but neither are they the most difficult, they like larking about instead of steady training if you let them get away with it, but if you find a way to get them wanting to work with you then you are onto a winner. All of that is down to handling skills, so when you say your boy isn't interested in you because Luke is more interesting, that isn't because you couldn't be the most interesting thing in his life, it's simply because you perhaps don't know how to make yourself the most interesting thing in his life, yet.

I have four retrievers, three Labs and the flatcoat, all bar the youngest are absolutely addicted to training if I take them out for a one to one, and even when I walk multiple dogs, including all four, they respond well to basics.

I would second advice to give your old boy a place away from the pup, some dogs will tell a pup they've had enough, even if they are more energetic than they are, but some just don't seem to have it in them so you have to intervene on their behalf.

Thanks for all your advice guys!!!

He a lummox but a loveable one!!! We take him puppy training every week and at 10 months he's going to start agility so that will be fun for him! The mouthing is still happening, so bad this week that we have had to walk them separately. We do have a special little space just for Luke which Monty can't get to but I do worry that, like aforementioned that Luke will end his days being pestered by this nutter which I don't want.
We are still working on the issue and I have informed my trainer who says it could be that Monty is aware that Luke is not an entire dog (he's been snipped) and Monty hasn't yet as he's still too young.

Other than this he is a wonderful little dog!!! So clever and really good with his training, already progressed and is at the same level as dogs much much older (we feel a little out of place now being so young! ha!)
Hopefully we will solve this although nothing's worked so far!
Thanks though!

I've had this with pups and they do soon grow out of it (Monty being a flatcoat though, it might just take longer lol). Just make sure Luke has a place he can escape to.

Sounds like you are doing really well with Monty.

Helen