• If you're a past member of the board, but can't recall your password any more, you don't need to set up a new account (unless you wish to). As long as you recall your old login name, you can log in with that user name then select 'forgot password' and the board will email you at your registration email, to let you reset your password.

puppysitting

edel

Well-known member
My boyfriends parents are going away on holidays for a week and since he is in college up the country they have asked me to take their cav for 5 days (until he comes home at the weekend). I have an 8 month old cav and she gets very excited when she sees him. The last time i took him for a few hours she would not leave him alone although he clearly wanted her to.

He is an exceptionally quiet dog and just tried to get away from her but she kept jumping on him. She even pulled his ears which made him cry. I tried and tried to stop her but to no avail. She just doesnt hear me when he is there.

I couldnt put him in another room as he would get upset if i wasnt there. I am quite reluctant to take him for this reason but i feel guilty having to put him into a kennel.

Any suggestions would be gratefully received.
 
When we dogsit for people we have sold puppies to, we find that our dogs just pester the daylights out of the newcomer for anywhere from half a day to a day. After that, everything is back to normal. Just keep an eye on them until things settle down. It may help to crate him occaisionally where your girl can see him.

The only wild card in this is that our dogs are used to having guests stay with us and have each other to play with. You have just the one. Maybe others with fewer dogs can give some additional insight. Good luck!

Bruce
MysticKnight Cavaliers
 
Edel,

They should be OK together after a few hours or so. Once the initial novelty has worn off :D . If your pup really gets to him and he gives a warning growl then just ignore it. Usually that's all the younger one needs to be told LOL


Maxx is quite a quiet dog and we have other cavs to stay quite often - it's weird but when they arrive he gets excite then sulks because they won't leave HIM alone. when they go home however, he sulks even more because he's missing them LOL :lol:
 
You can also crate the 8 mo old for a bit and let the visitor get his bearings before being accosted. ;) Also crate her when he's getting too annoyed.
 
I have decided to take Shadow for the next week (my boyfriends dog). Hopefully everything will be ok. Ill let you all know how we get on
 
Also it is the nature of a younger dog, still a pup, to pester an older one. It is fine to let the older one draw some lines on behaviour -- actually it is good for a pup that does not get the chance to mix with older dogs often, to put some manners on a young whippersnapper! Usually dogs are pretty tolerant of youngsters and if they are annoyed, a growl or snap is the way they say, "lay off". A couple of tries and the pup will obey. My two went thru this recently with a friend's westie puppy. I've never seen mine get annoyed with another dog, but this guy was dribving them crazy. They both -- including Jaspar, who is very submissive -- let the pup know his perstering was not on. A few growls and snaps at the air (not ever touching the 7 month old pup) got the message across. This is really good socialising for a dog as a dog needs to know that ot every animal wants a full front assault and the dog learns to be more adult and restrained in behaviour. Very normal learning process. Don't intervene unless you feel things are geting too aggreessive. Or, crate the pup to give the older dog a break now and then.
 
The only problem is Shadow will not growl at her at all, i wish he did just to get her to behave. He just looks at me as if to say help me. She is very rough with him and doesnt listen to me when i tell her to stop. She will stop for five minutes and forget and do it all again.

Will he ever tell her to leave him alone or will he just tolerate it. Its not really fair on him, i sometimes feel it is cruel for him to be left alone with her but i work during the day so they will be alone at some point. :?

I hear bitches are more dominent and assertive than males. Is this true? Is this all because they are male and female?
 
Shadow sounds just like my Maxx - we don't think he knows how to growl! Could you not separate them during the day? Maybe confine the puppy to one room and let Shadow go where he normally does? Might be your best option :)
 
Back
Top