Wally

Thanks for the help. I think the lead is a good idea. You're right about the terrier not enjoying her. She was fun a few months ago (and the snarling/growling wasn't rearly as scarey then). But she's bigger than him now and so I think he really is trying to tell her to stop it - but she's still a baby and maybe she's enjoying being stronger than him. Do they every grow out of this rough play? Wally

Hi, I posted this on the golden retiever thread but since only one replied thought I might get a bigger audience here. Sorry to say this twice but I really am quite worried We have 2 dogs - one small (7yr) one large (2yr). Our daughter brings her GR puppy (5mths) over regularly to play with our dogs and for us to mind when they go out. we probably see this gorgeous girl 3-4 times a week. She is a very boisterous baby and feels very much at home at our place. She plays very roughly with the other 2 dogs. I find it rather worrying. The small dog (smaller than the pup these day) growls in a very nasty way when they fight together. It does not sound like a fun game. It sounds like a dog-fight without the blood and yelping. And I don't want to hear that! He will often have the pup by the neck and snarl as if any minute he'll tear her throat open. Just awful and I can't stand it so I separate them. The little dog now behaves like he is very tired of this puppy coming over and I usually separate them because she just wont leave the terrier alone and he snaps at her. My big boy is just a pup himself really and he seems to love the GR. Sometimes I worry he is too big and too strong and might hurt her, though he never has. he'll knock her flying with his great paws and she'll go rolling away then bound back for more - her fangs bared and really looking like she wants to do some damage. She'll stand on her hind legs up against him trying to mount - she's so dominant! Sometimes it appears that the big dog is trying to avoid the pup, moving his head away from her so she cannot tear at his ears or grab him by the collar. She even goes for the back of his legs. There is never any blood or yelping but I'm frightened that all this rough play will teach her to be savage. Also, I don't want my dogs to be so annoyed by this excited pup that they bite her and hurt her. The GR is very obviously a very dominant girl! But she is also a visitor and I don't think she should behave like this. Am I being unrealistic for a 5 mth old puppy? When do you teach them manners? Also, recently she bit her "Dad" in a very surprising gesture when he tried to take something from her, causing quite a bit of pain and a nasty blood-blister. I'm concerned that we're letting her exert her dominance too often Any advice?

Thanks for your reply Kavik, It is a difficult issue for me as I'm the "grandparent" and this lovely little GR pup is not my dog. She's a rough-nut that feels safe enough to bully my two boys and yes, I do go out and separate them because the nasty snarling that comes from my Terrier is positively hateful! When he pins her down he has her by the neck and I'm worried that one day he'll just rip her throat open! But she's not worried at all. when he lets her up she bounces straight back up at him - and she really doesn't stop unless we separate them. I don't know much about dog psychology but, as she's the visitor, I think she should be learning that she is not the Alpha dog at Nanna's place!

We have 2 dogs - one small (7yr) one large (2yr). Our daughter brings her GR puppy (5mths) over regularly to play with our dogs and for us to mind when they go out. we probably see this gorgeous girl 3-4 times a week. She is a very boisterous baby and plays very roughly with the other 2 dogs. I find it rather worrying The small dog (smaller than the pup these day) growls in a very nasty way when they fight together. It does not sound like a fun game. It sounds like a dog-fight without the blood and yelping. And I don't want to hear that! The little dog now behaves like he is very tired of this puppy coming over and I usually separate them because she just wont leave the terrier alone and he snaps at her. The big boy is just a pup himself really and he seems to love the GR. Sometimes I worry he is too big and too strong and might hurt her. he'll knock her with his paw and she'll go rolling away then bound back for more - her fangs bared and really looking like she wants to do some damage. Sometimes it appears that the big dog is trying to avoid the pup, moving his head away from her so she cannot tear at his ears or grab him by the collar. She even goes for the back of his legs. There is never any blood or yelping but I'm frightened that all this rough play will teach her to be savage. Also, I don't want my dogs to be so annoyed by this excited pup that they bite her and hurt her. The GR is very obviously a very dominant girl! Also, recently she bit her "Dad" in a very surprising gesture when he tried to take something from her, causing quite a bit of pain and a nasty blood-blister. I'm concerned that we're letting her exert her dominance too often Any advice? Wally

Hi, We visited the vet recently and she said there is a flea plague at present. We haven't seen any fleas on our dogs but they're scratching. The vet said to use Frontline every 2 weeks through summer. (expensive when I haven't even seen one or even flea-dirt). I reckon the scratching is allergy - but was interested to hear about the plague

The Horse stable idea is a good one, thank you. There are quite a few in Castlereagh near us. Yes, I've left a message on the IW club website. The bath might have been a good idea except he's still too big for that - maybe if we had a spa (Hmmm) Wally

Hello , I have a very large and stinky boy who needs washing. In warmer weather I have an attachment I use with the garden hose to suds him up and rinse him off. But obviously this is not suitable in winter. I've been to "do it yourself" hydrobath places but the baths are too small for my dog and he seems all cramped and doesn't like it al at all. Our local groomer said her bath was too small for him too. Does anyone know of a mobile groomer in the Blue Mountains/western sydney area that could fit a wolfhound in their bath? - Wally