new pup meets border collie help please

[GypsyGSD]

I have just got a new gsd pup age 9 wks problem that I have is he will not leave my collie alone tugging at her fur biting her , jumping all over her etc I put him in his crate till he calms down but he does not give up its to the point that she has turned on him( ok I can expect that ) but today when I told the pup off for biting her she really went for him as well, to the point I thought she would hurt him I no he has to learn some maners but I want to stop this before it gets out of control he haves his jabs later this week and then were are going to training classes but who do I tell off the pup or the collie or both thanks GypsyX ps she has always been close to me and is a very highly strung collie

[Kleiber]

'morning, GypsyGSD! I had the same problem in reverse. My border collie is the younger one & when we got him, we had 2 gsds. Jake used to play with them, but got quite rough sometimes & if I told him off, the male shepherd would have a go at him, too, although the bitch was quite tolerant. Now that we no longer have the old fella, Jake has calmed down, but still plays rough (poor gsd's now 8 yrs old) & she gets really fed up with him. If they start, I tell them both off & it works, although it's not her fault, but his. (you should see the look I get from her!) Maybe your collie is still getting used to the fact that there's a "baby" in the house - she's not jealous, is she? You say she's highly strung, so maybe she feels a bit confused & also thinks she's backing you up when you admonish puppy. I'd keep an eye on her though, in case she goes too far. Do they play together in the garden ok?

[GypsyGSD]

I do let them play under supervison for short periods but the collie is trrying to avoid him as much as possible , and when the pup gets to rough and it begins to get to snapping point I put him back in crate I have started to today on basic training with pup e.g leave it , sit, stay etc this I will do in short periods over the next few weeks till he learns when i say leave it I mean it , all toys have been removed untill I give them to him during training sessions and he can play with me with them during these sessions Im hoping that when the pup learns some manners and I say leave it will apply to leave the collie as well , I think she could be jealous and she will need time to adjust as she has always been close to me so I will increase her training times as well so we spend more time together im hoping this will work , the strange thing is I have a 9 year old gsd bitch and shes not bothered at all GypsyX

[jules77]

Many years ago I had a border collie, who I thought was quite amenable to other dogs, until I bought a 'stray' home, and she went nuts, so I had to take it to the dogs home, which is what I should have done in the first place.

Could you try the GSD puppy in the same room as the border but only on a lead, and everytime he tries to go for the border, give him a yank and say in very firm voice 'No'. I wouldnt leave them unsupervised until he gets the message, which I am sure you arnt. I think you need to basically ignore the puppy so that the border doesnt feel left out, and not let her see that he is getting some love that she is missing out on?

[lankeela]

Just my two pennorth for what its worth - why have you taken all the pups toys away - he needs them to give him something to occupy him. Its all a load of b*ll*x about taking their toys away, a baby needs something to play with whenever he wants.

Don't tell the bitch off, its how things would be in the wild, the older dogs putting the younger ones in their place. Don't interfere, let her get on with it and certainly don't tell the pup off, he has to learn his place. Don't let the bitch go so far as to hurt him, just to put him in his place. If you intervene she will see it as the green light and think you want her to 'sort him out.'

Give her some individual attention, and the same with him.
Lots of short training sessions, followed by 'time out' in the cage. I'm sure you will find they will find their own level in a couple of weeks.

[jules77]

I dont agree Lankeela, I know what you are saying that if you correct the puppy the border thinks that is the green light to attack it, but what about the damage it could do? My border collie was a madam, I think a lot of them are too intelligent as house pets, and I swore I would never have another one, as they need so much to keep their mind occupied. I think this goes beyond the puppy pulling at her fur she sees the new puppy as a threat between the relationship she has with her 'mom' and may go to any lengths to ensure this new puppy goes away. I think you need to be firm with the puppy, I think you should put it on a lead when in the company of the older dog, as it is easier to correct that way, I think crating him is making him more hyper when he gets out. My new puppy, who is 18 weeks old now, still occasionally pulls at my other dogs fur, and I have to an extent let them correct him, although the older bitch did have a telling off a few weeks ago and now she looks at us first to see if it is ok to tell him off. But my border collie was a different kettle of fish altogether, and she would have done her nut if a bouncy gsd came into the house.

[GypsyGSD]

Thank you jules for your reply I have a frien d whos gsd pup had a lot of damage done by a collie (facial injurys) these ppl are not dog ameturs ,my friend owns and trains 8 gsds and her partner with the collies is involved with sarda search and rescue and I myself have worked and trained dogs for a good number of years but I am out of practice when it comes to the pup and as i have only ever had gsd the collies behaviour took me back a bit GypsyX

[jules77]

Yes Gypsy, I can well believe it, that is why I wouldnt let them just get on with it. hope all goes well, and you get it sorted, I have to say though it could take some time, as my three and two year old still pull fur now, fortunately they are both amenable and although they tell each other off, it doesnt come to much as the eldest is a bit of a sissy baby when it comes to trouble and would rather back down and pretend it is a game. good luck!!

[GypsyGSD]

Update took pup to class to night he was brilliant not fased at all by other shepherds 10 in all came home and with some treats had pup and collie sat side by side he only jump on her twice so not bad today , even the cat joined in and sat on the arm of chair GypsyX

[jules77]

well done!