Doodle Puppy and older Dog

[Diane Denney]

My Lincoln doesn't play fair with my older dog. I am posting a video here so that you can see what I am talking about. Does anyone have any advice. Please keep in mind that I usually intervene. Will he outgrow this with training? Thanks a bunch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMnY0ao_xLo

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

I would not worry too much about it. Scotty does seem to be getting in a few good licks. He is just a sweet patient older dog. Scotty may get a little more assertive as Lincoln gets a little older. As others mentioned my doodles and all the other dogs I have had seem to play rougher when they are showing off for me.

When I am tired of putting up with the rough housing, or it just gets too crazy my word is "enough" and then they each have to down, wait a few minutes. Usually when they are released they are calmed down. To teach "enough" use a strong firm low voice ( high sounds like play to them, expecially when they are already ramped up) and put yourself between them. Then back one up ( probably Lincoln) and down, wait. Immediately make Scotty down wait also. It is important that they both down and wait. It is like when your children are going at it, both are assumed equally guilty.

This has also worked for me when I had my son's grown, somewhat cranky husky with Roo and Tigger for a few months. It only took a short while before all three realized the fun was going to be over if they let it get too nuts.

[Lorraine Bromley]

My lab shep is 16 and not playful. She let Neely poke and prod her and knock her over and eat her food. But when shee'd had enough it was bam bark and snap just enough to say enough. They are really close now and Jazzie will cry and worry if Neely is away. But they don't play. They hang.
Neely and alot of the doodles i've seen love to wrestle. They play differently and use their paws more. Neeely loves to play with his dog friends but wrestling is were its at. My sisters dog is a visla and very hyper and poor manners alot of the time. They played and Neely seemed rough like that too with her but they took a rest and went back at it. When she was done and could play no more she went off into her crate. Something she has never done on her own in 2 yrs.
I would encourage more activity like you mentioned like bones ect together.
Teach a good off for when you think one needs a rest. This works good for Neely and Jazz. Leave it so Neely stays out of Jazzies stuff.
And give them a way and a where to go when they want to get away from each other.
Maybe more play time with wrestling type players so your lab isn't the lab rat for the doodle.

[Diane Denney]

I saw today for the first time how Doodles like to play together. There was another Doodle at Petsmart today, and it's the first one that he ever met since birth. They loved each other, and romped around and wrestled, and that's with their leashes on!!! Actually it was like a Doodle convention there today as I saw two Doodles today!!! My sister says that in Victoria BC Canada everyone has a Doodle. It's considered vogue!!

I started Lincoln's intermediate training today, and the trainer told me what to look for for aggression. I do not see that here at all!!! He said ears would be back, tail would be low, whites of their eyes show, hair on the neck up, and baring teeth!!! We don't have that problem. Well Scott bares his teeth sometimes, but not in an aggressive manner.

Thanks for all of the replies to my video.

[Diane Denney]

Well I let Lincoln and Scottie wrestle again tonight, and Scottie got pretty mad, and even nipped Lincoln pretty good and made him yelp, and tried to tell him enough, but Lincoln still didn't get it. He kept coming back.

[Lorraine Bromley]

It may take a good little tussel not just a growl and nip. Don't worry Lincoln will be told. If our old girl can stop a 65 pd monster that towers over her Scottie will too. As I said Jazzie puts up with alot. But when she meant business she let him know. Now it doesn't take such a huge "conversation" to get her point across. When they are settled they are actually close in proximity as well as if one is missing the other is up set.
Keep up with the training formal or not.
I am glad you saw another doodle and got to see what they play like. it is the funnest thing to watch. But I just had to groom all the tatts out of Neely after a whole day of play with another doodle here. Slobber and nipping and wrestling makes for a matt. But a tired Doodle is easier to groom too ;)

[Diane Denney]

Thanks Lorraine. They had been tusseling long and hard when Scottie finally growled angrily and, and then bit. To me it's seemed as though that should have made the difference. They are fighting over the dog beds. Not sure what to do about that. I have a bed downstairs and one upstairs. Do I need two upstairs, and downstairs?!!! I can't really give him a bed yet as he chews it. He is STILL going through a lot of chewing and biting/mouthing at us. He jumped all over me biting hard out in the yard again as I was going to look at something. I could barely gain control as he was off leash. The next time I went out with my can of coins and squirt bottle, and he left me alone. He actually likes the squirt bottle so that doesn't do much!! Last night I put a prong collar on Lincoln, and what a difference it made. He was not able to pull me, and all it took was a couple of quick tugs and he'd stop. I didn't want to have to use it, but he is really hard headed. I still keep hoping I see a turn around soon!!!! I'm getting worn out!!

[Lorraine Bromley]

Neely responds well with a harness. With just a leash he doesn't get that he has to behave like a human wants himm to. AS soon as he puts the harness on he knows oh I have another set of rules. The mouthing and chewing will slow down it did for neely he just went through a big mess but then it was due to ear infections and r=trying to get releif with chewing. Hopefully a dog bed is in our future for our 16 yr old as Neely Ate the last two

[Diane Denney]

Yeah I use a gentle leader on him too, but I wasn't using it in the house. Maybe I should just use that instead of the prong collar. Our trainer doesn't like the prong collar, but I think as long as I use it humanely and properly than it should be just fine. What is your older dogs name again? Poor him!!! He needs his bed !!! lol How old is Neely? Lincoln just turned 9 months old. I thought he'd be way over the biting chewing thing by now, but apparently some Retrievers can be very mouthy. I keep telling him no bit and holding his nose when he does, but he fights it like crazy. I then have to crate him for a time out. It was better than it got worse again. It's like he's testing us all over again.

[Lorraine Bromley]

Jazzie is our older dog. She had Neely just turned 11 mths. and My sons girlfriends 2 yr old lab over yesterday. The younger two play and Jazzie worries they are playing too rough. But she was content on her bed staying out of the way until they got to wild.
Neely is really good except for that backslide due to the ear infection. But I have three boys that are all over 6 ft tall. AND THEY play ruff with Neely so I have to get him some extra work to settle down with me. I get him something for his moouth then play with him that helps. They are very mouthy and I enjoy that as we have the ability to play fetch ect that we missed out on with out other dog. If they get bored or not excercised enough it can be worse. i love it when Neely has his play mate puppy play as nothing works for good behaviour than a great old puppy play. As I say happiness is watching puppies play.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

My chihuahua puts Peri (mini doodle) in her place - he will literally bark so loud at her she falls off the couch. Usually she backs off, but if not - she gets a time out in her crate. She is much better after calming for a minute. It is not punishment, it is just a "break" - she gets that at daycare also. How old is Lincoln again? Peri has startled settling down a bit - 8 months. I think the minis mature a bit faster.

[Lindsey]

Zea, our 6.5 month old Doodle does the EXACT same thing to Curly, our 10 year old Jack Russell. She hurts her all the time and it's constant almost ALL day long. Thank goodness Curly is strong and fast. I'm hoping she grows out of this. We really have no way to seperate them. It's not over food or toys or beds or anything. Although it doesn't help, I'm happy to not be alone in this.

[Lorraine Bromley]

Doodles need to play thier way. Thats for sure and keep asking until doodle wrestling gets underway or they get dispondent and start with the bad behaviour AKA chewing.