Ignor or 'Reprimand'

[Adrianne Matzkin]

For the first time in her life, Samantha humped a dog - Mickey. I know it is a sign of dominance and trust me, Mickey really needed it. He jumps on her, nibbles on her ears, bites her tail - all in play. I know that puppies play with their moms and littermates like that but Mickey never had a chance to do that since the first 4.5 months he was in a puppymill cage and then a shelter. I guess he is making up for lost time.

He is trying to get her to play - Samantha doesn't really play like a dog - she loves to play ball.
99.9% of the time, she ignors his obnoxious behavior and lets him but twice (once yesterday and just now) Samantha humps him.

I let him play like that until I see that Samantha has had enough. I just give him a distraction to play with which needless to say it really didn't stop him for long. She doesn't growl or snap at him - she just lets him jump all over her. Then the humping started. Both times he finally stopped jumping on her but not immediately.

So - do I stop Samantha? do I stop Mickey? Help! and thanks

[Adrianne Matzkin]

Sorry Jacquie if I didn't make that clear!!

Because of the fantastic experience we had - the nuturing of this little boy and watching with much patience, grow more and more confident each day and the incredible amount of support from you, Karen and Lynne it will be an easy decision to make to continue to foster as long as there is a need. We would even if DRC couldn't help to pay for vet bills, food, etc. The rewards are so much more than you could possilby imagine!

I hope that everyone will pitch in to help - if you can't foster, volunteer or help raise money so more doodles can be taken out of vile places they are living and learn what it is to be loved, fed and run on grass! It took Mickey several days to understand that grass is a nice place to take a nap.

[Jacquie Yorke (DRC)]

In regards to the humping, Samantha is simply doing this to assert her dominance...It is normal. By humping Mickey she is simply telling him that she is in charge without having to display any aggression such as growling or barking. Samantha knows that Mickey is a puppy and she is demonstrating her authority gently and in a way that a puppy will understand. Instead of reprimanding, you should say "Good Girl Samantha." because by saying this you are ALSO letting Mickey know that Samantha ranks in your household and eventually he will get the message that he is the low man on the totem pole and he must behave accordingly. By reprimanding you are actually doing a dis-service to both dogs as the borders and boundaries will not be clear and Mickey will continue to challenge Samantha's authority .....Eventually, Samantha's "scolding" will escalate to aggression.

[Jacquie Yorke (DRC)]

Also, I would like to clarify that fostering as a way to avoid buying a puppy from a reputable breeder is not a reason to become involved in rescue and animal welfare. Fostering, is a way to insure that a dog gets a chance for a new life. Ask Gene or any of us who foster exactly why we do it. We do it to save dogs. That's really the only motivation that should inspire one to become a foster.

Again, just putting this out there for others who are considering fostering.....

Adrianne, you are doing a wonderful job with Mickey.....He's really come a long way.

[Adrianne Matzkin]

You have no idea how much he has changed since you saw him! We just came back from the vet - I wanted to hear from the vet that his kennel cough is officially cleared and it IS!! He has gained FIVE POUNDS in 17 days!! Amazing what good food and enough of it can do for a skinny doodle!

He is being a puppy in all sense of the word. He has learned that zoomies is a great trick! He loves to play tug with Samantha. He is attempting to play ball. He has had NO accidents in the house - he doesn't let us know yet that he has to go out but we spend so much time outside on the patio he just goes to his spots. He does pee on leash - I take them for a walk before we go to bed - he doesn't like it but he does it. He is a snuggler. He HATES being in the crate - I can understand why but he barks every night! We ignore it but it hurts my heart to hear him.

Samantha will hump him when she has had enough of him stealing her toys or won't stop jumpingand nibbling on her tail. I have taken the advice given here and I do not stop her. I watch to make sure he doesn't get hurt. She gets her point across and when he finally gets it, she stops, I tell her that she is a good girl It is just wonderful to see how she is with him - so patient and sweet.