No More "Mister Nice Guy"!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

It has finally happened.  My sweet little Guinness has turned into a "thug".  He's been pushed around by his big "little brother" for long enough....and he's so DONE.  It started gradually a few weeks ago when he decided that Murph would NOT take his toys away ever again.  In the past, he'd just lay there while Murph took away a squeaky toy or antler that he was savoring.  Yup, Murph would stand right over him looking intimidating, and then just take it right away.  Guinness did nothing....he just looked so sad.  Some would say that he "grew a pair", but we all know that's not possible.  I really don't know what happened, but it's all different now.  Guinness growls and snaps when Murph comes near him with a toy, and big Murph is now backing right off.  He's not messing with the little guy. For the most part, I'm staying out of their "top dog" contest.  Guinness is taking his new found courage "on the road" too.  We were at my daughter's last week, and Guinness was putting up with no harassment from her new puppy who was trying to nip at him...he put him right in his place.  Can this really be Guinness?  What happened to submissive?  Can dogs just change their personalities?  I don't get it.  This morning I watched as Guinness chased his brother around the house...big Murph was "scared straight".  It used to be that Murph with chase Guinness right under the bed where he'd hide out in total fear....now Murph seems to be scared to death, and he can't find a place to hide.  Who knew?

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

RJ, I guess it is a "sibling thing" going on here too.  Guinness has learned that if he gives Murph some attitude (the growl and alligator snap)  he gets to keep the toy and Murph goes away.  It's funny that it took him over a year to figure this out.

[Lorraine Bromley]

My Neely has my sons great dane puppy to play with everyday and they wrestle and chase and play with toys. But Neely is always teasing The great dane. Now Neely is a big dog but he goes under the danes belly and often flips her over! Neely will get a toy and stand over her with it, when she tries to play he just tempts her to get it. He won't give it up but keeps playing with her. She isn't allowed on the furniture and he is. So when she wants to fight a bit and he wants to tease her he gets up in the middle of our king size bed so she can't reach him! She groans and whines and trots around the bed while I swear he is smiling the whole time! He is definitely the boss but in a playful way. He has always been a good doodle daddy to any and all other dogs of all ages we have baby sat or had over. He doesn't need to nip or growl to let everyone know its his place. He has an aura about him. He will miss the dane come september when the kids go back to school 5 hours away!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

What is that famous line from that movie (my mind is going)...Guinness has decided he is "sick and tired of it, and he is not going to take it any more." Murphy, be afraid, be very afraid. I guess Guinness decided he is going to take matters into his own paws and put his "little" brother in his place. He is getting older and wiser.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

One thing I love about this place if the fact that just when I think I am the only one, someone posts a blog and I feel so relieved.

This is a constant in our home.  It gets old.  My dogs do have fun playing around together--twice a day. Once in the morning, then at 11:30 pm (oh now you want to play because I want to sleep)  That seems to be all.  The rest of the day they play head games with eachother.

Starlit does not play fetch.  Maybe once a week so will retrieve. NO BIG DEAL I am way too busy with Spud and his ball and toy obsession to last me the next 50 dogs. 

Starlit gets SICK of him too so she goes over, takes the ball and lays right on top of it and will NOT move. She lets him bark for 15 minutes and she just turns her head.  She tunes him out and goes to sleep. 

He CRIES and BARKS and CRIES and BARKS. He will not cross her line.  Maybe someday he will grow some coxswain himself.

They have a brother /sister relationship.

[KAHLUA]

Jane, Kahlua is 95 lbs and Paxton is 8 lbs.  He does everything to her and she just takes it all in stride.  He jumps on her, "boxes" with her face, runs to the dog food bowl when he knows full well she's headed that way, you name it he acts the brut.  THEN!  When she's tired of it she will use her paw and head to rough him up.  Then she returns to her laid back ways.  I think it's just their way of saying, "I can take you any time, but I choose not to."  Kahlua is the most laid back dog, even when she's barking at someone, she backing up to be by mommie or daddy.  Her size throws people off (95 lbs), if most people only knew, she's a wimp.