Sign of building aggression??

[April S.]

I have Luna (57lb goldendoodle) - she's 1 year 3 months old... and now we have Malcolm (15 weeks, 23lb springdoodle).... Malcolm has been with us a week and a half - and up until yesterday they seemed to have been getting along just fine- playing a lot - wearing each other out... Last night during dinner (i feed them side by side - Luna first always) - I noticed that Luna would occassionally growl at the puppy while she was eating... when Malcolm finished he got closer to Luna and she growled louder and he backed down.    Today they were playing and Luna started growling very loudly and slammed Malcolm to the floor (thankfully its carpet) but I'm worried she's going to hurt him.   They do not sleep together - Mal is crated in our room and Luna has free run of the downstairs - she normally sleeps in bed in the kitchen.  Luna also was growling at my husband last night when he was paying attention to the puppy... is this normal stuff or a sign that Luna is angry or developing some kind of hatred or resentment of the puppy?  We try to give them both lots of love and alone time and play time.  They don't really seem to avoid each other - they were sleeping next to each other while I was trying to cook dinner 2 nights ago... (see pic)

[Deborah Brown]

Nice picture!  They are adorable.  :)

So, it's not a good sign.  Luna could just be fed up and needs some time away from Malcolm.  I'd try keeping them separated for a few hours each day.  Take Luna for a nice long walk by herself and give her plenty of attention.  At 15 months, she's a teenager and not emotionally mature.

I'd also feed them at the same time but separately, maybe in different areas of the kitchen with a gate separating them.  Luna should be able to eat in peace without the pup hovering over her.  Luna could also be jealous of Malcolm sleeping in your room if she is not allowed to - or perceives that she in not allowed to.  Fairness is very important in a multi-dog household.

[Brittney & Cally]

Well, you can be sure Luna has revoked his puppy license! That's around when it happened for my two. I would not feed them side by side if at all possible, that way you can eliminate thT issue right away. What I did that helped a lot was correct Cally (the pupp) instead of my older dog Rosey, that is if I needed to intervene. But for the most part they will work it out. Rosey even now that Cally is almost seven months still will occasionally correct her by mouthing her neck or putting her on the floor. They usually work it out themselves but be careful always correcting the "senior" dog. The puppy is the one learning the boundaries and the Luna is just reinforcing it! Good luck!

[Jennifer Parrish]

Hi April.  I don't have anything to add to this thread, since I am new at this multiple dog thing myself, but wanted to reach out to you because it sounds like we will be going through the same things the next few months, as our dogs are the same sex and almost the same exact age!  I have a female labradoodle that is 1 year 3 months (Suzie) and a male labradoodle that is 12 1/2 weeks (Teddy).  We've had Teddy now for 4 weeks.  Suzie has not yet revoked Teddy's "puppy license."  But I guess he may still be too young.  We'll see what happens in a few weeks!

[karen gallant]

I just have to say, that is the cutest picture ever. :)

[Cyndi, The Boys & Callie]

We have three.  Tank and Sully are 5 months apart in age.  They have always gotten along very well.  Then when they were 1-1/2, we got Beau.  Two was company and apparently three was a crowd.  Sully is docile and accepted Beau easily. Tank, not so much.  Had the same issues as you described.  Older dogs teach younger ones manners and I did not want to disrupt that.  But I made several changes.  They all eat in the same general area but their bowls are about 3-4 feet apart, house rules are that no one eats out of another's bowl unless that doodle walks off.  If they leave it, all bets are off.  I also decided that Tank was the alpha doodle but I was the pack leader.  If Tank was teaching Beau manners, I stayed quiet.  If Beau was doing nothing but breathing and Tank was being a jerk, I would tell him "no" in a very stern voice (my kids remembered the voice).  It's also first come, first serve when it comes to my time and everyone gets a share (Tank was very possessive of me). We also had a trainer come in.  We needed more training than the doodles.  

It has taken a while but we are finally one happy family.  Tank and Beau are now sleeping in the same bed at times which I NEVER thought I would see.   I now handle as I did when the kids were much younger.  If they are playing and whomever is on bottom is holding his own, I leave them to work it out.  But, when it starts to cross the line, I step in and redirect (throw a ball, toy, etc).  There are many different opinions on how to handle.  I can not say that our way will work for everyone (just like raising kids, you know your dogs better than anyone else) but it worked well for our doodles.  Good luck. 

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

April ~ this sounds fairly normal to me.  Luna is just showing Mal who is the real boss!  Charlie was almost 2 when Beau arrived on the scene.  Charlie was a "little old man" from the time we brought him home.  He was the sweetest, laid-back, people lover!  Charlie quickly learned how to tell Beau he had had enough.  We heard Charlie growl for the first time, and he has put Beau "down" several times.  It is communication (not aggression).  Now at 1.6 yrs Beau outweighs Charlie by 8 lbs and is 3 to 4 inches taller than Charlie, but Charlie still has the last say.  They eat at different stations, and Beau will lay down right by Charlie's food stand and wait until Charlie walks away and then he finishes Charlie's food (what few morsels are left)!  However, when they are coming in or going outside, Beau always pushes his way to the front to be the first one out, and Charlie always hangs back as if to say - go ahead, I could care less!  Their dynamics is fun to watch.  Initially, I was worried that Charlie did not want a playmate (he had us), but now that could not be farther from the truth. They are truly brothers.   

[April S.]

Thanks everyone - things have gone from bad to worse - he is regressing with potty training and Luna is growing more and more hateful and resentful towards us. She is no longer listening to us.  It is tearing my husband and I up and Luna is becoming a problem now too.  We've decided that we need to be a one dog family and are re-homing Malcolm.  Thank you all so much for your comments and support.  I am heartbroken and crying a lot and just so exhausted from this stressful situation.  I need to fix the situation so we can be close to normal again before something irreversible happens.   Thanks again.. 

[Brittney & Cally]

I do have to say it got worse before it got better. If you do not mind please post that you are rehoming and why on the main page to reach out to DRC or other members who are looking to get a puppy! So sorry you had to come to this conclusion. Do you think a trainer might help?

[Cyndi, The Boys & Callie]

You know what is best for your family but sorry that you're having to make the decision.  I do know how you feel.  Tank got where he wouldn't listen, we couldn't leave he and Beau alone, I was crying/couldn't sleep and was certain we made the wrong decision with Beau. Gave it one more try and got a trainer to come in to work with all 3 doodles and my husband and I.  That was the turning point as Tank had to learn that I was the pack leader, not him.  Good luck. 

[Deborah Brown]

I'm so sorry, April.  I know this must be horrible for you.  Please keep them separated for now and give yourself a little break.  Maybe you can re-evaluate after everyone's had some time apart and you've had a good night's sleep.  I think I'd talk to a trainer before doing anything else but you know best what is going on in your house.

I agree that using DRC would be the best choice for rehoming Malcolm.  They can help you through this stressful time.  I wish I were close enough to give you a real hug.  :)

[Jennifer Parrish]

Having just gone through this transition myself with dogs the same age, let me tell you my experience.  The first week I found myself wanting to cry, and asking myself what I had done, and why I had upset the peaceful situation I had with my established dog.  By day 5 I was just exhausted with the potty training, and trying to keep the dogs from hurting each other.  I couldn't take my eyes off of them for even a second, and when I took a shower, I had to crate the puppy because I thought my established dog would choke him.  It was taking up every ounce of my energy.  My established dog would not relax for days, was not really listening/connecting with me, and acting really weird.  Eventually I was too tired to keep up my constant worrying and anxiety, and I started to relax.  I also worked out my routines for feeding two dogs, etc.  It seemed that at that point the dogs relaxed too.  And I wonder how much they were feeding off of my emotions.  Four weeks later, I can truly say that both dogs LOVE each other, I know that my established dog is happier with the new puppy, and I am so glad that I decided to get a second dog.  Just weeks ago I wouldn't have imagined saying that.  With that said, only you know what is best for your family.  But you may want to give yourself a breather, get some rest, and approach the situation with a renewed, calmer energy, and see if that helps.  Good luck with your decision.

[April S.]

Very difficult decision to re-home but I know this is best for Malcolm, my Luna and our household.   We found a potential new home for him through a good friend (her sister).  I explained all the things we've gone through and her family has owned Springers her entire life.   She is very excited to meet him this evening and potentially take him home.  I'm hoping it all works out - I know she'll give him a great home. Luna spent the day at daycare yesterday and she was so incredibly happy.  I kept checking up on her on the webcam and she was in her glory.  She came home, had her dinner and slept the rest of the night.  So it was a good day for her. :)  Malcolm was home all day with me yesterday on his own and he was sweet as pie... we played. - no potty accidents - went for a nice walk... I think he just needs to be an only dog maybe.  As soon as Luna came home he went into terrorize mode and I had them separated the rest of the night.  Thank again so much for the support and suggestions.