Penny torments our senior dog

[Sally M]

There is probably a subject on this, somewhere, but I don't have time to look thru everything.

Penny (who is now 2 years old) torments our senior dog (Suzy, a 16 year old beagle/basset). Penny groans rather than growls. She groans at Suzy constantly (and it's increasing). She's pesters the older dog and sometimes they end up in a scuffer. No biting except for very minor wetness on their fur. Penny groans at our senior dog even in the middle of the night.

Penny, as a puppy, never chewed anything. She never really got into trouble. Well, today, she chewed an on/off switch connected to a regular wire. She probably got quite a "tingle" from it but she seems OK. My husban works at an animal hospital so we inquired about this immediately. I was prepared to take her to the vet if needed. Vet said she's fine. She also has started raiding waste baskets. She never has done this. And this is in addition to her increasingly tormenting our old Suzy.

Any suggestions? I Googled this but there is so much info, I don't know where to look or what to believe. I do know she's bored. Even though she has 1/4 of an acre (our fenced yard), she doesn't get the exercise she should. My hubby will start walking her EVERY day. We didn't think this was necessary because of our huge yard..

Thanks for your help!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I do think Penny needs more exercise. No matter how large your yard is, most dogs do not "exercise"  when they are alone. If Penny had another dog to romp and run with, it would be a different story. Someone throwing a ball or frisbee for her might help, too. Games of hide and seek indoors are also great. 

Training sessions also help alleviate boredom in dogs by engaging their minds; it's surprising how much a 15 minute training session can tire a dog out.  And every dog can benefit from ongoing, regular obedience work, no matter how old or how well-behaved they are. 

[Ginny Nightingale]

I agree--a big yard will not do it! And 1/4 acre is not that large really--Many dogs have some personality changes around the age of two also--they are fully adult and looking for something to do. Trouble can start at that age even though the puppy days are behind you.

Walks are good, games are good and maybe a training class--then you will have "homework" to do with the dog, as she learns her new skills--I am betting she is smart and very bored. I have also seen those backpacks you can put on a dog (fits like a small saddle) and have her carry something on the walk--this is a "job" for the dog and they get praised for transporting things--somehow it makes them feel more like they are accomplishing something!

Then there is one other possibility--a puppy! HAHA!!

[Dolly Dykhouse]

I have to agree with both Karen and Ginny; main culprit is boredom coupled with pent up energy that is not being expended both mentally and physically. It's similar to the saying, "idle hands, idle minds go looking for trouble."

Henry is now 9 months old and finally past (for the most part) the punky teenage phase. He has learned that bugging the senior statesman, our 10 year old puggle Jo Jo is a no win situation as our old guy just isn't interested in playing with him no matter how polite he is in his efforts. I can always see the difference on days that Henry doesn't get enough physical or mental work, he looks for trouble with both the puggle and getting into things he shouldn't. I walk him every day, take him to the park for confidence building (holding a sit on top of picnic table, boulders, etc) or to the lake to run/swim. He also goes with his trainer and her dogs a few times a month for socialization and enrichment and to reinforce all of the training we have done. It works wonders! Like I said, I can always tell when he has not had enough of the right stimulation it shows up in his behaviors every time. 

By the way Henry is a grumbler too LOL!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

What the others said..... :-}  plus I would put up an ex-pen or barrier in some fashion that allows your other dog to have a break from Penny.  Switch around who is in what area or in the ex-pen, but give Suzy a break. Our dogs don't need a break from each other, but we do sometimes need to keep them in or out of an area so we have an ex-pen that we stretch across a doorway or hallway to contain them. In fairness, I have to say that this absolutely doesn't work for our daughter's lab.  That lab doesn't honor any barriers.

[Sally M]

Thanks for your replies. Karen, Penny does have a dog to play with. Her "sister" Lexi, who plays with Penny all the time.
Ginny, we live in a city environment and 1/4 acre yard is considered huge. That's why I said we have a big yard. To us, it's big. LOL! I didn't know age 2 could be a problem. BTW, I play with Penny whenever I can (which is usually several times a day). Her fave game is fetch. But when she gets tired, she just stops and won't chase the ball anymore. No more puppies. We have our legal limit of dogs which is 3. We're getting too old to raise another puppy anyway. LOL! And yes, at times, we do separate Penny from Suzy and vice versa. Suzy is old and gets confused. Sometimes she thinks Penny is bothering her when Penny isn't doing anything! So we put Suzy alone for a while. That doesn't work too well; she howls. For now, our long walks seem to be helping Penny. My husband has a long route that he uses. I have CFS and Fibro so I cannot take long walks like that but I do go around the block, at least. Thanks again for your help!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm wondering why Penny is bugging Suzy to play when she has Lexi to play with. 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Do you separate them in different rooms, closing Suzy off.  Maybe an ex-pen in the room, just one dog in and one dog out??????