My Choc. Lab Puppy is too rough with my smaller dog...HELP!?

Question

I have a 5 1/2 month old chocolate lab puppy who is being way too rough when she plays with my 7lb Yorkie/Chihuahua mix. She doesn't realize just how large she is and now that she towers over the little one, the little one cant really defend herself anymore. How do I curb this behavior?

Answer 1

First, you will never be able to leave them together unsupervised, one big paw placed wrong would be a disaster for such a little dog.  As far as getting the puppy to understand that she's too rough, every time she gets too rough with the small dog, pick her up from behind, carry her to a corner and hold her for 30 seconds or so.  Then release her again.  Do this every single time it escalates beyond the point the other dog is comfortable with.  It will seem for a while that you are constantly picking her up, but with time, she'll figure out that if she plays rough, she doesn't get to play, so stick with it!  Do make sure when you leave the room that you take one of them with you or confine one in another room or a crate so they are not ever alone together.  

Answer 2

dont worry, i have an 8lb papillon and a 5 month old pitbull. and when my papillon has had enough she lets my pitbull know. dogs respect and listen to their elders, regardless of size. but just keep an eye on them when they play and if you feel your lab is being to rough then take your yorkie away. my dogs play fine but when i hear them starting to play rough i say gentle and they mellow out. my little papillon used to be so danity are fragile but since having my pitbull ive noiced she is the one that starts the rough play..lol..

Answer 3

block the lab from paying too rough...just put your arm out and tell her NO play...if it's being too rough.

Have the pup settle down -  

Answer 4

When i got my Doberman the same thing happened to me. My yorkie-poo was only 3lbs and it was very scary, but all that i did was keep on my Doberman. He was a puppy and he wanted to play and my little one did not want to play with him in such a manner. My little one was older so he didn't really want to play at all. Well one day my little one snapped at my Doberman and after that he pretty much left him alone. Also i never left them alone together until i was 100% sure of everything.

Here is a pic of them after he got bit or should i say after he was put in his place. lol

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m220/...

Please let me know if you can't see this.

Answer 5

When you're little dog has had enough, she will be able to let the lab know it well enough!  My parents have a big standard poodle and a little 7 pound Crested..  the little dog rules the roost!

Your dogs will learn to play together also now that the lab is bigger..  your lab is hitting her "clumsy" akward stage..  the little dog will learn to avoid her big feet after she gets stepped on or tackled a few times.  Your lab will learn to back off after the small dog yelps a few times as well.

As long as neither dog is being aggressive..  I would let them figure it out on their own.  The little one may just as well like the rough play too!