It's Mine!!!

Too bad you don't live closer.

Bailey is the same way. Wants attention like crazy. Bothers the older dogs and even when they let her know they had enough, she still bothers them. A little ball of energy.

I'm sure Ginny and Bailey would tire each other out.
 
What about using the "coins in a can" or some other sound aversion technique that will startle her out of the behavior so you don't have to try to catch her.

The coin in the can method didn't work in the past with her barking, it just made her excited and she barked more. Not sure if it would work in this case, and it will probably confuse Sadie too. I'll think about it though...

As difficult as it is, you need to really be alert, especially as they get into that teenage stage.

Clicker training is GREAT for this! The click sound marks the behavior you want so as long as she's in eye shot of you, you can mark her behavior. Just make sure you always have a small treat in your pocket for the "treat" half of the "click/treat" process.

If she associates the "click" for something good, it'll reinforce that behavior and, like the cans I mentioned above, you won't have to chase her down.

I clicker trained Sadie a bit, more so with my parent's sheltie Milo years ago.

I'm unclear as to how to use the clicker to stop Ginny's harassment of Sadie though. Again, I'll have to give it some thought...
 
I'm unclear as to how to use the clicker to stop Ginny's harassment of Sadie though. Again, I'll have to give it some thought...

The click ALWAYS marks the positive behavior, e.g. chewing on her own rawhide instead of Sadie's. It becomes the tool to reinforce the positive the second you see it.

True, it may not help completely with the harassing of Sadie, but it will allow you to mark Ginny's positive behaviors a bit more efficiently since you can mark it from anywhere in your line of site.

(I use to use it to mark Edan just laying down and being quiet after a session of play. At times he was laying in the other room but within eye contact.)
 
Melissa, I know EXACTLY how you feel. This is the exact scenario that we have now that we have added Lexi to our "pack". Lexi annoys annoys annoys him so much that he just wants to get away. But, he's so gentle and mellow that he doesn't snap or nip at her, just tries to get somewhere where she can't. I dread the day when Lexi can get on the couch and on the bed because these are Bentley's "safe" spots.

I feel like Bentley is frustrated at us (not sure if dogs have this capacity), but he is starting to get jealous and frustrated. And maybe this is where we go wrong...maybe dogs don't feel emotions the way that we do..and it's not the way we perceive it? I'm not sure.

I know I'm no help, but I am in the exact same scenario. We always feed Bentley first, pet him first, etc...but it doesn't discourage Lexi at all. I wish Bentley would just put her in her place, but I know he never will. :(
 
I like dominant dogs. So all of mine have on the top end of pushiness. I don't think you can make one dog dominant over the other but you can be the leader of all the dogs.
Things I do with mine:Diva is my work in progress.

1)obedience class-sounds like your going so that a good start. Agility now that she is older.
I want a rock solid leave it, come, down and stay
2)exercise lots of it.:smile2:
3)If I give something to another dog-they keep it. All dogs get the same objects. If one dogs starts to go over to the other, they get an uh uh leave it and are directed back to they own object. If the puppy, keep trying to get the other dogs. I put them in their crate in with their object. Remove temptation as it is. They eventually learn that they will not be allowed to steal the other dogs object because I won't let them. The behavior fades with time and age of dog.
4) If puppy is bullying a older dog, I step in with leave it and redirect on to other toy or practice obedience for 5-10 minutes. Stays on our mat and puppy push ups(sits and down) are great with mixed in tugging and ball play. Mental stimulation seems to wear them out faster than physical
5) I give the adults time away from the puppy. I go to class with mine and walks without Diva. Or I put Diva in her kennel with a stuffed kong so the others can rest.
6) If you are getting alot of pushing behavior start NILIF program.
 
A couple of comments:

1) Oh boy! Stealing stuff! I think that's the nature of a two dog family! (I think it was Silaria who said is was like sisters. I agree). If I put down two rawhide chews, both boys will go after the same one, and the game becomes stealing from the other. Whoever ultimately loses, finally will come to be and put his head on my lap and look absolutely pathetic. "Mommmmmmm! He too my chew!" Of course, the other chew is still sitting there untouched

2) I don't think YOU can determine who gets to be dominant. I think they will determine their own pecking order. With my guys, they switch off. When it comes to rough-housing, Bacca is the man! When it comes to rawhide chews, it's Indy who normally wins the face-off. etc.

3) I think if Sadie was really bothered she would remove herself or push back.

4) And yes, you can mold the positive behaviours.

My tuppence worth.
 
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