We are wrapping up our third week of puppy madness with 12-week old littermates. Franklin and Jackson are little bundles of devilish fun and seem to be adapting well to their new home. Most of the time they are very playful, but occasionally it seems to me that they get a little too aggressive. Usually a sharp "no" with a squirt with the water bottle will break them up, but I am wondering if we should be working harder to eliminate the wrestling.
Franklin was the smallest of the litter but I hate the term "runt" as he is just a smaller puppy. Jackson is bigger and seems to be the alpha of the pair when our 5-year old Schipperke isn't interested in their antics. Jackson has taken to his crate, but Franklin still needs some coaxing and cries a little bit when we put him in.
Yesterday, Franklin discovered a new toy ... the plastic hubcap for the lawn mower (it had fallen off and was sitting in the deck.) It's the size of a small frisbee and Franklin immediately played fetch. I didn't think he'd chase it as I've thrown balls and other toys and they both just stood there confused. But when I threw it, he not only chased it, but he brought it back. Now, Jackson saw this and followed Franklin, but his deal seems to be to keep Franklin from bringing it back. He will take the hubcap or tackle Franklin before he's able to return it to me so I've been taking Franklin out by himself for 15 or 20 minutes of uninterrupted fetch. I'd like to get Jackson to fetch as well, but he's not interested in the hubcap except when Franklin has it.
FWIW, the Schipperke (Skully) won't chase frisbees or other round items, he's a stick fetcher and if all three are out, both pups will try and take the stick from Skully. I say try, because if they grab it he will give them an authoritative growl and they back off temporarily. Now, I should also mention that when our blue merle (Winston) was alive, he would chase a stick and Skully would try and take it from him. What normally happened was they would both get their mouths on the stick and bring it back together.
Ultimately, I'd like them all be able to play together, or is that expecting too much?
Franklin was the smallest of the litter but I hate the term "runt" as he is just a smaller puppy. Jackson is bigger and seems to be the alpha of the pair when our 5-year old Schipperke isn't interested in their antics. Jackson has taken to his crate, but Franklin still needs some coaxing and cries a little bit when we put him in.
Yesterday, Franklin discovered a new toy ... the plastic hubcap for the lawn mower (it had fallen off and was sitting in the deck.) It's the size of a small frisbee and Franklin immediately played fetch. I didn't think he'd chase it as I've thrown balls and other toys and they both just stood there confused. But when I threw it, he not only chased it, but he brought it back. Now, Jackson saw this and followed Franklin, but his deal seems to be to keep Franklin from bringing it back. He will take the hubcap or tackle Franklin before he's able to return it to me so I've been taking Franklin out by himself for 15 or 20 minutes of uninterrupted fetch. I'd like to get Jackson to fetch as well, but he's not interested in the hubcap except when Franklin has it.
FWIW, the Schipperke (Skully) won't chase frisbees or other round items, he's a stick fetcher and if all three are out, both pups will try and take the stick from Skully. I say try, because if they grab it he will give them an authoritative growl and they back off temporarily. Now, I should also mention that when our blue merle (Winston) was alive, he would chase a stick and Skully would try and take it from him. What normally happened was they would both get their mouths on the stick and bring it back together.
Ultimately, I'd like them all be able to play together, or is that expecting too much?
! Yell excitedly to them to come. Even if you don't get the toy/stick back if they come without messing with each other too much then reward them. If the dog doesn't bring it back, have 'one on one' training time and call him back in the same exited voice and only reward if he brings it back to you.
. Good luck!