Problems between Meggie & Cooper

[labgirl]

He will get it Sophie.I know Cadman has alot of intelligence,and by the sounds of things with food bowls you are well on your way to teaching the do's & don't's.
At first,I was like you when we brought Trapp home,when it came to treats for Earnie & Trapp.But Trapp learned quickly enough,to keep at bay.

Thank you, that makes me feel better. It isn't all Cadbury's fault. As a 6 month pup he was attacked by a German Shepherd pup over a bone he had been chewing, that has left him always a little precious.

Now, back on topic and Danisgoat makes a good point, especially as you have had Cooper a while now. So no harm in a quick check-over then at least you know where you stand.

Good luck and I wish you a house of harmony soon.

 

[OntarioSheltie]

How long has Cooper been with you? At first is the "honeymoon" period, where he was content to be submissive, while he figured out the dynamics of the family unit. Now, in his own posturing way, he is challenging her. Since she has always been in the bed with you, keep that the same. For the time being, Cooper should sleep in a crate. You have to determine who is the alpha between them. Since Meggie has always come first, Cooper needs to learn that will not change. You can't have two bosses. Eventually, he will learn his place. Time is wonderful for solving these issues.

We've been going through this in our house some what. We've had Toby for 4 months now. I'd been treating Sadie as the alpha dog, since she's been with me the longest. However Ginny was constantly competing with her and when I through Toby in the mix the grumbling and lip lifting started to become more frequent.

When I started treating Ginny as the alpha instead, the balance shifted and everyone seems happy now, the grumbling and disagreements are completely gone.

If Meggie is trying the hardest to be alpha, then let her be. Missjennygirl's suggestions were spot on (IMO), I just want to add that Meggie, as the alpha, should get everything first, including feeding.

Ginny always wanted to check out everyone's bowls, which was part of my problem. I new feed her first, away from everyone, which has been a huge success.

If Meggie is used to sleeping on the bed then have Cooper sleep in his crate or in a dog bed on the floor. This is the only thing in our house that hasn't changed. Sadie sleeps on our bed with us and Ginny in her bed, even though she's the alpha. This works for us because Ginny happens to LOVE her bed and she tends to wake us up when we do allow her to sleep with us.

I know it sounds bad when they disagree but try not to worry yourself, it IS something you can fix.

danisgoat has a really good point too, it can't hurt to have her thyroid levels tested.

 

[MissSuzie]

Miss Suzie-

I am sorry that you are having problems with Meggie. I believe that you have received great advice from everyone on how to try and correct the behavior issues.

I am going to take a different approach here, as all of these changes reminded me of back when I had my Cedar. He started getting aggravated over the slightest things that was totally off from his personality. It was really odd for me, and I realized that something was off with him.

I took him to the vet and it ended up that he had hypothyroidism. Here are some other symptoms of hypothyroidism in dogs:

•Lethargy and mental dullness
•Hair loss
•Weight gain
•Dryness of coat and excessive shedding
•Changes in pigmentation of the skin
•Intolerance to cold
•Reduced heart rate
•High levels of blood cholesterol
•Anemia

Does Meggie have any of these other symptoms? My Cedar had weight gain, lethargy, and his coat was very dry.

I actually thought it might be something like this as well, although she shows no signs of any health issue. But, I was talking to a friend at work about it today and he made a very good point. About 10 -12 days ago Cooper's eye looked as though he had something wrong with it. I took him to the vet and he had somehow scratched his eye pretty seriously. She gave me drops to put in his eye and I've been paying a great deal of attention to him for a while. My friend pointed out that perhaps Meggie is jealous of the extra attention he has been receiving. Starting with him and I leaving the house (she didn't know he was going to the vet) and her being left behind. Then lots of cuddling and care for his eye, etc.

She was always my baby, going everywhere with me, etc. Could she just be jealous of the extra attention he's been getting?

I definitely do treat Meggie as the alpha dog. She does get everything first, except for food. And the reason for that is that I separate them and give Cooper his in the laundry room and close the door. Then I put hers down. I'll have to rethink that. I think you're right that she should be fed first.

I can't bring myself to putting Cooper in a crate at night. He's in the crate all day when I'm at work and I just don't think it's fair. I'm going to try to keep them both in the bed. If there is another instance of agression in bed, I'll have to rethink my position.

I know it sounds funny, but treating one as the alpha dog almost sounds like favoring one over the other. I've actually tried very hard not to do that. Perhaps I've been going about it wrong all along. Ugh!

Perhaps instead of having a dog that should be in a single dog home, I'm an owner who should have only a single dog. I seem to be confusing them because I don't know how to handle situations between the two of them.

Do you think that what's happening in my life, i.e. I'm miserable at work and unhappy in general laterly, could be affecting their behavior as well?

I'm frustrated!