Pet Information > ASK Experts > Dogs > Dogs > puppy and older dogs

puppy and older dogs

19 10:03:29

Question
We had 3 dogs: a lab and 2 poms they were great together, we had to put our lab down at 17 yrs. so we got a goldendoodle, she is an awesome dog but she plays too rough with the poms...they get along fine unless Baily (3 month old goldendoodle) wants to play and gets in the other dogs space, she bites their tail or bull dozes them over...I hate yelling at her but I don't know how to make her "Play" without hurting the smaller dogs

Answer
Big dogs and small dogs do NOT go together! It is natural for puppies to play wildly, and the pomeranians could easily be hurt. I would keep them separated until the puppy is a bit older and settles down more. (You should have gotten an older puppy... and I think golden retrievers and poodles are much more exuberant dogs than labs... particularly double-digit labs.)

In the meantime, get Baily retrieving and tire her out by throwing balls or toys for her to retrieve so she will be less likely to want to play with the smaller dogs. Find her a larger-sized playmate so she can express herself the way she should.

Get her into on-going obedience classes and practice "Nothing in Life is Free" with her. http://k9deb.com/nilif.htm