Female Bullying/Humping troubles

[Mporche]

So I was looking for some reassurance that my 11 week old FEMALE is perfectly normal. About a week ago we noticed that every time Teagan was "wrestling" with her big sister (Dixie, 12 y.o.) she would stand over her head and kind of stay there. I started to have concerns that maybe this was her showing dominance but after reading several posts on this forum I thought maybe I shouldn't read into it too much. After all, how could a 10 week old puppy be showing dominance over my already dominant 50lb dog. A few days later DH said he was pretty sure that Teagan was humping both Dixie's head but her favorite toy, a giant plush duck. I laughed this off...until this morning when I waked in on her completely MOUNTED to the duck humping it like there was no tomorrow!!

Honestly this his doesnt worry me a lot, my reaction is just to laugh, but should I be correcting this behavior so I don't encourage her dominance or humping as a habit? We've honestly been concerned with her being a bully to Dixie since Dixie is older and really docile these days. We're sure to separate them and give Dixie some alone time but we've noticed Dixie isn't even wanting to drink water or use the bathroom just to avoid Teagan dive bombing her.

Weve had plenty of puppies and labs, but this is my first instance with "dominance" issues as well as having 2 dogs so different in age.

Advice??

[Tanya]

no your puppy is not showing dominance. don't worry about that.

humping is rarely a dominance thing. dogs humps for a NUMBER of reasons generally related to being "over aroused" (not sexually, just energy-wise). Especially for puppies. If you don't want the pup humping toys or your other dog just interrupt and redirect to another activity.

Even the term "bully" is possibly inaccurate in this case. puppies are a a handful and "in your face". especially if the dog doesn't correct them. It's just how they can be, doesn't make them a bully or aggressive or dominant.

[Annette47]

no your puppy is not showing dominance. don't worry about that.

humping is rarely a dominance thing. dogs humps for a NUMBER of reasons generally related to being "over aroused" (not sexually, just energy-wise). Especially for puppies. If you don't want the pup humping toys or your other dog just interrupt and redirect to another activity.

Even the term "bully" is possibly inaccurate in this case. puppies are a a handful and "in your face". especially if the dog doesn't correct them. It's just how they can be, doesn't make them a bully or aggressive or dominant.

I agree with this, but would add that even though the puppy is not deliberately trying to be intimidating, if you older dog is afraid to drink or use the bathroom around her, you probably should work on teaching the puppy to calm down her exuberance around your older dog - it’s only fair to the oldster so she can live in peace.

[Tanya]

I agree with this, but would add that even though the puppy is not deliberately trying to be intimidating, if you older dog is afraid to drink or use the bathroom around her, you probably should work on teaching the puppy to calm down her exuberance around your older dog - it’s only fair to the oldster so she can live in peace.

oops yes absolutely. totally agree. While the puppy may not be "dominant" that doesn't mean her behavior is appropriate. Definitely step in and redirect and even make a point to give the older dog lots of puppy free zones and puppy breaks. seperate potty breaks. it can be a pain for them to "deal" with puppies

[Mporche]

We are working every day on "appropriate" play and behavior especially when it comes to Dixie! She's getting lots of love and one on one time, this morning Dixie has flat out refused to eat her own food. ONLY wants Teagan's puppy food. Even to the point of empty tummy puking and growling. She got some canned food so she wouldn't starve...which we normally only use as a treat.

These girls are keeping me on my toes!

[Snowshoe]

It's not unusual to have to protect the older dog from a puppy. TILL.... Till finally puppy gets old enough and goes too far and the older dog puts a stop to it. Normally no hurt is involved though puppy might be shocked out her little skull and squeal a bit. Don't be surprised if Dixie grabs Teagan by the neck, puts her to the floor and holds her there, later on. Keep an eye out, a well balanced dog will not hurt a puppy intentionally, but just watch.

AS to the humping, it seems to be something many dogs find to be fun. My solution was to give an appropriate object, a big teddy bear, Poppa Bear, and encourage puppy to hump Poppa. Poppa is washable and can be hidden when people come over. To this day our intact male has never, ever humped anything else. How much of that is luck I can't say but directing to an object and then slowly withdrawing that object is a method to try if you don't want humping at all.

Little devil, isn't she?

[fostermom]

Her puppy license will be revoked soon. Then your older dog will likely correct her behavior.

[Labradorks]

I don't allow the humping. That said, I don't freak out about it, especially when a puppy that young is doing it. I just treat it like anything I don't want them doing and I don't let it become a habit.

My personal feeling about standing over another dog is that it depends on the context. If the dog is doing that and wagging his tail with a relaxed and happy look on his face and playing and the dog on the bottom is playfully biting at the dog's legs and wagging his tail and also looking relaxed and happy, it's fine. But if the dog is standing there stiff-legged, tail down and very still, I don't like it. Especially if it leads to the top dog not allowing the bottom dog to get up. And if the bottom dog is looking like he'd rather be anywhere but there, it's a problem.

[Mporche]

I don't allow the humping. That said, I don't freak out about it, especially when a puppy that young is doing it. I just treat it like anything I don't want them doing and I don't let it become a habit.

My personal feeling about standing over another dog is that it depends on the context. If the dog is doing that and wagging his tail with a relaxed and happy look on his face and playing and the dog on the bottom is playfully biting at the dog's legs and wagging his tail and also looking relaxed and happy, it's fine. But if the dog is standing there stiff-legged, tail down and very still, I don't like it. Especially if it leads to the top dog not allowing the bottom dog to get up. And if the bottom dog is looking like he'd rather be anywhere but there, it's a problem.

Typically Dixie has been letting Teagan pretty much do WHATEVER she wants, which really surprised us. Teagan looks at Dixie like she hung the moon, absolutely obsessed with her, but sometimes her playing looks totally one sided! Dixie just sits there whole Teagan gnaws on her collar or nips at her ears or neck. Dixie just takes it and stares at us with these big sad eyes that say "why did you do this to me?!"

It's been 3 weeks now and usually about once a day we find Dixie finally playing back with her. There is a lot of gnarlinf and snarling, yelps and growling, yet the tails are still wagging. Dixie is starting to have little scabs below her eyes and on her paws..and very very rarely she will snap at Teagan to correct her but then looks ashamed and looks at me as if I'm mad at her.

Hopefully you guys are right and this will outgrow itself! Not worried about the humping if it's just playful or natural, and the standing over the head thing is rarely in play time. She waits until Dixie is napping and literally just walks and stands over her head.

[Labradorks]

Typically Dixie has been letting Teagan pretty much do WHATEVER she wants, which really surprised us. Teagan looks at Dixie like she hung the moon, absolutely obsessed with her, but sometimes her playing looks totally one sided! Dixie just sits there whole Teagan gnaws on her collar or nips at her ears or neck. Dixie just takes it and stares at us with these big sad eyes that say "why did you do this to me?!"

It's been 3 weeks now and usually about once a day we find Dixie finally playing back with her. There is a lot of gnarlinf and snarling, yelps and growling, yet the tails are still wagging. Dixie is starting to have little scabs below her eyes and on her paws..and very very rarely she will snap at Teagan to correct her but then looks ashamed and looks at me as if I'm mad at her.

Hopefully you guys are right and this will outgrow itself! Not worried about the humping if it's just playful or natural, and the standing over the head thing is rarely in play time. She waits until Dixie is napping and literally just walks and stands over her head.

I would give the older dog her space when she is clearly looking at you to help her out. You have to be her advocate and if it's stressing her out and she can't get away from it, it's not fair for her. Some ideas would be to put the pup in her crate with something to do, baby gates or let the older dog into a room a bed and a bone to chew on. It just depends on your dog and what she likes. Like the others said, your pup will lose her license soon enough, but again, it really depends on the temperament of both dogs as to how far you let it go. Some dogs will work it out quietly and you'll hardly know that's it happening and then, it may not work out as well with two other dogs. I have never had a problem personally, but my dogs have all had a certain temperament. It does happen though.