Post by elia on Jun 12, 2024 11:02:33 GMT -5
We got a new Maremma puppy two months ago. I named him Neville Longbarken. He is to be the team mate for the adult Maremma female we got last year. Neville is a lovely little guy, though not staying little for very long! He weighed 18 pounds at 8 weeks; at 15 weeks, he weighs 45 pounds.
My English Shepherd, Keeper, is not tolerating him. At first I thought it was going to be okay, but then when Neville bothered him too much, crossed some line, he would snarl, lunge and snap. After this happened several times, I tried putting Keeper on a leash, but Neville would come too close, trying to play, and Keeper would lunge at him. Once, when Neville was pretty small, we caught Keeper trying to stalk him, or so it seemed. I talked to a trainer - a good trainer - who suggested I put Neville on a leash and teach him to leave Keeper alone. I have done that for the past several weeks, and it has been peaceful. Neville is learning and is pretty responsive to me. (Of course he thinks the Earth spins on the axis of my hotdog-filled treat pouch). He has become submissive to Keeper, not trying to jump on him or play. He will "leave it" on command. I have kept him from getting right up to Keeper, but have been letting him go closer gradually, and Keeper has snarled but not attacked, or has just turned away - always stiff, ears back.
Today I thought I would try to take it forward a step, so I let Neville go right up to him, still on a long leash, and Keeper snarled once or twice, and then attacked - not just a warning lunge; he took hold of the puppy's nose and shook it. Neville ran away yelping, terrified but unhurt. He came to me, still yelping (no blood) and Keeper approached, acting like he wanted to come after him again, as though Neville were a wounded prey animal. He didn't dare, though, because of my stern warnings.
With people, I think it is fear. He has never bitten anyone, though he did snap at a friend once, who reached for him on a day when the farm was unsettled with a life-ending cow emergency, two days after our elder Great Pyrenees had died. Extenuating circumstances, yes, but...
My English Shepherd, Keeper, is not tolerating him. At first I thought it was going to be okay, but then when Neville bothered him too much, crossed some line, he would snarl, lunge and snap. After this happened several times, I tried putting Keeper on a leash, but Neville would come too close, trying to play, and Keeper would lunge at him. Once, when Neville was pretty small, we caught Keeper trying to stalk him, or so it seemed. I talked to a trainer - a good trainer - who suggested I put Neville on a leash and teach him to leave Keeper alone. I have done that for the past several weeks, and it has been peaceful. Neville is learning and is pretty responsive to me. (Of course he thinks the Earth spins on the axis of my hotdog-filled treat pouch). He has become submissive to Keeper, not trying to jump on him or play. He will "leave it" on command. I have kept him from getting right up to Keeper, but have been letting him go closer gradually, and Keeper has snarled but not attacked, or has just turned away - always stiff, ears back.
Today I thought I would try to take it forward a step, so I let Neville go right up to him, still on a long leash, and Keeper snarled once or twice, and then attacked - not just a warning lunge; he took hold of the puppy's nose and shook it. Neville ran away yelping, terrified but unhurt. He came to me, still yelping (no blood) and Keeper approached, acting like he wanted to come after him again, as though Neville were a wounded prey animal. He didn't dare, though, because of my stern warnings.
This is not encouraging. Keeper is an uncannily smart dog, very devoted to me, very obedient, a great watch dog (!), helps with chores, and is mostly so much fun to have around. He is much beloved, and is a wonderful dog - except for this streak. He is, as the English Shepherd people would say, "cross" (will bite). He has always been uncomfortable with strangers. He won't accept my people who come to the house. I have been unable to take him to the vet, for fear of his snapping at the vet when handled. He is still intact, six years old. There were reasons why I didn't neuter him sooner, but I have been doing muzzle lessons to be able to take him in and get him neutered now, a decision that was made after getting another male puppy. I called the vet after this morning's encounter, to see how we can speed up this process (with extra drugs very likely), and get him in for neutering ASAP. We have been testing out drug doses to see what it will take to get him manageable.
With people, I think it is fear. He has never bitten anyone, though he did snap at a friend once, who reached for him on a day when the farm was unsettled with a life-ending cow emergency, two days after our elder Great Pyrenees had died. Extenuating circumstances, yes, but...
He gets along great with our current female Maremma (spayed) and when he was young, he got along great with our elder female Great Pyrenees. With this puppy, not so much. This morning, it just looked like aggression. Neville had approached him submissively, but came right up to him, twice, and the second time, Keeper just went for him. ,
Now I will have to keep Neville away from him again, until the neutering is done and see if it improves. Whether taking testosterone out of the equation at this point will make any difference, I don't know. Keeper is clearly unsettled by the changes, as evidenced by the fact that he also started marking in the house again, and so is on restricted access inside, under close supervision.
Any suggestions from you veteran dog people? English Shepherd people? Is there any hope?