year old beagle + adopted 10 month beagle mix.

[scarlettnyny]

I am need of some advice. My husband and I just adopted a beagle/maybe datson mix 10 month old. She is so sweet and timid and very small. We have a year old boy beagle who LOVES her but I think a little too much. He will NOT leave her alone! Although he is being very nice to her, he is bugging her and often being too playful, causing her to growl and run away. I have crates and have seperated them some, but how much should I seperate them, and what do I do when my older boy keeps wanting to play and not just calm down. I have tried a water bottle which helps, but I don't want to punish him, he was here first..help!
Scarlett, Mr. Bojangles and now Josephene

[prolibertate]

It's normal that your first dog wants to be near and play with your new dog. She'll tell him when she's had enough; that's why she's growling at him; she may even yelp when the play gets too rough for her. That's how dogs learn to not be so rough when they're with their litter mates. Dog play can look rough at times, when it isn't; and a dog will tell another dog when to back off. If you see your male doing a play bow, you know he only wants to play.

She may not be used to being around other dogs, so she may need more socializing also. One thing you want to make sure not to do is to comfort her; that's telling her there's something to be worried about.

Has your male ever been to a training class? If not, then he should go to one, as should your new dog. A good training class will be beneficial for you and for them.

I wouldn't use a water bottle on them, especially if they see you doing it. If they don't like it they'll relate it to you because you're the one doing it. If he's really getting too pushy at times with her, distract him, then give him a time out...put him in another room for 20-30 seconds; if he comes back and gets too pushy again, repeat the distraction. You're showing him that a particular behavior will mean all play stops. If you put him in his crate he may start to see the crate as being punishment, which you don't want him to do. This method also works for puppy nipping/mouthing.

Is she spayed? If not, then you should get her spayed soon; not only will this be better for her health, but if she goes into heat, your male dog will be bothering her even more...even if he's neutered already.

[scarlettnyny]

thank you so much! i can tell she is already begining to tell him to back off sometimes but is playing back just as much too!

[prolibertate]

If she's going back for more play, then they'll be fine...What you need to watch for is sometimes when dogs get too excitable they can get a bit more serious in their 'play'; it's like they cross some threshold where it starts to get serious (reminds me a bit of when guys horse around with each other and then turn serious, lol). You'll notice their play growling changes to be deeper. An excellent book that discusses this much better than I can is For the Love of a Dog by Patricia McConnell.