Play is too rough for small dogs
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| If the little dogs won't tell him off, there's probably not much you can do to change his method of play, so splitting them up may be your best best until he hopefully grows up and gets some manners.
OES play rough. I've known a few who existed very comfortably with small dogs, and a few people on the forum have that combination too, but in the cases I know best the small dogs worked hard to secure their own boundaries from day one. If your existing dogs won't do that it's up to you to protect them from Mr Thug. Who is, by the way, just being a normal puppy. 
If they WILL tell him off, praise them and back them up, because they're better teachers than any of us will ever be. Good luck! Kristine |
| I've come to realize that Yuki won't ever change since her mind shuts off when certain things come into the picture (sheep, food, daddy). So the solution is simple in our home: They don't play together. When a ball is out, someone is holding our OES while small dogs play or she's thrown outside. Otherwise, trigger toys are taken away. I've worked on this for several years, and that was the only way we could get peace. |
| sorry I can't offer any advice since my OES is my small dog. but they do need to play - alot. I have two three year olds and they play much more than our 1 year old newf or even our Irish Setter did when he was younger. Mine have learned they can't play rough in the house though - so maybe if given an outlet for his rough play yours will learn he can't play like that with the little dogs.
I don't think you want him to see you as the bad guy when he plays too rough with the other dogs - it might be best to distract him - and hope they will learn to stand up for themselves. |
In my case, it wasn't just about standing up for him/herself b/c my dog knew how to beat the crap out of Yuki... but when a tiny (to me this is under 10lbs) gets in the way of a dog who is jumping up excited (not even from play) ...it can cause any furmom to close their eyes.  ...and you just can't always predict or stop a natural excitement. Romeo's girl, I'm just saying I totally understand your problem and concerns. Most of the time, I as the other posters said... just let them play and figure it out. |
| It is going to take some time for them all to learn to get along and figure out the pecking order. You can't expect them all to become instant friends and play nicely.
Michelle |
kerry wrote: sorry I can't offer any advice since my OES is my small dog.
Made me laugh. Obe plays rough at times also with small dogs. I have to watch and step in from time to time. He would never intentionally hurt. Most of time the small dog was either instigating play or would stand up and say hey you may be big but I've had enough. He knew then to back off. |
I have an OES cross and 3 westies ......the westies are definitely in charge and will play but when they've had enough they growl and that's the end of the game , I just let thm find their own way but it was easier as we had the Westies first and got Archie as a pup so he was their size at first ! 
Julie x |
| Tiggy is a horror-woman with my siamese cat. The cat has sorted out my Dalmo with a few well aimed swipes but Tiggy came with built in claw and fang buffer! The look on the cat's face is comical, he bites and he whops and all he gets is a gob full of fluff and an OES saliva mohawk.
I know exactly what you mean about the telling off. Tiggy knows full well that she is not to play rough with the cat but he a small, fluffy running thing  She just cant resist 
The only solution I have found is to create safe areas for the cat. Admittedly easier with a cat. He has a corner behind an arm chair where Tiggy cant fit and I shifted the baby gate across so the cat can fit through but Madam cant. Its funny to watch the cat shimmy through and leave a peeved sheepie staring longingly after, "let me lick, chew and squash that critter with love, pleeease"  |
| Tonks LOVES to play with puppies and little dogs, and she is usually too rough for about 75 percent of them.
What I try and do is this; when Tonks scares a puppy, I make her come and sit. Then i walk her in heel back towards the puppy, and command her to do a down-stay. That way she is usually closer to thier height, and cannot use her paws to swat at them (playfully) as easily. We maintain that for a few minutes, allowing the smaller dog to check Tonks out, before I release Tonks to play some more. Sometimes I have to repeat this several times. Sometimes it makes no difference, and sometimes it helps. Good luck. Now if anyone can tell me how to get the dogs to be less scary to my cats when all they want to do is play, I'd appreciate it!!!! |
| We have a cat and a small dog plus an adult OES and puppy OES.When the adult OES jumps about and plays rough,the cat leaves,the small dog plays until shes had enough then retreats to her crate,the pup mainly watches or joins in for a while then hides under the chair.I think if the small ones have a place to retreat to,they will go off by themselves if they dont like it.It does take TIME and patience .If none of them are getting hurt,let them sort it,So long as none are getting higher in tone or getting that rigid "time to fight" posture. |
| get a gate with gaps the small dogs can walk (RUN) through? |
Thanks for all your help, I got a gate with bars that the smallest dog can run through when things get too rough I also set up a small crate for the two small ones to retreat to when they are sick of Oscar playing. They are defending themselves and he totally understands, he still does it but is getting better already. I've caught them all sleeping together all cosied up this morning so I'm really pleased things seem to be working out.  |
That's great news!! I was wondering how you were going this morning, when after spending months of telling my sheepie off for tormenting the cat I found the cat enticing her to play.  Guess I've been an overprotective mother. |
Mim wrote: That's great news!! I was wondering how you were going this morning, when after spending months of telling my sheepie off for tormenting the cat I found the cat enticing her to play.
Guess I've been an overprotective mother. That is exactly how my wife is about our two cats, when she is there it's "oh save us mummy!" when she's not, they don't bat an eyelid! our Tom even steals Archies food if he get the chance! |
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