Post by melonie on Oct 29, 2011 0:26:09 GMT -5
This week I've had a few issues involving Rhett.
He is a bit socially awkward to begin with. Scarlett, and Lilly both helped bring out his inner puppy. He began to be more dog like. After months in my home he began not to "need" me as much. He quit listening to his recall. I now have to walk my butt out in the yard with a leash to get him inside more often than not.
Issue #1.
I had been cleaning and re-arranging my livingroom last weekend. I found several lost toys, and as I found them I put them up. I missed a stuffed fish, but I didn't know it until there was a fight over it.
It happened so fast, I heard growl, and fight noises, so I looked down and saw the fish in Cleveland's mouth, I snatched it and stuffed it in the sofa. Rhett was coming around the outside and approaching us to the right. He must not of realized the toy was out of play, as he started this crazy @ss yowl growl and challenged Cleveland. I had to physically put myself in the middle to separate them. Aryn took Rhett and I got Cleveland away. I took a second to regroup, let go of Cleveland and grabbed Rhett and took him to his crate. I went to check on Cleveland, he was alright. I checked on Rhett, but he was bloody. His muzzle connected with my shin at some point. (based on blood and the pain in my leg) And he had a bloody lip.
I let Rhett out of the crate and we snuggled on the bed for a little bit until everything was calm. (the other dogs were out of the room)
Issue #2.
I was sitting on the sofa. Winston was on my left side just laying there. Cleveland was on my right side. Rhett kept bouncing on and off the sofa by Winston, running around the house, being a big goof.
On one of his rounds he jumped up on Cleveland's side. He jumped down, then turned around and again did his crazy @ss yowl growl and tried to go after Cleveland. I took him into the bedroom, and crated him until he chilled. Then I let him out and we spend some one on one time away from the other dogs.
Issue #3.
Yesterday I was dishing up their food. Usually the dogs sit behind me staring and waiting. I could see Cleveland out of the corner of my eye on the left. Rhett was on the right side of me, but behind me. I was almost done, when Rhett did his crazy noise, and went after Cleveland by way of in front of me, by pushing me backwards. I managed to grab his collar, and calm the situation. I put him in his crate with his meal. The other dogs took their meal in their crate. (which is now standard practice) I let them out for a drink, then put them back when I went to work. (Today I crated Rhett before I dished the food)
Issue #4.
I can now tell by Rhett and Cleveland's body language what is going on. Cleveland holds his ears a certain way. And Rhett gets this determined stare. Winston, bless his heart, tries to put himself between Rhett and Cleveland. I've fielded 2 other occurrences that could have been, by redirecting Rhetts attention based on body language.
I saw it coming earlier this evening. I was chilling with Cleveland, Winston and Rhett were playing chase/bitey face.
Rhett jumped on the sofa, I noticed Clevelands ears, so I got up, Rhett started to go for Cleveland, based on his look, but not yet vocal. I got Rhett's attention, and was sweet talking both the dogs. Winston put himself between the two dogs, and leaned into Cleveland.
There is some stink eye going on.
Jealousy going on.
Rhett's pal Lilly is no longer here.
There is territory issues as well.
A lot of times, Cleveland is in a relaxed mode, when Rhett gets wound up.
Cleveland hasn't really started anything with him, other then a bit of window redirection. Which, there hasn't been any of this week. (amazingly)
I am really trying to keep a happy medium with these three boys. So far I am managing, but I don't want to eff up like I did with Mac and Cleveland.
Rhett and Cleveland still play, still snuggle and for the most part get along the majority of the time.
Sometimes I think Cleveland mistakes Rhetts stupid play style as something else.
Winston gets it, and plays well with him. Rhett sometimes reminds me of an out of control 2 yr old. Remember, he was isolated from other dogs from 6-8 weeks old, until he was 6 months old.
When I feel that a confrontation is going to happen over me, I will get up and walk away from all of the dogs before anything happens.
I do keep an eye on Winston as well. If he gets up and starts to try and get one of the dogs attention, I take that as a cue that something isn't right. (he did this with Mac and Cleveland as well.)
This happened as I was sitting here typing this up. Rhett jumped up into my chair and planted his butt behind me. That was fine with me. After a bit Cleveland came over and sat beside me, staring. Rhett got squirmy, so I decided to get up and go do something else for a bit.
Trying to get a handle on this before it becomes a serious problem, and hopefully I do it right!
He is a bit socially awkward to begin with. Scarlett, and Lilly both helped bring out his inner puppy. He began to be more dog like. After months in my home he began not to "need" me as much. He quit listening to his recall. I now have to walk my butt out in the yard with a leash to get him inside more often than not.
Issue #1.
I had been cleaning and re-arranging my livingroom last weekend. I found several lost toys, and as I found them I put them up. I missed a stuffed fish, but I didn't know it until there was a fight over it.
It happened so fast, I heard growl, and fight noises, so I looked down and saw the fish in Cleveland's mouth, I snatched it and stuffed it in the sofa. Rhett was coming around the outside and approaching us to the right. He must not of realized the toy was out of play, as he started this crazy @ss yowl growl and challenged Cleveland. I had to physically put myself in the middle to separate them. Aryn took Rhett and I got Cleveland away. I took a second to regroup, let go of Cleveland and grabbed Rhett and took him to his crate. I went to check on Cleveland, he was alright. I checked on Rhett, but he was bloody. His muzzle connected with my shin at some point. (based on blood and the pain in my leg) And he had a bloody lip.
I let Rhett out of the crate and we snuggled on the bed for a little bit until everything was calm. (the other dogs were out of the room)
Issue #2.
I was sitting on the sofa. Winston was on my left side just laying there. Cleveland was on my right side. Rhett kept bouncing on and off the sofa by Winston, running around the house, being a big goof.
On one of his rounds he jumped up on Cleveland's side. He jumped down, then turned around and again did his crazy @ss yowl growl and tried to go after Cleveland. I took him into the bedroom, and crated him until he chilled. Then I let him out and we spend some one on one time away from the other dogs.
Issue #3.
Yesterday I was dishing up their food. Usually the dogs sit behind me staring and waiting. I could see Cleveland out of the corner of my eye on the left. Rhett was on the right side of me, but behind me. I was almost done, when Rhett did his crazy noise, and went after Cleveland by way of in front of me, by pushing me backwards. I managed to grab his collar, and calm the situation. I put him in his crate with his meal. The other dogs took their meal in their crate. (which is now standard practice) I let them out for a drink, then put them back when I went to work. (Today I crated Rhett before I dished the food)
Issue #4.
I can now tell by Rhett and Cleveland's body language what is going on. Cleveland holds his ears a certain way. And Rhett gets this determined stare. Winston, bless his heart, tries to put himself between Rhett and Cleveland. I've fielded 2 other occurrences that could have been, by redirecting Rhetts attention based on body language.
I saw it coming earlier this evening. I was chilling with Cleveland, Winston and Rhett were playing chase/bitey face.
Rhett jumped on the sofa, I noticed Clevelands ears, so I got up, Rhett started to go for Cleveland, based on his look, but not yet vocal. I got Rhett's attention, and was sweet talking both the dogs. Winston put himself between the two dogs, and leaned into Cleveland.
There is some stink eye going on.
Jealousy going on.
Rhett's pal Lilly is no longer here.
There is territory issues as well.
A lot of times, Cleveland is in a relaxed mode, when Rhett gets wound up.
Cleveland hasn't really started anything with him, other then a bit of window redirection. Which, there hasn't been any of this week. (amazingly)
I am really trying to keep a happy medium with these three boys. So far I am managing, but I don't want to eff up like I did with Mac and Cleveland.
Rhett and Cleveland still play, still snuggle and for the most part get along the majority of the time.
Sometimes I think Cleveland mistakes Rhetts stupid play style as something else.
Winston gets it, and plays well with him. Rhett sometimes reminds me of an out of control 2 yr old. Remember, he was isolated from other dogs from 6-8 weeks old, until he was 6 months old.
When I feel that a confrontation is going to happen over me, I will get up and walk away from all of the dogs before anything happens.
I do keep an eye on Winston as well. If he gets up and starts to try and get one of the dogs attention, I take that as a cue that something isn't right. (he did this with Mac and Cleveland as well.)
This happened as I was sitting here typing this up. Rhett jumped up into my chair and planted his butt behind me. That was fine with me. After a bit Cleveland came over and sat beside me, staring. Rhett got squirmy, so I decided to get up and go do something else for a bit.
Trying to get a handle on this before it becomes a serious problem, and hopefully I do it right!
I look forward to learning much here