Rumor and Teddy had "issues" today

[gene]

My family came over for my Birthday and also my niece's. Her husband brought Teddy into the yard as usual and Teddy, Jonah and Miko did their meet and greet, and Rumor barked. The Rumor and Teddy started to have words, the BAM!.......Rumor had a mouthful of Teddy hair. For those of you who don't know, this is Teddy, my niece's rescue who's a Husky/wolfhound mix and Jonah's best buddy.


After that....it started to get ugly, so I put Rumor on a tether and made him sit......which he did immediately, that made me proud. The only thing we can figure is they were both neutered late, and Rumor is getting very possessive of both the yard and me. So needless to say, no pictures today....a lot of teeth bearing and growling though. Jonah, Miko and Teddy got some good play time in, but Rumor had to stay with me or in the house today.

Outside of our yard, Rumor is fine with other dogs. Is it just "His" yard that makes him this way?? He was fine with the 50+ dogs we met at the shelter a few weeks back. I wish I knew if it's just the house, or should I get him into a socialization class at the local obedience school? Any thoughts??

[annieG]

Gene, I think it is very possible that Rumor is feeling territorial. I wonder how he would do at Teddy's or in a neutral area?

Tanner does the same thing. He is great at daycare, and on hikes when he is off leash but if he is in HIS yard or HIS house he is extremely protective. Tanner get tons of socialization and he has had obedience classes but it is still his territory and he is going to protect it.

[seazr]

Happy Birthday Gene!!!!

Yikes!! My last dog was protective of me--everywhere!!! All I had to do was greet another dog and it was reason for him to attack! Hope Rumor doesn't possess you to that level!

[gene]

They went back and forth today. A few times they would walk by each other and nothing, then other times...yikes!! Then for a while, Teddy started egging Rumor on by walking close and trying to sneak up on him. My niece's husband and I remained calm through the whole thing hoping that would help, but no.....

Should make for some fun future family get togethers.

[blueteal]

Gene I believe it is the "his yard theory"
Denver does this with his bet friend 'Winston " when Winston comes
into Denver's yard. They are very competitive with each other but on
neutral ground they are the best of friends but in each others yard they
are rough and tough and barking and when one gets quiet the other sneaks up and all hell breaks loose................
Also as you pointed out that Teddy is Jonah's best friend I think Rumor
is trying to establish his own place in his own yard as far as the "pack"
mentality goes.....................The less you make of it the quiter it will become, but they need to work it out........ of course in case of an all out
blood shedding you need to step in(smile)

[annabelles mom]

aww sorry to hear there was a disagreement today

I would try getting Rumor and Teddy together in a neutral place and see how they do - if ok, then it's prob because Teddy is invading what Rumor believes is HIS space

Hope rest of your party was good

[seazr]

Originally Posted by blueteal

of course in case of an all out
blood shedding you need to step in(smile)

OK--I can laugh now. When my beloved Seazr (AKA the alpha jerk) saw me give my neighbor's dog Casey (the sweetest dog in the world) a pat on the head (on Casey's turf), Seazr did what any alpha jerk would do, he attacked Casey. Casey was stunned but instint told him to fight back. And then there's Janet and I . . . By now, we have our respective dogs by their collars and both of our butts are on asphalt in Janet's driveway and we're screaming at our dogs, for our husbands, or maybe just for the joy of screaming. My husband responded first and tried to pull Seazr off. He still has the scar on his hand from Seazr--who loved him, by the way, just that "Daddy" got in the way! Janet's husband was slower to respond. He was on the phone to another neighbor when he said, "I hear something outside, I'll call you back." So out he walks with Buster, dog #3 and Casey's best friend! Thank goodness for obedient dogs--everyone yelled, "No Buster!!"" And thank goodness he listened! All was finally well, but that is also the story of why Dakota was neutered the moment his vet would do it!!!!!

[bob]

Gene,

My Golden, Elsa, is like that. She can be very possessive of things around other dogs. I can always tell when it's going to happen and just do something to break her focus. Tell Rumor to chill.

[MaxandMe]

Gene......it's a territorial thing with the pack mentality.

it isn't easy to stand back and let them work it out
but if there is a possibility of bloodand/or it not being settled
you have to step in

in the future if a sudden yell doesn't make them stop
use the water hose if in the yard...inside a house you throw a pan of water on them. It just startles them where you can separate them
without any harm to anyone around.

I really wish you didnt' experience this but also glad no one was hurt
and you managed to still have your family get together

how are they INSIDE the house or like others said
on Neutral territory?

[Lucky Me]

seazr- thanks for my laugh of the night....aren't animals fun????
Boy do I LOVE animals....They might have been pills, but they were reacting to hormone's.
Thanks for the head up...I have not had a male dog in 20 yrs., a 60# one at that. Something to store in my memory bank.

[Dextersmommy]

Gene, when I read your post, my mind immediately registered that you had a rumor breakthrough recently. If I remember right, didn't he offer you his tummy? I think the whole nutshell is that he has finally decided that you're his forever daddy and you're not going anywhere, so it's okay to find his place in the pack. Unfortunately, he decided his place is wayyy higher than Teddy the interloper's Is he having any issues with Jonah and Miko? I'd kinda watch for it. They usually decide this stuff when they're puppies. But since there's been a delay in their development, there may be some deciding going on in the home soon too.

In our house there's no mistaking. Daisy the 6 lb. schnauzer puppy rules with an iron paw. And she loves everybody, but let somebody come near her yard and they will be told off. Pork Chop was on his deck looking over at her yesterday, and she told him off in no uncertain terms, and he went and hid behind his mommy

I hope you get it sorted out. I know how much the kids enjoy cousin Teddy.

[lmtoth2]

awh Gene...

Kirby will sometimes still act similar to what you described. It is never with Dexter and always with something. He had an "issue" with another doodle at our last romp over a toy and the same thing happened with Max over one of Kirby's toys at Annmarie's. Kirby tends to be posessive of toys (maybe how Rumor is posessive of your yard...and maybe of Jonah/Miko). It's tough to deal with this because we aren't in these situations that often.

We always correct Kirby (and he totally knows he had done something wrong)...we try to not have high prize toys for him around other dogs now. Not the best solution, but it avoids the potential confrontation (this has only really happened 3-4 times for us). We also work with Kirby on patience and if he gets too possessive around Dex we sometimes intervene.

I think exposing Rumor to other dogs in your yard would be the best way to work on it...and maybe try to keep him on leash first?

[gene]

There would have been blood yesterday, because neither was going to back down. For safety of all, Rumor was on the leash from the time he got a mouth full of Teddy hair, til the time Teddy left. I had a hard time not laughing when Rumor started working himself up, but I did the right thing and corrected and distracted. My niece's husband did the same with Teddy. Rumor starts with his mouth twitching, then into a snarl and growl. It's a funny, yet frightening look.

After our "show the belly" breakthrough, he seems actually much better with Jonah, There has been no fight with them in over a month. Miko is the only one who sends off warning shots now if she feels her space is invaded. I think that;s just a woman thing though......

[Dextersmommy]

Well, a princess has to keep her subjects at hand, ya know? LMAO

So glad to hear that Rumor and Jonah have a nice truce.

[gene]

Jonah and Rumor passed the ultimate test yesterday. My niece got some toys for Miko because she won't see her on the 24th which is her bday. Rumor had a toy, walked by Jonah squeaking it......and Jonah let him. I was shocked!! Don't worry folks.....Miko got to be the official destuffer of the new toys! Jonah got to remove a squeaker in one. There;s nothing left but carnage now!