Newfs that want to break up "fights"

[amyk]

Does anyone else have a newf that just can't deal with dogs either actually fighting, or even just play wrestling? Eloise always has to butt in if dogs are playing, or she'll just bark and growl at them until they stop or until I move her away. Usually she'll just walk between them and bark at them as if to say, stop fighting. But it's like she can't seem to distinguish the difference between fighting and playing. I wish she'd just ignore them!! I know that newfs are the nanny dogs, but is this an instinct that can be toned down a little?

As a puppy I can remember her being protective of the littler dogs in puppy kindergarten, at the time I thought it was fine. But now it's hard to take her to a dog park or places where dogs are playing because she's so nosy!! She's fine in places where dogs are on leash and under control.

Any suggestions to keep her minding her own business?

[ 02-12-2007, 06:46 PM: Message edited by: amyk ]

 

[wrknnwf]

I would trust her instinct. She may be sensing that the play is about to get out of hand. As long as she isn't over reprimanding anyone, I would let her be the "mom" in the group. She can teach the other dogs a lot about social skills too.

 

[amyk]

I think you might be right really, since she always tend to get into it when it seems to be getting more intense, but at the same time, I'd hate for her to be in the middle of the fight if it starts!

 

[wrknnwf]

Well, you sure don't want her rushing in if dogs are already fighting. Does she have a pretty good recall or does she know "leave it". My Hugo is the nanny sometimes but he has tried to break up some fights with other adult Newfs. I can call him off with a stern voice if I have to.

 

[amyk]

I can usually divert her if I call her away before she gets too focused on the other dogs. That's what I've been doing, just rediverting her attention to something else. I guess that's what I'll keep doing. I was hoping I could work with her to just leave it on her own.

 

[missmadel]

Oh my gosh! Big Fella does that all the time!! He breaks up Cooper (newf) and Riley (Golden Ret.) whenever they get out of hand. If he doesn't get between them in time he stands back and barks for them to stop it. The funniest thing is he does it with our cats too! He's such a goof, he's actually afraid of the cats but when he sees them start fighting or chasing each other he gets right in there and breaks it up. He's so noble.

[ 02-13-2007, 11:48 AM: Message edited by: missmadel ]

 

[amyk]

That's exactly what Eloise does also! I often think she's going to kill herself running up the stairs in my house at 90 mph trying to get the cats to stop fighting! If the cats are in a room with the door closed fighting she'll bark at them, through the door, until she can get in there! lol I don't mind so much with the cats, and I don't think I'd mind if I knew the dogs she wanted to get between, and knew their temperments. But it's scary when it's at the dog park with unknown dogs.

 

[camel24j]

my puppy is the is the other way he instagates my oldest dog and does not seem to care that she is telling him off he keeps at her till we make him stop. the thing i am afraid of is that other dogs wont know what he is doing when i first brought him home my other dogs didnt want anything to do with him they would grwol at him but he keep at it and one of my other dogs finaly would give in and play but now simba will come over to me or another dog with a toy in his mouth and growl but it is always playfull. i have heard his mean growl once but that was becuse another dog was trying to take his treat.

 

[amyk]

Eloise tends to be growly also when she's being playful. I think it's just another way for her to communicate. It's not a mean growl at all, it's sort of like talking, or at least her signal for me to pay attention to whatever she's asking for. She'll growl at the back door to go out. It's like she doesn't want to expend the energy to bark, so she'll growl instead. Many times if she's playing she'll growl the whole time, and other dogs don't seem to mind it. It's like they know she's just chatty! lol

I think generally exposure to other dogs teach puppies how to behave. Your puppy will eventually learn that your older dog doesn't want to play and he'll give up. Some puppies are thicker headed than others! lol

[ 02-13-2007, 02:11 PM: Message edited by: amyk ]

 

[camel24j]

my puppy is going to be 1yr march 3rd and i hope he evently calms down he is so hyper active that you wouldnt even know he has hip dysplaysa (cant spell sorry). and yes i really do think that simba is very thick headed lol. why i metioned about him growling when wanting to play is becuse i am hoping to go to the get together in iowa this summer and i hope that if i can go that no other newfie misunderstands him he loves other dogs poeple so i think it would be really fun for him to go. (sorry to hyjack this)