There's no reason you have to just let it continue. As the pack leader, step in and stop it - concentrate on the one with the stronger energy at the moment. Use Cesar's "hand bite", use your family sound for "stop what you are doing" and make sure they stop AND that they are calm (not just still) before you let them play together again.

Also, you need to help them become a pack. Start a regular program of walking them together, but gear your speed and length of walk to the puppy's abilities...don't overdo it. But if you can walk them everyday, or even twice a day that will help a lot. Let's both of them get rid of excess energy and helps them to realize that as pack members they must get along with each other.

Just be sure to walk them correctly, they should be beside you, or even a bit behind you and not pulling on the leash.

i've just been telling Paisley no and separating them when they won't stop.

thank you doggone. I will definitely try that starting today. Where can i find info about the "hand bite"? I am not familiar with that

"Where can i find info about the "hand bite"? I am not familiar with that"

Absolutely the best place is on Cesar's show. He uses it routinely, and it's much easier to learn it from watching than from a written description. If you don't have access on TV check around on this site...I think they have some videos from his show..

thanks again. this may be a dumb question but ..when training the puppy to walk on a leash should i train her to walk on the opposite side of Paisley (the older one)? or will they just do that on their own? Paisley is trained to walk on my right side most of the time.

I would suggest teaching your puppy to walk on the same side. It's much easier to handle 2 dogs walking together than it is on opposite sides of you, but if they prefer to split up...and you don't really care...you can just let her walk wherever she wants to.

And you may find that she prefers your other side for a while, then as she gets more "into" being a pack member she'll move to walking on the same side as Paisley does.

Hi! I have both of my dogs on my left side and at first it was really hard work but now they work really well together :=D I also have taken them on separate walks to reinforce walking correctly by my side :)

excellent. i will update you on my progress :)

From your description it’s hard to say if they are fighting or one is just really rough housing with the other. Fighting doesn’t go on and on. That’s usually very fast, intense and often brutally decisive which is why I suspect rough play with lots of noise to go with it.

What your personal tolerance for rough play is determines when you should stop it just like with kids. The key being to make sure they completely stop once you give the command.

It is much more effective to DOWN (make them lay down) your dogs when they get too excited than it is to separate them completely apart, say in different rooms. You DOWN them right close to each other until they are clearly calm and submissive to you and each other. The first dog to calm down is the first to be allowed up and free. If they go back at it then so do you and you DOWN them over and over until they give up and give into to obeying you. Be as quick to calmly praise good behavior as you are to correct inappropriate behavior. Calming down gets calm praise!

Physically separating the dogs in different rooms is typically only useful as a training tool if the dogs are brought back together very quickly again to make up and play nice and after they have calmed first.. about 1-2 minutes. The most aggressive playing dog is the one that gets separated away for over-the-top behavior. If you have dog crates then do not use the crates as punishment like this. Crates are their private sanctuary and their place to get away from it all.

Dominant displays should not be allowed and this may also be part of what you’re seeing. You may see Paisley doing things like trying to grab Roxie around her head or around her neck. The 2 dogs will form a T or and L shape and it will be clear that Paisley is lording over Roxie. If it was a maternal instinct thing then Paisley would be grabbing Roxie by the scruff of the neck and carrying her around. One dog trying to be on high ground ABOVE another dog, like up on furniture or pushing the other dog away when you are petting one of them are all dominant behaviors too.

You are the parent type dog… the leader and provider. Only you are allowed to make these dominant displays.

Now if Roxie bites Paisley or does something to irritate her then Paisley may give her a harsh snap to set Roxie straight that she doesn’t like it. That’s not dominance. That’s “don’t do that because I don't like it.” That also teaches Roxie some lessons about proper dog behavior.

I hope I’ve added some useful insights into what your dogs may or not really be doing and about when to get in there and correct it.

Be Well and Train Well.