Hi Guys,

I am looking for some advice for a work collegue,she has a 3 year old Male Berner who has up until now been a gentle giant with a very loving temerment towards people and other Dogs......However last week her son came to visit with a new Rotweiler Male Pup (6 weeks old) and Baloo without warning tried to attack this pup luckily he did not manage to reach as there was a chair in the way!!! she has tried over the last week to gentley introduce the pair and all has been going well until last night when he again bared his teeth and growled at the pup.

Has anyone any ideas why he is doing this and what they can do to socilise the pair sucsessfully!!!

Thanks in advance for your advice.

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Rowan

Durham UK

You haven't spoken to this but are both males in tact? This is critical! And what behaviors are the Rotti pup displaying that is setting off the Berner? For example, is Rotti pup very confident? Is Rotti pup displaying submissive deference to the Berner (who is invading his terroritory afterall) - proper puppy behavior with an adult should be dropping head to show he is lower, showing respect with deferring eye contact, waiting for permission from Berner to advance to key locations etc. Is Rotti pup claiming ownership of key resources such as people, key sleeping spots like sofa, or other key locations instead?

A lot more info is needed here but chances are - the originating issue is not the Berner but rather the Rotti pup? At 6 months, a puppy license has expired and said puppy will not be treated like a puppy by any adult.

hi there just answer a couple of your quries.......the Berner is not neutered and as the Rotti pup is only 8 weeks he has also not been neutered.
The pup is very confident and does not show any submisive behaviour towards Baloo.

do you think keeping the pup in a cage untill they get used to each other would be a good idea??

Thanks again for your help.

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Rowan

Durham UK

I would not put the Rotti pup in a cage per se....but would definitely separate him and keep him confined from the Berner - an x-pen will work or simply getting doggie gates to keep puppy in the kitchen for example is ideal.

Based on your description, this Rotti pup is likely not entering this Berner's territory with the proper amount of respect and deference. An 8 week old pup should be highly accomodating and if this isn't happening, you may likely have a problem going forward.

There is no guarantee these two will get a long. If you have a bold Rotti pup at 8 weeks, you are going to have a bold Rotti pup at 6 months and beyond.

How does the Rotti pup react when the Berner growls or otherwise reacts to him? What is his response?

Why is the Berner not neutered at this point?

Just keep in mind that at about 6 months, the usual puppy license that adult dogs give to a puppy for his indiscretions expire - and if that Rotti offends the Berner in the Berner's home, you are going to have a fight and be pulling two boys apart.