Letters from readers:

Neck-nipping dachshund
needs brain work therapy

Hello,
I have three mini dachshunds: Josie is 12, Kerri is 11 and Maggie Mae is just one year old last November. Obviously Maggie Mae is the most active of them all but Josie and Kerri do play with her, despite their age. However, I want to know the significance of Maggie Mae biting on their necks? I mean she constantly nips at their necks, playfully, but all the time. What does this mean and can I break her of it? - Jackie

Hello Jackie,
I would really like to know if Maggie Mae has been to training classes or socialisation classes at any time in her life? If so, what were the classes like, did Maggie Mae play with other dogs during these classes? What did she learn? Does she have another dog she plays with from time to time, perhaps a visitor, a friend or other dogs she meets on walks? Do you play a lot of ball games or chase games with her? - Nicole

Hello Nicole
No classes for Maggie Mae. Josie would be the alpha dog and Kerri is the one who's neck Maggie Mae goes after most. She occasionally goes after Josie's neck, but not nearly as much as Kerri's. We also have dogs on either side of us who Maggie Mae will play with. Maggie Mae has toys, and we don't do a lot of tug-of-war, but we will throw the toys and she chases. Thanks so much for your attention! I appreciate it. My three girls are great dogs, and good natured, I just really don't like this neck thing that Maggie does with Kerri. Kerri ruptured her disc about seven years ago and walks with a slight limp - she actually was paralyzed for about six months and had to learn to walk again, so I guess I kinda feel sorry for her ... I think sometimes she doesn't hold her own. - Jackie

Hello Jackie,
Thank you for your prompt reply to my questions. If you have ever had children before you may be aware or how sometimes there is a pesky little annoying brother or sister who just seems to be in the face of his/her older sibling all the time. No matter what the older sibling does, that little sibling is there wanting to play or seeking attention in some way.

This is often the case with multi-dog households. Especially when you have nice, older, mature dogs and then a young dog becomes part of the family. From the information you have given me it sounds like Maggie Mae may be quite needy. This is where you as her owner come in to help her and your other two dogs out. There a few things I would like you to try with Maggie Mae and I am sure if you follow this programme consistently you should see a big change in her and more peace for Kerri and Josie.

When Maggie begins to go for the necks of Kerri or Josie, you must go between them, intervene and split them up. Do not shout at, talk to, or touch any of the dogs, just use your body language only to split them up. Do not be tempted to speak at all. There are three things very rewarding to dogs, they are: when we look at our dogs, when we touch our dogs and when we speak to them. If we do one of these we are rewarding our dog for the behaviour, if we do all three, we are giving a very big reward.

Continue to do this splitting up, even if you have to do it 50 times a day at first, and eventually Maggie Mae will understand it is unacceptable behaviour to disturb your other dogs. Try also to avoid any play with other dogs and any chase games. These chase games trigger the hunting instinct which is an instinct born in every breed of dog but is triggered and strengthened every time your dog is given the opportunity to chase, play, run or any games of high activity and excitement. This causes the adrenalin and many other hormones to reach their peak within 15 minutes but can take three to six days to come back down again, provided nothing else happens.

With the continued levels of excitement and adrenalin in her body, you will probably find Maggie Mae a little full-on for your other dogs and most likely she finds it hard to settle during the day. She should be resting (mainly sleeping) up to about 18 hours a day. This would be impossible for her to get the appropriate rest if her adrenalin levels are high. Many people focus on a their dogs' need for physical exercise but often neglect the need for brain-work which I believe is more important, as it is with us humans. Brain-work is also more stimulating, more calming and more tiring than taking your dog for a walk. There are many brain-work exercises you can do with Maggie Mae, these exercises will help to bring down her adrenalin levels and give her a different focus rather than to chew the necks of Josie and Kerri.

Hide game: Using treats, hide them around your house or garden for Maggie to find. She will learn to love this game and you will not need to teach her, as her nose will show her where all the treats are. Just say the work 'find' and leave her to it. Make sure the treats are nice foods she likes. My dogs love to find cheese.

Peanut butter tree: Take a table knife and peanut butter jar into your garden or forest and spread peanut butter on different trees, posts or whatever is available and safe for you to spread on. Tell Maggie Mae to 'find' and she will have a great time finding it and licking it off.

King Kongs: These are rubber toys. You can stuff a kong with very yummy soft foods, place into the freezer and then give to Maggie Mae as a replacement for one of her meals or to keep her occupied when you are out or when you have visitors. My dogs love their kongs stuffed with tinned fish and cream cheese or mashed potato. It will take Maggie Mae an hour or two to get the food out when it's frozen and then she will most likely be tired enough to want to sleep for a couple of hours. I keep a stack of stuffed kongs in my freezer. Your other two dogs will love them too.

Treat balls: These can be great games for dogs. But they can wind up some dogs, so watch and if Maggie Mae starts to get too stressed by it (panting a lot) then take it way for a while. These treat balls come in different shapes and sizes, some simple and some more complicated, but they can be very stimulating and fun for some dogs. These are just a few of many ideas you can do with Maggie Mae to help her cope and to protect your two older dogs. Please let me know how you get on with the programme. - Nicole (Certified IDTS trainer)

Hello,
Wow - Nicole, thanks so much for taking the time to work with me. I will definitely try these things and keep you posted. Have a great day. - Jackie