Sierra's getting snippy with Buddy

[pitc9]

Sierra has started getting snippy with Buddy when it comes to bones and toys. We've had Buddy for about 13 months, and she started this about 3 months ago. When she has something and if Buddy just walks past her to close, she curls her lip and give him a low growl. Or if she sees him walking towards something, she'll run over from the other side of the room, or jump down off the couch and growl at him and steal it before he gets to it. Now what's funny is that Buddy could care less!! When she does it, he just walks away and gets something else to play with!!
This morning was the first time she actually lunged at him and gave quite a loud bark. I do see that it's getting worse, and that worries me.

I give them both the same amount of attention, the same treats, I feed them at the same time etc. Actually.... Sierra gets more because she loves Rick and she gets his attention also!! And Buddy...(well... I think you all know the story about Buddy and Rick )
So, I'll just keep trying to make an effort to make sure they both keep getting the same of everything... but what do you guys think??

[Cinder & Smoke]

Originally posted by pitc9
Sierra has started getting snippy with Buddy...

... growl at him and steal it before he gets to it.
Now what's funny is that Buddy could care less!!
When she does it,
he just walks away and gets something else to play with!!

Sorry about this, Angie

And I probably won't be much help ~
Cinder and Smokey *bonded* into soul-mates within minutes after
Cinder "found" him on the front porch!

I feel truely Blessed that they get along SO well with each other.
Although they Play Fight, wrestle, and chase each other with enough
"sound effects" to make folks think they are out to kill each other -
there has never been a *cross* word spoken between them!

They treat each other as equals;
although an observant eye will note that Cinder considers herself to
be the ALPHA dog - but she freely "allows" Smokey to assume
the role of lil alpha!

Most Everything is "shared" - Dad's Lap, treats, toys, etc.
Exceptions include:

. . Doors - Smokey ALWAYS lets Cinder go first; mostly because
if Cinder "bolts through" - she gets called back to *sit* & *wait*...
He got tired of it and just brings up the rear after *I* say "OK"!

. . Co-Pilot position in the car - standing on the center of the
back seat with fronts on the center armrest...
Cinder is the Primary Co-Pilot - but does "allow" Smokey to ride there
on occasion ~ usually on "boring" trips if there's nothing "interesting"
going on.

"Play Fights" come to an Instant Stop if either one of them
*yips* - and BOTH of them look at *me* to check my reaction...
If Smokey hurts is "bum knee" in play - Cinder dashes over and
starts "kissing* him to make it better!

So what can YOU do?
Possibly pick a Command Word - "QUIT IT!", "Enough!", "EASY!" or
something unique to say when Sierra gets bossy or nasty;
and make her do a Down & Stay for a minute or two.

*I* wouldn't let her continue to show aggression toward poor Buddy -
it's really *NICE* to have pets that really like (or LOVE)
each other!
Good Luck on solving this problem!!

/s/ Phred

[pitc9]

Oh Sierra and Buddy are inseperable!!!
They can't go even go outside without the other!!
They do everything together, eat, sleep, play, they've play wonderfuly since the first second they were together. I have never even seen a piece of fur raied! But for some reason she's started this. This morning, I did the same thing I did yesterday (when she really snapped at him) and she did NOTHING!!!!!!
Didn't even flinch!!!!!
SO, maybe the pop on the nose right after she did it sank in!

[micki76]

I actually don't traet mine equally. I treat them in pack order. I am the alpha, then Chetser, then Millie, and then Aneko. If I treated them all the same, I feel it would confuse them somewhat as to thier position within the pack and thier position with me.

Millie occasionally displays this same behavior and I correct her very sternly.

The only problems I ever have with Aneko is over my husband. She would fight any dog to the death for him.