My puppies keep mounting each other?
I have two 9 month old puppies...a boxer/border collie mix & a peke/shih tzu mix. The boys are best friends & really only see each other (the peke mix is friendly with other dogs but always tries to mount them & the boxer mix is terribly afraid & defensive around other dogs). They are both intact & I know that this could be the main reason for the mounting but our boxer mix never used to do it & just recently started to. I also know that part of this behavior is learned. Whenever they do it the offending dog is immediately reprimanded & put in time out but the behavior continues. Whenever me or my bf have to leave them at home, we put them in a wire playpen that's about 16 feet around because the boxer mix gets into things. Should we be leaving them alone together? And do we just have to deal with this behavior until they're neutered? Is there not anything that could be done now?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker
This is a dominance behavior and should not be allowed. Neither dog should dominate the other. They have to learn that they are both the submissive and you are the dominant one. That way they will see you as the pack leader and won't challenge you. You have to teach them that they have to be calm submissive. If you see them being dominant, correct the behavior as it happens. Do not take them away from what they did. have them lay on their side and do not let them get up until they are in a calm submissive state. It may take awhile but just wait.

Asker's Comment:
I had never tried making them lay down in a submissive state...thanks!

How should I train my puppy? I have a lot of questions about training my Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier puppy. I've recently been looking into clicker training and crate training but I'm not sure if those ways are the right ways to go about training my puppy. She's not here yet, I'm just planning ahead. Please suggest some methods on training as well as tips! Thanks in advance!


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker
The first training should be socialization with people and dogs. Obedience training should come secondary. Also learn to establish yourself as the pack leader and set up rules, boundaries, and limitation. This will help keep your dog balanced and learn to follow your commands as it grows. You should also learn how to correct puppies as its mother would. There are videos online specifically for training puppies.


Asker's Comment:
Thanks :D There were good answers that really helped me decide in which direction I should go. I've decided not to use clicker training until later when I train in obedience.

My puppy is really lazy?
He reminds me of how my son was when he was born, with his days and nights mixed up.. Can puppies do the same thing? He's so active and hyper at night time, and he just lounges around all day and is lazy, except when I wake him up and make him go outside to go potty. I try and get him to play games with me and use some energy but he wants no part of it. He'll chase the ball for a minute but he won't play with it, same with his rope and his squeaky toys. Does my puppy have his days and nights mixed up or is he just a lazy dog? He's a 3 month old golden retriever / yellow lab mix.


Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

Don't worry about it too much, he will grow out of it. In time he will get use to your schedule of sleeping and activity.