Protective of puppy

[cain0main]

My female AB pup tries to play with my 12 y/o male APBT and he growls at her and wants no part of it, he has even snapped at her a few times. While my female APBT loves the puppy attention and plays with her every time she has a chance. But now my female has gotten very protective of the pup and this has happened twice, my male snapped at the pup and my female immediately jumps on my male to the point that I have to litterally pull her off of him! My male had always been greeat with any puppy in the past but now he does not want any parts of it, and when you have a 45lb dog that gets jumped on by a 95lb dog things can get ugly very quickly. I am wondering if this is just him being grumpy in his old age or what is going on. Also, my pup is very vocal while playing, growling and barking and this does not bother my female at all. Should I just keep them seperated while she is a pup or always?

Another question; My male is constantly sniffing my female, if she pees he is going over to sniff and damn near burries his nose in that spot and she is not in heat and he even trie to mount her from time to time. Is this beacause I keep them seperated when she is in heat? He has mating in the past but not with her, and the last time was somewhere around 8 years ago.

[BoiBoi]

WOW................just freaking amazing.........this right here is why not everyone should own these dogs. U have 2 pitbulls and an AB and u don't even know the answer to this simple question, that amazes me. IMO u should keep the dogs separate if they don't get along, plain and simple, i'm not sure why u couldn't have figured that one out. Oh and about the male sniffing the female, LOLOLOLOL, are u serious, u really don't know why.....................IT's Cause he's a DOG, for godsake

[SMOKIN HEMI]

You have a older dog man some dogs dont want to play any more. Momma dog is protecting pup. If I were you I would just keep everyone separated. I agree with Boi Boi male dogs sniff female dogs urine that is what they do.

[cain0main]

WOW................just freaking amazing.........this right here is why not everyone should own these dogs. U have 2 pitbulls and an AB and u don't even know the answer to this simple question, that amazes me. IMO u should keep the dogs separate if they don't get along, plain and simple, i'm not sure why u couldn't have figured that one out. Oh and about the male sniffing the female, LOLOLOLOL, are u serious, u really don't know why.....................IT's Cause he's a DOG, for godsake
I posted the question because I wanted some ouside opinions, not just mine. As far as this is why not everyone should own these dogs, I have owned this breed for almost 13 years now with no major issues. I posted the scenario so that people would understand that I did not just put them together and expect them to get along, but my male has always in the past 10 or 11 years been completely tollerable of puppies. If I said this was the first time he has been introduced to a pup and responded this way I would understand your comment. As far as my male and female, they have been together sincce I owned my female as a pup. They have the normal spats but nothing more. And as I said in the original post, my male has only been acting this way lately. As far as sniffing the female and trying to mount her, I am curious why he attempts to do this when she is NOT in heat. As far as my male and feamle, they get along fine any other time and they are only seperated when she is in heat. Thanks for your reply.

[BoiBoi]

I posted the question because I wanted some ouside opinions, not just mine. As far as this is why not everyone should own these dogs, I have owned this breed for almost 13 years now with no major issues. I posted the scenario so that people would understand that I did not just put them together and expect them to get along, but my male has always in the past 10 or 11 years been completely tollerable of puppies. If I said this was the first time he has been introduced to a pup and responded this way I would understand your comment. As far as my male and female, they have been together sincce I owned my female as a pup. They have the normal spats but nothing more. And as I said in the original post, my male has only been acting this way lately. As far as sniffing the female and trying to mount her, I am curious why he attempts to do this when she is NOT in heat. As far as my male and feamle, they get along fine any other time and they are only seperated when she is in heat. Thanks for your reply.
well maybe the pup is showing some signs of dominance towards the male and he's reacting to it, that is the only thing that comes to my mind. Oh and about ur female, u sure she's not going through a silent heat?

[cain0main]

I have not had to deal with a "silent heat". What is that, no bleeding? My pup is only 13 weeks so I don't think she is showing domnance towards him.

[BoiBoi]

I have not had to deal with a "silent heat". What is that, no bleeding? My pup is only 13 weeks so I don't think she is showing domnance towards him.
do a search on here, u'll find plenty of info on silent heats.

U'd be very surprised, my buddy has a pup that showed dominance towards my grown male dog at only 10 weeks old, so don't doubt it, it could be possible

[SMOKIN HEMI]

Some older dogs do not like to be bothered with puppys. That is just animal nature. It is like that with wild animals also..

[cain0main]

Thanks for all of the insight guys, I am going to do some thread searching.

[jadedpitgirl]

Cain, puppies can be a pain in the ass. Your older boy probably just wants to be left alone. The pup may get on him and get a little rougher than your male likes at his age. Me personally, I know I hate when kids are always trying to jump in my face and bite on my ears:p

As for your female's pee........my males do this, and it's ALMOST a sure sign that my females will be coming into heat real soon, or they have just had a heat pass. There are so many different things in a dogs' pee, especially a female, that would make a male want to linger over it. And yes, a silent heat means there is NO bleeding, but she is still very susceptible (sp?) to become preggers.

[PirbulBongo]

If i was you i would not let the pup play or try to play with the older dog, just get his attention and play with the pup. Also if the male growls let him know that behaviour is not correct, same with the female if shes too protective. When someone owns this kind of breed you gotta be alpha in every second you are with them, then keep them separated when you are not with them.

If you are the alpha they wont fight in front of you but they will when alone, so be sure they are in different rooms / kennels / crates.

I had a similar situation when my pup wanted to play with my injured dog, he didnt feel like playing so i went in middle to play and get pup's attention, now he cant still play and sometimes pup (now 13 months old) try to play but he knows he shouldnt, just calling his name or looking at him he knows the "game" is over.

But when they are alone, pup is on crate and older dog in other room.

My 0.2€

[Rocky H. Balboa]

My female AB pup tries to play with my 12 y/o male APBT and he growls at her and wants no part of it, he has even snapped at her a few times. While my female APBT loves the puppy attention and plays with her every time she has a chance. But now my female has gotten very protective of the pup and this has happened twice, my male snapped at the pup and my female immediately jumps on my male to the point that I have to litterally pull her off of him! My male had always been greeat with any puppy in the past but now he does not want any parts of it, and when you have a 45lb dog that gets jumped on by a 95lb dog things can get ugly very quickly. I am wondering if this is just him being grumpy in his old age or what is going on. Also, my pup is very vocal while playing, growling and barking and this does not bother my female at all. Should I just keep them seperated while she is a pup or always?
Well, your grown female has gotten protective because YOU have not stepped up to your position within the pack. She should not be the one doing the protecting of the pup. That is your job....not saying it b/c you are human but because you are the ALPHA in the pack. The alpha member is the diciplinary and the one that determines what goes and what does not go. In addition, your 12 yo may must likely be past the time of playful mood. He may do some playing from time to time but those days of always playful are far removed. You should make it clear to your old male that you do not want him "defending" himself. You have to stop the pup from bothering him at all cost. You can also let your older male lay somewhere pup cannot disturb him (i.e. Sofa). This way, your older male will know that he can go to the safe place whenever pup is being "too much". The adult female also needs correction. While her deed (defending pup) is nice, it can cause a nasty fight in the future. If you act before any of the adult dogs, you should not have a problem. You may have an issue later between your two females but that is a different topic.:D

Another question; My male is constantly sniffing my female, if she pees he is going over to sniff and damn near burries his nose in that spot and she is not in heat and he even trie to mount her from time to time. Is this beacause I keep them seperated when she is in heat? He has mating in the past but not with her, and the last time was somewhere around 8 years ago.
The male is always doing that because he wants to know the moment she is ready for action. The sniffing tells him about her health and how far she is from her heat. Males sniff butts and penises as well.

[Rocky H. Balboa]

well maybe the pup is showing some signs of dominance towards the male and he's reacting to it, that is the only thing that comes to my mind. Oh and about ur female, u sure she's not going through a silent heat?
lol

my pup has been trying to hump dogs since i got him at 7 wks of age. I have attempted in so many ways to stop him from doing this without avail. The best i have been able to do is have him "un" mount when i tell him. In addition, the pup (now 11 months) is the most vocal animal. Any game becomes the catalyst of so much noise.....lol...I have also attempted to silence "the beast" but he understands it as "stop what you are doing". I guess he does not realize he is making noise.:confused:

[Rocky H. Balboa]

If i was you i would not let the pup play or try to play with the older dog, just get his attention and play with the pup. Also if the male growls let him know that behaviour is not correct, same with the female if shes too protective. When someone owns this kind of breed you gotta be alpha in every second you are with them, then keep them separated when you are not with them.

If you are the alpha they wont fight in front of you but they will when alone, so be sure they are in different rooms / kennels / crates.

I had a similar situation when my pup wanted to play with my injured dog, he didnt feel like playing so i went in middle to play and get pup's attention, now he cant still play and sometimes pup (now 13 months old) try to play but he knows he shouldnt, just calling his name or looking at him he knows the "game" is over.

But when they are alone, pup is on crate and older dog in other room.

My 0.2€
Very good reply!

[cain0main]

Thanks for the advice guys, I appreciate all the insight. I normally do not have any issue with my female, but I guess I will have to be a little more assertive with her now.

[misterdogman]

Thanks for the advice guys, I appreciate all the insight. I normally do not have any issue with my female, but I guess I will have to be a little more assertive with her now.Also keep this in mind please, sometimes it might seem like some of us are jumping all over you and talking about who should and shouldnt own these dogs, I am notorious for that.... and could do it now but I am not,.... I will just say some do it out of caring here...and the reason why is because in a couple of your posts you either stated you owned these dogs for 13 years or when someone here points out things to you that they are assuming a 13 years old VET of the breed would know you responded with generic terms regarding you having not experianced that... or you havent had this happen in the past, etc....now maybe this should make you more wary of the FACT this breed is unpredictable when it comes to the way they respond to other dogs, they can communicate with their eyes and body language and you would NEVER know what the pup is saying to the male and the female saying to both etc because you dont see the communication, so WHO knows why the male dont like the pup but he female does, just keep them APART, so far obviously the bitches can be around each other maybe for a while I guess... you can use your own judgement for that....but since the male has clearly voiced his opinion give him the respect of privacy and keep him away from them so their all happy and nothing happens. As far as the silent heat thing goes, it could be that for sure.... which in some cases there would be no blood or much swelling, or she could be getting ready to go into heat, if I were you I would like I said keep them apart because this could be from her maternal instincts being bumped up from the pup being around....causing her to go into heat....and this can cause hormones in all the dogs you have to rush ...even the pup....and make them irritable and competitive etc. So seperation here is a must and I would also very strongly reccomend you inquire about getting the females spayed immediately. So if someone sometimes comes off with an attitude here understand its just because they are responding for the dogs and your own good, not just trying to be rude.

[cain0main]

Also keep this in mind please, sometimes it might seem like some of us are jumping all over you and talking about who should and shouldnt own these dogs, I am notorious for that.... and could do it now but I am not,.... I will just say some do it out of caring here...and the reason why is because in a couple of your posts you either stated you owned these dogs for 13 years or when someone here points out things to you that they are assuming a 13 years old VET of the breed would know you responded with generic terms regarding you having not experianced that... or you havent had this happen in the past, etc....now maybe this should make you more wary of the FACT this breed is unpredictable when it comes to the way they respond to other dogs, they can communicate with their eyes and body language and you would NEVER know what the pup is saying to the male and the female saying to both etc because you dont see the communication, so WHO knows why the male dont like the pup but he female does, just keep them APART, so far obviously the bitches can be around each other maybe for a while I guess... you can use your own judgement for that....but since the male has clearly voiced his opinion give him the respect of privacy and keep him away from them so their all happy and nothing happens. As far as the silent heat thing goes, it could be that for sure.... which in some cases there would be no blood or much swelling, or she could be getting ready to go into heat, if I were you I would like I said keep them apart because this could be from her maternal instincts being bumped up from the pup being around....causing her to go into heat....and this can cause hormones in all the dogs you have to rush ...even the pup....and make them irritable and competitive etc. So seperation here is a must and I would also very strongly reccomend you inquire about getting the females spayed immediately. So if someone sometimes comes off with an attitude here understand its just because they are responding for the dogs and your own good, not just trying to be rude.
Thanks for your concern and advice. I guess I took that a little too much to heart because I do consider myself to be a good owner of this breed. I have invested time and money into my dogs to make sure that I am doing things the right way and not portraying a negetive image. So again, thanks for all of the advice.

[Big Game]

You found a great site. You have a great attitude and seem to want to learn. Stick around there is mutch to learn from the members of this board. Big Game

Thanks for your concern and advice. I guess I took that a little too much to heart because I do consider myself to be a good owner of this breed. I have invested time and money into my dogs to make sure that I am doing things the right way and not portraying a negetive image. So again, thanks for all of the advice.