Just play or something more serious?

[Crested]

I thought I'd ask you guys one thing...

As you all (well atleast "some" of you. ;-)) might know, Ben has always been scared of Bella. Bella is now 7 months old and Ben is 2 years (+ seven months).
Things have got a LOT better if you look at how things were when Bella came to us and how things are now. Before Ben wouldn't let Bella come near him at all, and Bella would go and lay back with her tummy side up. When Ben then stopped growling and barking at her and walked away, Bella would jump up and bite him in his tail and hang there while he screamed and ran horrified from room to room (with Bella still litterally hanging from his tail). Now she still tries to do that, but Ben turns around and doesn't give her the chanse. And now it's turned to a game of "catch me if you can". It's obvious that it's just play. Ben chases her, Bella chases him - both of them wag their tails and seem to enjoy that.

But then there are times that Ben just "looses it" so to speak. If Ben is on the sofa and Bella comes near him, he growls and barks and just nearly (nearly) bites her. She backs down immediately and goes somewhere else (often to me) and whines a bit before taking a nap. After that it's peace again.
Sometimes when I play with Ben and he kind of "play growls" (you know?), I guess Bella misunderstands that and starts to bite Ben's legs and chase him away from me. This again irritates Ben and he starts to growl and flash his teeth at her etc.
Once they got into a fight and Ben ended up with scratches on his back. That's when I went between them and ended the fight. That's the first time ever I've done that.

Whenever Bella comes close to Ben's face (smelling his face etc.) he growls at her and tries to nip her.

Should I do something about this? Is it just a play or something worse?
I think Ben's lost his throne allready in this family as Bella eats first, plays first and bosses him around. Ben's been down about this for a while now untill I started to pay more attention to him then I've done thus far. This seemed to cheer him up and Ben and Bella seem to play with eachother more now then before. Should I do something more or just observe?

[DogPaddle]

So long as neither really get hurt, I wouldn't worry, their just working things out between themselves and reinforcing their own order in the pack. I would however continue to give Ben lots of special loving, its tough for him going from the centre of your world to second fiddle.

[Crested]

Thanks DP. I agree with the attention thing. I will continue that.
They haven't really hurt themselves. Only scratched eachothers skins. (no blood or anything, just visible claw scratches)

[imported_Cassie]

I've always had a multie dog house hold...and I have never had a problem with the dogs co-living with each other....we always ended up being one big happy group...with puppies, some times the adults will train the young ones...When you mentioned Ben being on the sofa and growling at Bella...this is basically Ben's way of saying..."OK, I've had enough..no more play time...I am in my special place....back off..."
I have always let my dogs work it out on their own...even with my newest addition a Dobie mix...he is still pretty young and full of energy...he would play until he passed out....my other dogs will play...but, when they have had enough they will snap at him or take at him to show him they have had enough...I never interfere...my new boy, Beau had to learn this from the other dogs. He is slowly catching on...but, just like with your Bella some times he doesnt know when to stop...I have also had a few instances where I have been making of one dog and they may grumble with pleasure...Beau will come running over and try to attack the dog I am making of...I do scold him when he does this...but, my idea of scolding isnt really awful...I just get up and walk away....if they can't share me then neither of them will have me for a little while...I do not put up with jealousy in my group. They soon catch on and work things out on their own.
Ben is basically playing with Bella on his terms...

Is it just a play or something worse?

I would say its just play...Bella is still a pup...she has alot of energy..

I think Ben's lost his throne allready in this family as Bella eats first, plays first and bosses him around. Ben's been down about this for a while now untill I started to pay more attention to him then I've done thus far. This seemed to cheer him up and Ben and Bella seem to play with eachother more now then before. Should I do something more or just observe

This is some thing I never even consider...actually a all of my dominant dogs will wait until the other dogs finish eating...then they will eat very slowly just to make the others suffer...eating first does not mean a thing to dogs....at least in my 40 years of owning a multie dog house hold it has never meant any thing...my dogs all get fed at the same time in the same room, side by side...I don't choose who I will feed first :roll: I just put down the first food dish I pick up....all of my dogs eat side by side...my dominant Rottie will some times wait until all the other pigs have eaten then she lets them suffer it out watching her eat....and she could be the very last dog I put down a dish for....all of my dogs get equal attention...

I really think people tend to over analize their dogs and their social status...

[Crested]

Hmmm.... I haven't really thought about that... Thanks Cassie!
It's just that I pictured my two snuggleing on the sofa together and... well you know... :)
So I guess I've just become impatient as Bella has been here for 5 months now...

[Peng1zrule]

i think they're just working things out. However, with the number and size of dogs I have, I would not allow this...after a couple times, I would determine who's dominate and respect that, but not allow such situations to happen again.