As I’ve said before, I am really happy with my family. I know they really love me, and I really love them. But there is something that’s bothering me, and I’m not sure what, if anything, I can do about it.
If you’ve been reading my posts, you’ll already know that 12 (now 13)-year-old Nala wasn’t too happy to see me when I first showed up on her territory back in September. She has made a lot of progress accepting me though…
When I was just 3 months old, she played tug-of-war with me.
She now accepts me being on her couch with her, even if I sometimes take up most of the room. At the beginning, she would run away whenever I would jump on.
Eating bones next to each other can sometimes be tricky, because she wants what I have, and I want what she has. We’re both never happy because we always want what the other has!
We both love looking out the window. If there’s something to look at, Nala barks and looks at me, I guess hoping that I’ll jump on the couch and join her at the window. Even if Nala’s barking at the window, I’ll bark wherever I am to join her. At least she knows what she’s barking at!
When we’re both outside, she doesn’t mind it if I walk near her. When I first joined the family, she would try and get as far away from me as she could. I love being outside with Nala. For a 13-year-old, she still gets moving pretty fast, and usually catches me when we’re running (though she gets tired really fast). She always tries to bite my behind when I’m running past her — I don’t think she knows how to just play with another dog.
When Nala’s outside by herself, I wait impatiently by the sliding door for her. I make a lot of noise moving the vertical blinds by the door, and usually cry until she’s let back in.
Today, I will admit I went a little crazy inside the house. I was running around and playfully hit Nala in the face with my paw (like I have many times before). Nala got really mad and nipped me on my front leg. It didn’t really hurt me, but my mommy got upset about the whole thing and separated us for a short time. Then I got a little crazy and started to run around the house. Mommy quickly opened the sliding door and I was able to run around the backyard to work off some energy.
I know I’m constantly in her face, taking away her time with mommy and daddy, taking away her toys… and stuff like that. But how can I make her not bark at me constantly, and not try to bite me? It’s gotten a lot better in the almost 5 months that I’ve been here, so I should be happy about that. But I want it to get much better… to the point where Nala wants to lay next to me and actually like to spend time with me. I love my new sister and I just want us to be friends. Maybe I should suggest to mommy that Nala go to school too, so she could learn how to act around other doggies? I would love to have my sister as a classmate. ๐
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It sounds like doggie socialization classes would be a great place to start.
Nubbin wiggles,
Oskar
Can an older doggie learn that it’s OK to have doggie friends? I sometimes wonder what Nala would be like if she had grown up being around other doggies. I guess she’d be really used to me by now. ๐
Woofs & hugs, ~Bailey
Bailey you must understand that Eskies, like Nala, are very stubborn and headstrong. What you have accomplished in just 5 months of sharing your sister’s space is amazing. You are doing all of the right things and it sounds like she rEALLY likes you but she still feels like she needs to remind you that SHE is the boss! Nipping is just like what momma dogs do to teach their pups and unless she is getting MEAN about it, don’t try to force her to stop, she will as she comes to understand that you respect her place. Quinn has lived with me for almost a year now and we get along fine for the most part but I don’t EVER lay next to him and I still don’t like him coming through the bedroom to use the dogdoor at night when momma, dad and I are all sleeping on the bed (and no he isn’t welcomed by me there either but he doesn’t really like the furniture much). I am just beginning to even tolerate my two new sisters who have lived here for 4 months and three months.
Anyway, my point is that you are making FANTASTIC progress. Just continue what you are doing. Spending time together is the best solution.
Thank you sooo much for telling me this! I didn’t realize it could take such a long time for Nala to come around. I do try and respect her space as much as I can — well, mommy usually makes sure of that. ๐
I feel much better now. At least I know I’m doing whatever I can to show Nala I love her. ๐
Woofs & hugs, ~Bailey