How Can I Curb My Dog's Aggression?

We had similar problems with our dog. I hand fed him for a while to make him realize that I am the one in charge, not him. I would cover the food with my hand on the floor and wouldn't let him have it until he stopped pawing at my hand and sat. Now he sits and doesn't dare eat from his bowl until I give him the command. Also, if we act aggressively towards our dog he'll respond aggressively. We use a Gentle Leader on him when he's bad. It's the best way to calm him down and stop bad situations from escalating. It's been our lifesaver, check it out!

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Getting Toys For a Ferret?

You are awesome!! And doing everything super correctly, with preparation and all :)

This is my favorite subtopic in my favorite pet topic! because ferrets are so gregarious that playing with them is a crucial part of the initial bonding experience (especially when they are kits). they LOVE to play, and do a special little dance because they are so happy (look up the Weasel "War" Dance or Dance of Joy and dooking). It is so much fun.

I recommend the following, only 1 is fine for one or two ferrets, each will have their favorite or no favorite, you will have to see. If they both like the same toy, get two of that one.

1. the small rubber kong toy for PUPPIES. not the ball, the puppy toy that is shaped like a snowman and is hollow inside. This toy is absolutely fabulous. You can put ferretvite in it and leave it in the cage as a treat/surprise while you are at work. it also distracts them from chewing on YOUR rubber materials. Especially while teething (which occurs through kithood and is difficult to detect in ferrets as the size of their teeth is miniscule) ferrets have a tendency to like to chew rubber. And not just the rubber you expect. My ferrets stay away from and do not chew on electrical cords at all. But one will gnaw on a Crock shoe all day and another can't get enough of lip-balm rubber tubing, toothpaste tubes, shampoo tubes, etc (I have to be sooo careful because of the potential exposure to toxic chemicals, plus he will go into my purse and steal ALL my chapstick). the other 3 do not chew on rubber as much as those two (a 2 year old female partially deaf albino who has wild ways to begin with and a spoiled brat alpha male). So, chewing will depend on your ferret's temperament, but you can avoid those tendencies with this excellent, indestructible toy. One will last you over a year. I can not recommend this toy enough! Other rubber toys quickly wear and then you run the risk of the ferret ingesting a piece and getting an intestinal blockage (expensive and dangerous).

2. small soft stuffed toys with a bell or noise maker inside. Simple durable ones. Your ferret will love it!

3. the small balls and stuff are good, but a few of mine have broken. I might just have REALLY strong freak ferrets though. I don't even know how one got so big! He is like small dog and gallops around like one too (the youngest, about to turn two on Dec 1st) Anyways, this are ok, but not great.

Honestly, though I really don't buy any ferret toys from the ferret aisle in the pet store. I find them flimsy and expensive. I also try to stay away from one particularly cheap brand that is everywhere, but low quality...I suggest you look into this though, as a potential ferret lover, the little fuzzies need all the help we can give em :)

4. You are absolutely right about the tube! I suggest the plastic ones (vs. cloth). These are a little harder material, but the ferret is a TOUGH little animal. And you can bend the plastic tunnels into new shapes...they become "new toys" or can fit in a cage.

5. It is not so much the quality of the toy (except in respect to durability and safety) how you use it - Rotating toys helps a lot. Moving the toys around and switching them helps keep the fun alive too. I have a toy chest and I rotate the toys from cage to cage (I have two), to chest, to room play. And once in awhile (like when they are all awake and playing together) i mix em ALL up, and thats when they go nuts

All I get now are the kong toy (which lasts forever), and i have 4 tubes for 5 ferrets. and small stuffed animals...the toy dog kind are fine and usually more durable too! I have bought every ferret toy from like every place, and nothing stands the teeth of my ferrets. the stick with the smiley face and hair on it only lasts about a month before the stuffing starts coming out and i have to throw it away.

Even if you just wash or move toys around, an old toy becomes interesting again. I play games with my ferrets and move their toys all around or put them in weird spots. They go crazy trying to put them all back where they want them to go!!!

some free things and homemade toys and activities are GREAT too:

1. PEEK-A-BOO. all you need is a blanket, you and your ferret. it's a pretty easy way to get a dance of joy started! your ferret will be so happy and excited he will literally bounce off the walls! Just wait till you see - the pet store can not do it justice. Maybe look it up on youtube...

2. A box and a blanker. anytime i get a small box (shoes, in the mail, whatever), i let them play in it. its as easy as that.

3. a box and news paper shreddings. Tape up the box, but cut an entry hole in the side. put the shreddings inside the box. ta da! they LOVE this, but you should change the shreddings after a few weeks, they get gross.

Congratulations on your furry little friend, I think you will be very happy and a very good owner :)

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Sounds like you have a few issues going on here.

Firstly a dog of 7 is not an 'old dog' that is middle age for most dogs and smaller breeds can often live to 12, so please don't treat her like a geriatric. It sounds like the Poodle needs more exercise as 20lbs is overweight according to the breed standard for a toy poodle, I think it is about 10lbs, so perhaps if you walk on a regular basis together it would be helpful to all of you. Dogs will sleep if nothing is going on, so get your older dog up and encourage her to be active as well by leading them both in a walk.

How did you introduce this new puppy to the Poodle, I hope you didn't do at the house, it is good for them to meet somewhere neutral and walk together first instead of just barging in on her territory.

I would strongly suggest that you sign the pup up for some obedience classes, I think she will learn a lot but I think you or your boyfriend will as well which sounds as if it will be helpful to all of you.

Dogs are not people who 'hate' things, the Poodle is probably feeling left out with a new cute and much more active pup around, so make sure you spend time with her as well and praise her for good behaviour. I am sure she will assert herself as the dominant one, but you need to assert yourself as the boss as well. In a pack of dogs however small the 'pack' is one will be the leader, so with her pinning the puppy down, that is what is happening. Monitor this and make sure it doesn't get to be more than this.

I would definately suggest you do some reading of having more than one dog. Best wishes