Need help- Sumo is being baaad

I have no idea why this posted funky. My bad.

I'm not sure why it posted weird, either, but that's OK. How's the marking been since Sumo's back in your bed? Any better? It definitely sounds like a behavioral/jealousy issue. When's he doing it? At night? When you're around? When you're not?

I have a girl so I am not a huge help on the marking issue, but I did catch a few things that stand out to me from reading your post, so let me try to help.

I think for one there is some confusing to the pecking order between Saff and Sumo, it sounds like first Sumo slept with you while Saff was crated, then that switched and now it switched back? I bet a lot of Sumo's acting out has a lot to do with his insecurities and not knowing who is the boss. I know marking is somewhat marking his territory, since he's not sure where he stands, he wants to be sure to mark what is his.

Whenever you bring a new dog into the house give them everything first, EVERYTHING, say hello to him first, even if Saff is more hyper and in your face. If you walk them, put on Sumo's harness and leash first, feed Sumo first you get the idea, and keep doing things this way, forever.

Next, if I had a marker in the house I would be GREATLY restricting his freedom until you have the problem under control, the more he does it, the worse it gets. Are both of you at work all day? Where are the boys while you are at work? If you can afford it I would get a dog walker to give them a break during the day and empty bladders as well. Do a walk as soon as you get home, or at least outside time and reward potty outside! Then when they come in, if you even see Sumo start to mark put a belly band on him. If he can't be successful with it, he's not going to want to keep doing it would be my hope. Also if you let them run loose in the house when you are home, I'd stop that. We confine Co-Pilot to the kitchen and family room when we are in there or our bedroom when we are there, yes she is 4 year sold, but she simply can not be trusted, if she is in the room with us and has to go potty she gives us the "look", if she is loose in the house she runs out of the room potties somewhere then runs right back in, not fun!

Just remember Saff is still young and hyper puppy! It's a really good time to train him if you have not already started a basic puppy class, now would be a good time! When he is at puppy class the other parent should walk Sumo and spend quality time with him AND walking tires them out.

I know that was a lot, but I hope some of it helps, most their behavior comes down to training and how much freedom you give them. I really liked the book, "Nothing in life is free"
http://k9deb.com/nilif.htm

Good luck and I am glad you are here, I loved the pics you posted!

Thanks for the posts. To provide some more info. We are both at work all day but we live 10 minutes away so one of us ALWAYS comes homes at lunch time and lets them out. We would never keep them crated for 8 hours at a time. They are only ever crated 4 hours at a time, even on the weekends max.

Sara- I think you pointed something out that we started doing wrong and didn't even notice. We always fed Sumo first and walked him first(for the reasons you mention) UNTIL Saff got hurt. He has a broken jaw so we have been attending to him first because we didn't want him going crazy in his crate while SUmo was walked and fed first.

Sumo has access to the entire downstairs which is tiled. It is the kitchen living romand family room. We are in a townhome so it is not the hugest area :)

What is a belly band? I have never heard of it?

He only marks at night and when we are around.

Thanks so much for th einput guys. What you have said has helped!

Your boys are very lucky to have you so close and get you guys for potty breaks!

I hope some others chime in because I am FAR from an expert!

Poor Saff with a broken jaw, I can see why you'd give him extra attention for that. Still I think if you two can at the very least each be with one at the same time is better than Saff first, because I think that would make Sumo very insecure and act out. I think that is what is happening, is that Sumo is just acting out, hopefully with some behavioral changes that can change. I know with Co-Pilot she never gets into things when we are out of the room, but as soon as I am in the room with her, if she is not getting the attention she wants, she will start chewing a book, or something she NEVER did before Carter and she knows is naughty. I guess they are like children, they figure some attention is better than no attention, even if it's bad!

Belly bands, look like this and this explains how they work:
http://www.dog-breeds.net/dog_diaper_belly_band.htm

I don't know where I read this, (I have been doing nothing by non-stop reading about nutrition and behavior lately) but dog have self esteem too. They NEED positive reinforcement to keep their self esteem at a good level. When things change and they aren't getting the reinforcement that are used to, they act out. I would guess that Sumo is "hurt" that he isn't getting the positive reinforcement that he is used to and that is why he is acting out by marking. Marking is a show of dominance and I would guess that Sumo is marking his territory because he feels threatened by the attention that Saff is getting.

Hi Dawn:

It sounds like you have gotten some great advise from different points of view. I think some minor tweaks of your daily schedule and the problem will resolve itself. When Saff's jaw is healed you all may want to look further at the training classes. I know that we talked a little bit yesterday and I think someone had a great idea of one going with Saff and the other staying home with Sumo so that they get individual attention.

Please keep us posted on Saffs recovery and we are always here if you need some advise. Thanks for posting pics, always good to see the kids.

How did little Saff break his jaw????

Saffron decided one day that he wanted to see if he could fly and he took a flying leap out of Jason's arms. Not a little wriggle and fell. Literally took a flying leap and jumped and we have an all tile floor and he fell on his face. It was horrible. Jason was devastated and felt like the worst pug dad ever thinking it over and over and over trying to figure out if there was any way he could have caught him but I was there and saw it and I don't know how he could have. :(

Dawn - most of mine have done the flying leap a time or two, landing on concrete or another hard surface. It sure scares the crap out of me!

I hope Saff heals ok, and stops trying to be Superman...

What a terrible accident! I would have been devistated too, but it's just one of those things that out little sweeties do to keep us on our toes. I HATE it when Thurston jumps and falls hard. I mentally go through the list of all of the injuries he could have. I never thought about a broken jaw!