So the question of the day is, “Why do I think Cassie can’t take care of herself?”
She has teeth. She bites. And she deliberately eggs Charley on.
This morning I decided to unhook the leash and let nature take its course. And y’know what happened?
Nothing.
They wrestled, they barked, they growled. They whirled around like a little cyclone and for a moment looked like the tigers that ran around the tree so fast they turned themselves into butter. Then they stopped. They went on about their business.
Charley’s business was to try to pick up two toys at once and bounce around the yard with them. Failing that, he fell to the next task, running around and around and around at near-supersonic speed. Then he had to lay down on the plant he’s turned into a dog pillow and chew a bone. Right now he’s roaming around the house, possibly too quietly.
Cassie shat under the family-room desk, just to show him a thing or two.
And now she’s engaging him in another mock fight. And she’s driving him FREAKING CRAZY! He’s flown into a squirming barkfest.
LOL!
It’s violent, but maybe this is harmless dog play. I’m thinking if they’re just left alone to work it out themselves, the issue will resolve.
And indeed, in the time it’s taken to write this, the frolic has ended, the dust has settled, and Charley is flopped on the floor next to the desk. Cassie is resting on the other side of my chair, apparently unperturbed and none the worse for wear.
I don’t know how old Cassie is, but there are plenty of anecdotes about a new puppy’s rejuvenating an older dog. And if playing with Cassie tires Charley out, well, there’s that old adage that says a tired puppy is a good puppy.
@ Carol: Well, in theory that should work. Charlie now weighs twice what Cassie weighs, though, and because Corgis, like dachshunds and like the Swedish valhunds to which the Corgi is related, have stubby little legs, he towers over her. When he reaches maturity, he will weigh four or five times Cassie’s weight. So in fact even if they’re playing, the size difference puts her at risk.
Leaving him off the leash, though, is going a long way toward letting her train him to leave her alone. Today — I think it’s the 14th now — she’s taken to charging him when he approaches her, and about 4 times out of 5 the result is that he backs down. That, I think, is the desired outcome. He’s being very good right now. Uhm…except that he’s chewing one of my shoes…
You’re right about the possibility of Cassie’s getting injured. I forgot about the relative size difference. And I’m ashamed to admit I also forgot that the short-legged, long-backed breeds are prone to back problems. Even though I recently retired, I’m a licenced vet tech, for Pete’s sake, and should have known better.
@ Carol: Ah hah! So I’m not just being a fussy old lady! Glad to hear someone who knows what she’s talking about has the same thought.