I’ve had to put Hank into time out twice this week. He and Niko play really rough but it’s getting too rough and I’m seeing injuries.
This week Hank has a bald patch on one side and chunk out of his thigh on the other and worn away fur on both sides of his neck from Niko scruffing him and his stifles are sore so he’s lame. Niko a slice on his leg and half a dozen new bald patches. And it scares me when they’re rearing and Niko lands on Hank (it’s a pretty regular thing now), there’s going to be a serious injury soon.
Niko plays really gently with Dan and with Hank he’ll eventually stick his head in a corner so he can just swing his butt to defend himself when he’s had enough. But Hank just won’t stop. Even Jess has given up trying to break it up and just ignores it unless it’s in her space.
I had Hank on a calmer for a month because of it which helped a little and recently switched him to chaste berry as he’s normally on that in summer or he’s trying to mount Jess every 5 minutes, but he’s still being a bloody pest. I’m all for play but I think this has stepped into the realms of a who’s the bigger man competition now. Other than separate him, what do I do?
This week Hank has a bald patch on one side and chunk out of his thigh on the other and worn away fur on both sides of his neck from Niko scruffing him and his stifles are sore so he’s lame. Niko a slice on his leg and half a dozen new bald patches. And it scares me when they’re rearing and Niko lands on Hank (it’s a pretty regular thing now), there’s going to be a serious injury soon.
Niko plays really gently with Dan and with Hank he’ll eventually stick his head in a corner so he can just swing his butt to defend himself when he’s had enough. But Hank just won’t stop. Even Jess has given up trying to break it up and just ignores it unless it’s in her space.
I had Hank on a calmer for a month because of it which helped a little and recently switched him to chaste berry as he’s normally on that in summer or he’s trying to mount Jess every 5 minutes, but he’s still being a bloody pest. I’m all for play but I think this has stepped into the realms of a who’s the bigger man competition now. Other than separate him, what do I do?