Dealing with arguing dogs?

Question

Hi...I have problem that seems to be growing...
I have a 2 yr old cocker spaniel ***** (very affectionate, loving, yet nervous) i have just got a jack russell *****, 10 weeks old (have had her for the past 2 weeks, seems a bit bossy)....First they started arguing over food and toys, now they've started getting into fights... Was i wrong to get these 2 seperate breeds, do their personalities clash..What's the best way of dealing with this, i need to nip this in the bud before it gets worse..The cocker is very jealous over me and barges her way in when she see's me showing the JR any attention, the JR just get's possesive over toys, not me....Hope i've given enough info for someone to give some advice!..Thanks.

Answer 1

This is a common problem and the solution is quite simple you'll be pleased to know.

Don't worry about your choice of breed - once you have addressed the core problem they will get along fine.

The core problem is that your cocker spaniel needs his attitude readjusting. The fact that he is possessive over you is evidence that he holds the belief that you are his responsibility and that therefore he has the right to decide when you give him attention and who else you give attention to. Naturaly he therefore objects to you giving the new pup attendtion as it makes him feel that his position as your leader is challenged. This is incorrect and leads to aggressive behaviour as he has to constantly assert himself over the new pup.

He needs to be taught that he is actually your responsibility. There is no need for him to think that he needs to guard you - it is your job to care for him and lead him. If he realises this fact that accepts you as his leader, he'll relax and the dogs will settle down into their own pecking order and accept that it is your right to decide which dog you interact with etc.

Implement the following rules:

1. You determine when your cocker gets attention. Don't react to demands for food or cuddles. It only happens on your terms because you are his leader. Wait until he calms down when you come home before you greet him. Otherwise he thinks that you are respecting his authority over you.

2. You should ensure that your cocker treats you with respect as the leader. This means that he should not go through doorways before you, waiting for you to decide where you want to go, he should not claim your bed or your spot on the sofa as his - these areas should be respected as belonging to you as you are the leader.

3. You should ensure that your cocker understands that the toys and chewy things you supply belong to you as the leader and not him. Therefore you decide when they are given to the dogs and removed. They don't belong to him and he should not object to you taking them from him in any way. Set up a system where different toys are given out each day and you decide when the game is over and they are put away. Don't play with him because he is bugging you for attention - wait until he calms down and is relaxed and then you initiate the game.

4. Food is provided by you as the leader and you decide when your pack members eat. Feed him twice a day - put the food down and if he strays away at any point during the meal - remove the bowl. It is not his decision when to eat and when you should give him food. For the same reason, begging should never be tolerated and you shouldn't dish out treats without asking your dog to work a bit for them. For example, get him to practice a few commands before giving a favourite treat.

5. The final area for some readjustment in hie thinking is taking him on walks. In a dogs mind this is the equivalent of a hunt. So, you as leader should be the one deciding when it is walk time and the route you take. To underline this authority, change your walk time slightly everyday and your route so that your dog is kept guessing and focussed on you. If he gets totally hyper when you take him out - stop the walk. Try again later.

All these rules are simply dog language. Remember that your dog's mind is not human and your well intended leniance in these areas is interpreted by him as you saying - you are the boss. This results in competitive behaviour between your dogs as they battle for the spot of leader. The message you want to put out is that you are the leader and so the spot is not up for grabs. No violence is tolerated below you in the pecking order (growling and even snarling or snapping - if a dog misses he meant to miss! - is not necessarily violence) but they can sort out their pecking order them selves.

Hope it goes well - you can make a big difference in a short period of time if you apply this overal method.

Stick to the general principles in your day to day life with both your dogs and it will be a peaceful harmonious household!

Answer 2

Both breeds can have some specific personalities. I see that both are female and one older and been the only dog for awhile. There is going to be jealousy for awhile and they will have to work some things out. They will.

Jacks love their toys, especially the pups. Cockers are very possessive of their people and can get aggressive about it. Only time I've been bitten was by a rescued cocker that didn't want another dog near me.

Nip it in the bud! Right about that. First, you gotta have both hands going and petting both at same time. Equal attention. Seperate the food dishes. Puppy should be on puppy chow anyway. Maybe take the cocker outside or walk while pup eats.
Make sure the cocker is getting plenty of exercise to wear her out a little. Give her special time but then invite the pup into the group and interact with both. When the cocker acts out be consistant with your verbal command, put her on leash or otherwise separate the 2. As in doggie time out. Let her calm down and later rejoin the 2 with treats and praise.

Extra praise/treat when playing nice. Time out if cocker acts up.
Be firm with voice and consistant. Now it's only been a few weeks. The newness will wear off. Normally the issue will resolve itself once the cocker sees the new pup is staying. And that you love them both and equal time. The JR is usually pretty easy going but need a lot of exercise for a small dog. They can both be pretty hyper and that could be a issue.

You must step up and show your cocker that you are the boss. They can get real overbearing. If she actually attacks you pull her away and down to the ground. Hold her down firmly, talk firm but still soothing tone. Massaging and rubbing head/muzzle area. Get her relaxed and calm. Then bring pup into area. I do all this sitting on floor/ground. A dog on either side of me, rubbing on both and talking to them. Dog do understand what we say or the tone. Tell them exactly what behaviour you want. Working a new dog into a pack takes time. I am lucky mine all get along but when one of them gets a wild hair and acts up I let them know real quick momma doesn't allow that nonsense. And they do know what I am saying.

Both dogs are very trainable and smart. The JR is happy to have her toys. The cocker owns you right now and that is not her role. She has to be retaught her role as your dog and now you have 2. I hope this has helped. Be patient but firm. They are like kids in a way. Big sis doesn't want to share you or her home with the new kid.

Answer 3

At their ages!! You haven't a problem at all> Both are behaving normally.
Spaniel is behaving like a mother would. She is barging in but its because she wants to protect the pup from You!
JR is play fighting and behaviour over food and toys is normal. The Spaniel is likely to handle both in the normal way. She will only put up with so much then she'll stop the pups behaviour. It is the best way for the pup to learn how to behave with other dogs.
Seriously let them settle down and behave as nature intended. With a mum around (that is how the pup sees the spaniel) you have the chance to observe and learn how to train the puppy from her. You have to teach the pup manners and what is acceptable to its humans and about collar and lead.Toilet training may be easier as the pup will follow the Spaniel and learn from her where to go. You still need to do it as well if the spaniel isnt around just take the pup to where she goes!
The breed or even species of animal doesn't apply at the ages given. My ***** behaves exactly that way with my cat and always has. She used to carry it to the litter tray when she caught it going! They still look as if their fights are serious and it sounds it too but neither gets hurt and my ***** is a German Shepherd.
Hope this puts your mind at ease. Sit back and enjoy the fun.

Answer 4

make sure they always get plenty of attention from you when the other dog is around ... then they'll associate the dog with nice things. i've managed to get 2 bitches to get along... a dobermann and a rotty. the rotty was more dominant and can be horrid so i made sure the dobermann knew not to challenge her authority as i don't want a serious fight to break out between two such strong dogs. everytime the rotty growled i'd tell her a short sharp 'no' and stop giving her any attention until she learnt that being mean just meant no love for her. they'll never be best of friends but its not too bad! your dogs need to establish a pecking order to stop fighting.
its always best to feed dogs separatley.
also a good idea if you solialise your pup with other dogs as well as your own.
throwing water on them is the best way to stop them if a scrap gets nasty!

Answer 5

part of the problem is they are both females. Usually, they don't get along. Secondly, the cocker has had 2 yrs being the only baby and now she has to share and she is jealous. JRs are very yappy and tempermental and stubborn. Check out the Dog Whisperer on National Geographic tv
http://www.dogpsychologycenter.com/

Answer 6

as you know jrt are very feisty little breeds and will stick up for them selves at a very young age.i always advice people to get the opposite sex of what you have got aswell.make sure you supervise them together at all times and when one or the other shows any signs of getting snappy say no loudly and firmly and put them in a seperate room for 5-10mins.do you have a puppy crate?these come really handy in training,it would also give your pup a quiet place to go to and give your cocker some time out aswell.also remember play fighting can look quite aggresive at times and its very unusual for a 10 week old pup to show any aggresion.they should settle down in a few weeks your cocker needs time to adjust to this new addition and they will form a heirachie as the pup grows up.good luck

Answer 7

cockers can be stroppy and aggressive. I used to breed them. Lovely dogs but need a firm hand. I suspect that your cocker is not spayed. Getting her dog will help the problem but basic obedience training and dominance training will also help.
I took in a real horror some years ago who guarded her food, her bed etc and even at one point refused to let me sit in my chair. I told her to get off, she refused, I went to shove her off, she bit me. I smacked her backside for her and she got off. Several months of dominance training and getting her to understand that she had no right, nor status in THIS house and she was a great little dog. People thought I was cruel as I used to call her to me, stroke her, then say "get away", but it was actually helping her to become aware that I was the boss. I would stand in her bed and boss her about telling her to do this, do that. She went from being a snappy biting horror, to a very affectionate loving little girl, secure in the knowledge that I was a very strong willed alpha b1tch who had the right to call the shots, but would protect her and care for her always.

Answer 8

it seems that they are arguing over who is top dog! You can buy a spray called pet protector it is around £10, but it is good. We have used it, to stop ours from fighting etc, when they start spray the spay at them, they hate the noise and they will stop, when you spray say NO so they understand, then next time they look like they are going to start pick the can up show them and say no, the spray wont hurt them its the noise they hate, the spray only contains air. Eventually they will learn that no really means no or you will get that horrible spray out. This worked with ours, but i have a different breed. Give it a try. Good luck.

Answer 9

basically you have to think like a dog...you are alpha male...one of these females wants to be alpha female in your 'pack'....I presume you have had the cocker since she was a pup..therefore she sees herself as alpha female...then along comes another female...young pup with no manners trying to muscle in on her territory...you should have gradually introduced these dogs on neutral territory. Really, you need the help of a dog trainer with expert experience to help to train you to train these pooches...don't lose heart, it can be done...there are many tactics you can use...but really the best advice would come from a dog behaviourist...in the meantime...plenty of exercise together and the more they socialise the better they will be..and even though a pecking order needs to be established, you need help to sort this out without having to resort to smacking the dogs there are simple methods that can be shown to you.. good luck

Answer 10

I suggest getting them both spayed, if they aren't already. This will help curb their aggressions due to heat cycles and hormones.
Check out http://www.friendsofanimals.org to get them spayed cheaply at your local vet.

Make sure you teach them basic obedience.

Also, you must be the pack leader, or these two will fight for the role of leader. Don't walk through doors first, eat before them and let them see you eat, mix their dog food in their bowls with your hands to scent it with your smell, etc.

If food, treats, or toys are the culprit for the fights, then remove these immediately, and do not leave them out when the dogs are together.

Same sex dog aggression, especially among intact dogs, is not really that uncommon.

This can be worked with, but you must be patient, diligent, and get them spayed as soon as you can. Do not leave them together alone, in case the fight becomes severe.

http://www.libertydogtraining.com