I was going to post this, this morning but thought id see how the day went first. Don't really know what to do so thought id seek some advice.

I am currently looking after a friends labrador for 4 weeks (she and her family gone to oz for  some sort of family reunion). The lab is 2 years old and spayed. My three (springer, sprocker and border terrier) and her have known eachother since she was a pup and have had many walks together and been in eachothers houses many times.
So when i was asked if i would look after her i thought it would be plain sailing. well. . . . .
They dropped her off saturday morning, all went fine dogs played together had dinner together and slept in kitchen without a problem. Easy i thought.
Then sunday morning when out for morning walk the lab got a bit rough with my border and it ended in a bit of a scuffle. They stopped and that was that. Then when we got back and fed them the lab went crazy and really laid into my border again. We stopped it and no damage was done.
We put lab in utility behind dog gate to let them cool off.

After a couple of hours we let her out and she just made a beeline for my girl again. I have never seen this behaviour in her before, and doubt my friend has either. We put her back in utilty as there isnt really anywhere else as the kitchen is the main part of the house, besides a smallish sitting room and study.
We kept them seperate for the rest of the day and night, but she will not stop barking.

My OH has taken her out on her own into the paddock and played fetch for an hour at a time to try and get her settled. We have not put the dogs together since yesterday morning.
MY problem is that we have got her for another 3 and a half weeks, i dont think i can put up with having her seperated and barking the way she is for much longer. My border has not eaten since yesterday morning and isnt herself, the other two couldnt care less lol. There isnt anyone i can call to take her off me as its a family trip that my friend has gone on, the only contacts she left me with were the vets and thiers (what use thier numbers are when they are on the other sides of the world i dont know).

Im thinking about boarding her for the rest of the time we have her as i have a friend who runs a small kennels who would take her for me, even though thats what us having her was supposed to avoid.

Im pretty sure that she is suffering from seperation anxiety, and that the aggression is probably a way of her to let off her frustrations and anxieties. So maybe it will improve the longer shes with us.
Anyone have any suggestions as to what i could/should do?

Thanks,

To prevent any damage to yor own dogs and especially someone elses I would play it cautious and not put them together unsupervised or in any contained area.

They may have been ok when they were just regular visitors or out walking together but now they are living together they are probably sorting their status' out (the dogs dont know its only a vacation they probably think its permenant so need to get boundries and rules organised within their pack)

As its a short period of time, its probably not worth trying to get them integrated so if it was me id invest in a £15 baby gate and have eyes in the back of your head for a few weeks.

I doubt the reason is because your visitor has separation anxiety, more likely getting settled in and feeling her feet!!

Hiya,

I hope your Border is feeling better today.  I think your probably right, not particularly about seperation anxiety but I am quite sure anxiety will be playing a part.  At two she is now pretty much and adult and will be more bonded to her people and more likely to miss them and she may be acting out of character due to this.  Separation often gets harder for dogs as they get older.

Also given that they had a scuffle due to play getting out of hand and then having another spat she learned that she can take it out on the Boarder.  I would think if she's getting worked up and frustrated behind a baby gate, when she comes out she is over excited frustrated and wound up and is taking it out on the Border.

Given that you have already tried the baby gate idea and that seems to be getting her more frustrated personally I would use the number they have given you, if it was me I would most definitely want to know.  They may have someone else who they would rather she went to than a boarding kennel.

Have you tried giving her things to do whilst she is in the utility room like a stuffed kong, or some kind of activity (food related :-D) that will take her a while so that she has something to keep her occupied rather than getting worked up.  When you let her out of the utility make sure that she is a on a lead.  If it's just your Border that she's having a problem with can you not share times, have the lab behind the baby gate when your three are together and then let the lab in with the others for some mixing time and then have the Border in another room with you.

Goodluck.

What about a few overnights at the kennels and with you during the day for walks etc.? If the dogs got on ok before when they met up for walks then maybe this will take the pressure off your Border.

I've often had my adult pups come to stay but they have always got along with my girl and other family dogs, if they didn't then I simply wouldn't have them, it's too much trouble having to segregate and do seperate walks etc if they did not get along, not to mention any harm coming to the dog staying or your own, people often can turn from nice to nasty once vet bills come into play with or without insurance.

You are doing a favour here, it was very kind of you and it could very well have worked, but it hasn't, your BT could end up seriously hurt and why should it be left feeling uncomfortable in it's own home. I would never have my dog feeling worried or in danger.

The lab needs to be kennelled, I would call your friend and explain and make sure that any kennel fees are noted at the time, you should not be left with the bill for this or the kennel owner friend of yours.  You tried, it's not working, so it is now out of your hands, it really isn't your problem to worry about it any more. I would definitely get the ok for the kennels from the owner first though and let her know throughout what is happening to cover yourself.

All the best. :-)

Thanks for replies,
We have kept them seperate, but are spending time with the lab on her own, and making sure she's getting plenty of exercise. She is still barking constantly though which is becoming difficult as i work from home.
We have given her pigs ears and a big filled bone to try and keep her occupied, hasn't lasted long. Will try the kong idea though.
I will phone my friend tonight, (will have to work out time differences lol), and expain the situation. There may be someone who could take her off us for them.
If not I can see the only option being her going to kennels. I will of course still visit her.
My border is a little perkier today, the constant barking is not helping. She doesnt seem to like the sound of other dogs voices . . . . only her own!!

I dont know wether to try and re-introduce them, but cant see the situation being any better if i did.