Hi All,
After some advice please.  I have got two 7 year old Terriers, a 6 month old Cocker (Bramble), and a 4 month old Cocker (Willow).  Since bringing Bramble home when she was a puppy, one of the terriers, Bracken, has not taken to her at all.  Whenever Bramble goes up to her to be friends, Bracken just growls and freezes. Bramble then ignores the growling and insists on licking Bracken around the mouth, very submissive.  When I call Bramble away to give Bracken her space, then Bracken whines.  I am at an end of ideas on how to fix this one.  The other terrier is absolutely fine with both cockers and plays with them both.  Bracken is also okay to an extent with Willow, but really doesn't like Bramble.  I have to say though that Bracken has never physically attacked Bramble, she really is a woosy type of dog.  Any ideas please.

I am not sure which sex your dogs are, although you mention that Bracken ( terrier ) is female, but is Bramble female as well. I have 2 patterdales and 1 Cocker as well as other dogs, but find that the terriers tend to want to be in charge. My other dogs are older and are so laid back that they have no objection to the terriers being full of themselves. There is no real dominance issues, but both terriers walk the walk so to speak.

Could it be that Bramble is a bit 'in her face' and Bracken is making sure that she knows her place? just a little bit of 'know your place woman' yet Bramble being a pup is so thick skinned she is not reading this and still insists on licking Brackens face etc. Knowing terriers I think if Bracken really did not like Bramble she would have turned on her by now. It sounds as though this is a little bit of 'putting Bramble in her place' in doggy language.
Hopefully as she gets older Bramble will accept that Bracken is more dominant and not threaten this hierarchy and a quiet life will be had by all.

Just make sure you are around to take Bramble away if she gets too much for Bracken to cope with while she is so young, because if 2 females fall out then sometimes there is no going back, and they will continue to fight for ever more - fighting females are the hardest to cope with as they never forget, so make sure you keep them calm and then separate if you feel Bracken has had enough.
Good luck

Hi SillySue,  all of the dogs are bitches. I agree that I think its a case of keeping an eye on them.  Bramble and Willow go in a cage if I ho out, and when I get back Bracken gets all excited when the 2 cockers are let out.  I think she's a bit confused.  Hopefully it will settle down in time. Thanks for your help.

It's not a great idea to get puppies so close in age and with 2 dogs at 7yrs and now 2 pups of a similar age... I wouldn't be surprised if this is adding to the issues.