Hi all. We have 3 cocker spaniels, 2 of which are siblings and half show half working, the other is unrelated and is pure show. She is the eldest by 3 months. She is also the one I have concerns about. We also have a golden retriever. Most times they all play together, and wash each other, and even cuddle up together. In the last 3 months, I have seen a change in our eldest cocker, who has only just turned a year old. It all started when she was mounted very quickly by a staff at dog traing (our dog is spayed, and is tiny). We couldn’t separate them at first and it made my dog cry

Sorry, wouldnt let me type the rest. Anyway since then she has developed two problems. The first one, is she screams at random dogs, but not the one that mounted her. When I say scream, she sounds like she’s being attacked. I reassure her and she’s changed classes, but this is continuing. She was checked by a vet, but there’s nothing physically wrong. The second problem started last week. She’s started attacking and actually biting our other docile dogs when she’s being fussed by us, or when there is food about. I would welcome any advice. Thank you

It sounds like the poor girl is terrified now she .at not be physically damaged buy mentally she has been affected and she is still very young  . I would suggest u find a good positive trainer who understands how to manage a fear reactive dog and can help you . Given u also have three other dogs to manage the sooner you can get help for her the better. I would consider dropping the training for now as she clearly isn't comfortable around other dogs even if it's random .  work on finding out what her comfortable distance to other dogs is and loads of treats whenever she sees another dog .  I am sure so e of the behaviourist that are on the forum will have ideas for.u

Off to work shortly so just bobbing in briefly to ask, when the staffy was humping her, did she twist and struggle a lot?  If yes, then it's possible that she may have pulled something out of line which is still causing her pain, that the vet could easily have missed.  Most likely the experience itself is the sole trigger but I would try and get her checked over by a veterinary physio or (my personal preference) a McTimoney chiropractor to make sure there's nothing underlying that might be exacerbating things.

Otherwise yes, pull her from classes as that will be overwhelming her at the moment, and seek professional help if at all possible.

Yes, I have thought about stopping training classes, but some people have said it's best to carry on to keep her socialised. I can understand that, and the hope that in time, she'll get used to not being hurt, and tolerate all dogs. Trouble is, I'm less relaxed as I'm frightened of something like that happening again, so she can probably sense that I'm on edge too, which doesn't help. She's stopped doing all the thing's she could do so well too. She was in silver class, but now just won't do anything she's told, so think her little mind is so distracted bless her

She turned her head, but he was holding her tightly so she couldn't squirm

I am typing much more in response, but for some reason only parts of it are being displayed. My replies shown, weren't that short xx

socialisation at this point in the standard way isnt so important as building her and your confidence that all will be ok. I have a fear reactive dog and the worst thing for her is to be in a situation with other dogs around her  . She and many like her are scared so will react each time they get a chance to react it is becoming a natural response making it harder to deal with in the future .  I would ignore the comments about needing socialisation as what you would be doing is flooding a technique that although some do use can and most usually ends up making things worse.

With training apart from removing her at the moment which I would choose to do  you may be able to sit far enough away that she feels comfortable and give her loads of treats when she is looking at the dogs and not reacting. no joining in just exposing her but at a comfortable distance for her. IN a loto ftraining situatins that isnt possible unless you are training in a field. I know mine wouldn't be able to manage in most training halls and would be stressed even if it isnt easy to see

Nikita will be back and be able to suggest more as she is the behaviourist I only work under one with my fear reactive dog so am passing on what I have learned. you would be best to have someone work with you on her issues specifically and in a positive reward based way.

Thank you all so much. I've been so torn as to what would be best for her. She's normally such a sweet loving girl. It breaks my heart to see her like this x

If u can find some one who knows what they  are about to work with u. it can be improved . Have look at apdt as one place to find qualified behaviourist.nikita will be able.to suggest others .should u happen to be in the Surrey area message me and I can suggest someone. In the mean time if u can walk away from places she will encounter dogs .I know it's hard .I use a freedom field a few times a week and the rest of the time we road walk and dogs any encounter s with changing direction,lots of focus  on me and loads of treats . Each situation will vary which is why u may need someine to see what's happening.her behaviour around other dogs at home may be connected but needs a different approach but always positive. She is also still.not mature so her behaviour will be changing as she becomes  a teenager .

Thank you. I'd always use positive methods anyway. All our training has been praise and treat based. Just wish I could make her happy again, because she's clearly distressed at times. It's sad to see this in such a sweet dog. Xx

Unfortunately things like this can stick with a dog - we took our Whippet back to visit with her breeder when she was around 4 months.   She let her brother out and he immediately tried to mount her and chased her around her big paddock area to the point my girl was scared stiff.   I'd have thought her breeder would have called off her brother but I had to catch her and calm her down.   As a result, I believe, she really isn't happy around any dog, let alone a male although she lives happily with our Basset boy, who knows his place and has never tried any funny-stuff with her.

I think you just have to keep getting her out, as long as you get a good reaction and the moment you don't, back off.    Only give her as much as she appears to be coping well with. 

And do get her physically checked, just in case she was injured.

Yes unfortunately this staffy's owner seems to find it amusing that he mounts every dog just lately, male or female, stating 'he's been neutered, so he can't do anything' :/ but he can. He can't get her pregnant, but he can go through the motions, and hurt the littler dogs :(

I will take her back to the vets too, to get her checked again. He must have hurt her at the time because she really cried

Poor staff  to have such an owner .it's not fair to anyone and just perpetuates peoples.bad feeling about the breed when I should be the idiot in the other end of the lead. It might be a good idea to look at mctimmony chriopractic they are very good at finding things that vets cant and it's not invasive

Agreed. Nearly always the owner! The owners need training. He's not aggressive, in fact he's a very friendly dog, but just fruity, and has an owner that can't control him. Sad really. Thank you, I'll look that up xx

You will need vet referral my mctimmony will contact the vet direct if they want to know more

I'd suggest you get a behaviourist in and get a proper assessment.  It strikes me that there might be a couple of things going on. Her new behaviour to your other dogs when she is being petted by you or around food may indicate resource guarding and may not necessarily be related to the experience wih the staff, although it is thought stress might trigger the behaviour in those with a predisposition. It is interesting that she is not reactive to the staff, although she is to other dogs. Anyhow get an assessment, anything else is guesswork. Goodluck.

Yes I thought it may be a couple of different problems and may be coincidence. She is very very attached to us, and think maybe that's why she is possessive. Strange thing is, she doesn't do it all the time, but food and petting are always the triggers if that makes sense? She doesn't do it with toys, yet she loves playing with the toys. I just don't want it to get worse, as I know it could. Yes I find it strange that she doesn't scream at the very dog that hurt her, but at other unsuspecting dogs that pose no threat to her. When she screams it is fear and not aggression this time because she wee's herself and tries to scuttle away. Sometimes she trembles too x

She also has terrible separation anxiety too. I can't even visit the ladies room without her crying for me xx

> Yes, I have thought about stopping training classes, but some people have said it's best to carry on to keep her socialised.

This is a common view and in most cases, it simply doesn't work.  This is not about socialising at this point - that happened when she was a pup, this is now about rehabilitation.  She has had a bad experience and from your description, is not coping with being around dogs in class at the moment so persisting with them can only continue to frighten her and push her over threshold, compounding her anxieties.  At the very, very least, have a few weeks off to give her a break but I would leave them for quite a while at least, if not permanently as she will have associated her experience with that place and context.  As mamabas says, bad experience stick with some dogs for life and even if they don't, to have the best chance of getting her through it, you need to back off, give her time and take it at her pace.  If she is freaking out, it's not her pace!

She sounds like an anxious girl in general - resource guarding is a fear-based behaviour as with almost all aggression (fear of loss of something valuable to the dog).  It is a common issue in cockers, but the underlying driving force is the same.  And the separation issue on top... I think you really need to get a behaviourist in there to meet her, and devise the best way forward with all her issues considered.  Each issue carries stress which will have an effect on every aspect of her life, so you need a holistic approach here to get the best result in the long run.

As an aside, I would also be having a word with the trainer at the class.  That staffie should not be being allowed to behave the way he is, and the trainer should be stopping it happening, and telling the owner in no uncertain terms exactly why it is not acceptable.

As has been suggested get a full vet check and if clear go to a behaviourist on vet referral - your insurance may cover behaviour. See Animal Behaviour Training Council website for list of registered, qualified behaviourists in your area.

I was thinking the same thing as Nikita as to the training classes as I had a similar thing happen with one of my last dogs.
I took her to a training class when she was older (no longer a puppy) as I wanted to improve some aspects of her training. She wasn't happy at the classes from the start but did pretty much as asked apart from lying down. She just flatly refused to even when we tried to lure her down with some very tasty treats which, give she was a golden, was rather unusual to say the least.
We were doing some off lead work and she was in a sit/stay when another dog suddenly attacked her and frightened her witless. I've always thought she was aware of the enmity of other dog in the class long before the attack happened and wasn't prepared to put herself in a more vunerable position (lying down) if she didn't have to.
We stopped going to the classes straight away and I gave her time away from any other dogs when we were out, easily done where I live. Gradually she got her confidence back but was never really happy with strange dogs.
I took her to an agility class the following summer which was held outside and had a completely different atmosphere to the training class. She was fine there especially having something really good fun to do.

Thank you. The trainers have all told the staffie owner that it is not acceptable, and they have made sure it doesn't happen in class, but whilst waiting for the class to start and away from the trainers eyes, I have seen him try to mount other dogs too. Yes I agree she needs help. She's always been anxious, but we don't know why. She has never been hurt by us, but then again she has no fear of people, just strange dogs. She's just very clingy, and parades out garden with her nose in the air, barking at the slightest. I just hope we can find her help xx

I'm really pleased she found her comfort zone. I hope we can achieve this with my girl. Xxx

Some dogs are just anxious by nature, I see it a lot.  Several of mine have that edge to them, two to a major degree - one can't go for walks any more and the other has an almost pathological distrust of all humans and dogs outside me and my group (and the dog sitter, and that took a long time).

Re. the staffie - I would still talk to the trainers to tell them he is still being allowed to do it before the class begins.  Frankly, if it were my class and I learned that he was still allowing the dog to do it when I wasn't looking and it was bothering other owners and their dogs, he would be asked to leave immediately.