Hi i hope someone can help.We are looking after a friends 15mth rescue terrier bitch.Our friend is in hospital and so i agreed she could stay for as long as she liked knowing this may be 10months or forever if our friend could no longer cope with her.The dog is a happy sole and this is her fifth home .I have the feeling the reason behind her unsettled past will be revealed when she gets her paws under the table.My first concern that i need help with is if i give her a cuddle or stroke her and my dog comes near she lunges full on at my poor lola teeth snapping .I need to stop this now help! .I want to make this work for the poor dog and my friend because i know he will have no choice but to take her back to the shelter if we cant cope with her.

Ithink you need to let the pup know that lola is boss. Fuss lola first pup second feed lola first pup second, i sounds the pup could be trying to so to your own dog that he/she is not all yours, (hope you understand what  i meen)
I think when fussing your own make pup sit and wait the fuss her after, but only if she sits and waits. It will be hard but persevere.

Someone else may come along with there own opinion soon.

Good luck
Cordelia

Sometimes the answer that you are looking for doesn't exist.  You say you are her fifth home and she is only 15 months old.  I think she needs as much love and security as you can give her and if I were in your situation I would avoid the 'hot spots'.  It is possible that anything you do to try and 'demote' her will make her miserable and depressed.  You need to have house rules but they must be consistent, fair to the dog and easy to understand.  Try putting yourself in her place.  I live with several dogs that have had various behaviour problems and in some cases still have them.  We live in relative peace and harmony by being aware of what may trigger a response and avoiding those triggers.  The less they practice the 'wrong behaviour' the easier the cure - if there is one.

HTH
Sally