hi again....things are definitely calmer already between my cocker and the new cocker, who hopefully will be here to stay, but now have another problem.  When my boy has a chew and the new girl approaches him, he growls like mad. Now I know this is normal, and he does not do it to me. BUT  he's started doing it to my daughter of 5 years, who doesn't bother him, but just walks by him, and he's just now actually gone for the girl pup as she passed him with his chew ,....do I leave them to sort themselves out, which they did today, or will it escalate if i don't intervene? Do I put him in his crate if he has a chew and just accept that he needs to be alone when he has a treat, or does this have to be sorted out? If I tell him off , he growls louder. I know he doesn't see my daughter as his boss, as he does me, but how can I reinforce he has to respect her too? He doesn't have any other issues, only when he has a chew....Help please.....

<<do I leave them to sort themselves out, which they did today, or will it escalate if i don't intervene? >>

Personally I wouldnt leave them to sort it out themselves as one or both could become seriously hurt,
Id seperate them when having a chew- maybe in a crate each or in different rooms.
Are they the same when feeding or do you feed them seperately anyway ? You may find the same situation with toys too..

Good luck :)

I'd withold the chews completely - he does n't really need them does he?

interesting point, Digger....that's what I thought would be the simplest solution, as , no, he's fine with feeding in the same room as her, and sharing his toys, so far anyway. But I always think as he's only a year old, he still needs to chew on some rawhide, etc for his teeth and gums...but I think I'll cut down the chews, and as suggested, separate them when they have one. Maybe only give him his in his crate, away from kids, etc and no more in public...thanks for the advice....

I stopped giving my dogs chews when one choked on one. :( Luckily I was there when it happened so no serious harm was done.

If you have to give chews and they 'argue' over it I would separate them.