Have posted on here before about my new (1 month) JR cross rescue boy, Pip and my Westie Lucy who is 5.  Pip is 18 months.

Things are gradually improving although Pip is much more a handful that I had thought when we got him!  He has been neutered and is going to training classes. At the moment there is no great improvement.  He is awful with other dogs ie out on lead if he spots one within 50 metres he goes berserk.  At the training classes he spends a lot of time yapping and growling at the others. Still quite naughty with our cats too!
The upside of Pip is that he is very good with people and children, absolutely no malice in him, very gently and loves to be picked up and cuddled!  Housetraining is much better now too and he is good all night in our room.

The thing that is annoying though (and it seems to have got worse) is whenever he and Lucy are together they won't leave each other alone, sort of play fighting.  It is getting on my nerves and has resulted in both of them getting scratched eyes etc and not surprising, not to mention banging into furniture etc.  So now as soon as they start I separate them and put Pip in the kitchen.  He settles down in his basket in the kitchen quite happily but as soon as I let him out - off they go again.  They still fight over toys so I can't give them any to distract them.

Do you think this lunatic play fighting will soon stop?  How should I deal with it, any ideas?

Leonora

I wouldn't try to separate them if it is only 'play' fighting. They need to learn who is the more dominant of the two, if either of them is. Why would you want to stop them, anyway? If they are having fun (so long as it is just PLAY ;) ) why not just enjoy the peace ;) and quiet

OK I know it's not quiet, but it gives you time to do other things. eg come on CD :D

If it gets out of hand, then yes, I would separate them. If it is vicious, then again I would separate them. But not if they are enjoying one anothers company.

Training classes are the wrong environment for this dog.  Each time he gets to practice aggressive displays they will become more hard wired in his brain.  He needs to be kept away from any environment that brings about an aggressive reaction.

Wendy

I disagree - play fighting *should* be stopped, as it does nothing towards sorting out pack ranking issues.  The dogs do it because they enjoy it, but like a kid eating chocolate, they should learn that enough is enough.....

Neutering may very well not have any calming effect, and I hope your vet explained this before the procedure.  At his age, a lot of his behaviour will be 'coping stratagies' that he has learnt get him the result he needs - and although training classes can help with an apparently agressive dog, it's probably better to start with some sublte training that doesn't push him too far beyond his current limits, and when these limits are reduced, you can consider training classes, perhaps in an open environment to start with, then in a hall as he makes more progress...

Digger, could you suggest some subtle training for ecouraging calm behaviour around other dogs, as I would find that very helpful with Echo. So far he is happy to meet castrated males, bitches and pups, but does kick off if approached by entire males. So far hes kept on lead until his recall is solid, so we keep a distance and I encourage him to look at me not the other dog and reward calm behavior. Our problem is other dogs running into his space. If he does kick off I try to be calm and move him away without turning around until we reach a safe distance. Is there anyhing else I should be doing? Obviously I ask other owners to help by controlling their dogs.

Same problems here as well with Copper, no tolerance at all with dogs outside even after various programmes of training.  Maybe its a rescue dog thing?  Interested to see how everyone else is solving the problems.  I'm afraid I just have to avoid dogs the best I can which is not at all easy, especially with dogs running up off the lead.  Maybe some dogs will always be like this?

CG

I'd love to help further, but it really depends on the dog and who/why he's reacting as he is as to how you deal with it - it needs some hands on one to one really - try the APDT http://www.apdt.co.uk/list_trainers.asp  or ask your vet for a referral to a member of the UKRCB http://www.ukrcb.co.uk/members.htm