I have a 3yr old cocker dog which suffers from some fear aggression. Four weeks ago I introduced a 7wk old male pup and naturally he didn't want to know. I have taken things very slowly, with the pup in a dog crate or on a lead when he is in the same room or in the garden. When I have treats he is fine, sitting together and sniffing the pups nose etc, but when there is no treats to distract him and the pup comes within 1ft he snarles at it. It has taken weeks to get this close, should I keep going or is he playing me for a fool! I have let the pup off the lead in the garden for a couple of minutes he has snaped at him once. Should I stop being a coward and let them sort it out! ..........They don't sleep in the same room or spend unsupervised time together (with the pup in the crate)

I wouldn't pussy-foot around. I don't know if it's fear aggression or what, but he's had enough time, so point out to him that snarling and snapping at the pup, and in fact at anything, isn't acceptable. I know it seems a bit dramatic, but if you had just bought a new baby (human) home, and he started doing his thing, you wouldn't be sitting there trying to bribe him with treats. If you leave them to sort it out you may end up with a dead pup. Problem as I see it, is you may never be able to trust them together long term, and this is always the risk when introducing new members of the family.

Having owned a dog with fear aggression I know how alert you have to be when they're around other dogs. So I agree with Dave, that it might be hard to relax when the dogs are together. There is also the possibility that the pup might learn bad habits from the older dog. Tricky situation, but hopefully if you are able to sort things out now you may be able to avoid bigger problems later on.

Best of luck

I hope this post won't come across as too negative but I'm just not sure that you have made a wise decision in introducing a young puppy into a household where there is an older dog with a serious temperament problem (having lived in the past with a Cocker with fear aggression, I know just how difficult it is to cope with such a dog). A small puppy is very vulnerable & I don't think you can just "let them get on with it" without the risk that your older dog will suddenly "snap" & seriously injure the puppy. There is also the real possibility that the puppy will grow up copying the older dog's nervous reactions to things & so you could end up with 2 fearful dogs instead of one, which perhaps is the opposite of what you thought might happen (maybe you thought a puppy would help the older dog over his fears?) You are going to have to work at training, socialising & exercising (when he's older of course) the puppy on his own so that he does not learn to react as your older dog does. Obviously, I don't know your older dog or how serious his fear aggression is, so maybe you can make this situation work with a lot of time & patience. You may have to accept that your older dog may never be happy with the company of the younger dog although he may tolerate him in time.

Jane

Hi, I am really sorry, I don't have any suggestions, I just wanted to say that I hope it gets sorted, it sounds a horrible stressful situation to be in.

What type of puppy is it, another cocker or a different breed? (Am just wondering if he will outgrow your older dog).

Would it be worth trying a muzzle on the older dog so they can interact without the puppy getting harmed? (I am not sure if this is a good idea or not - hopefully others will be able to comment).

Good luck, hope others will be able to help you further.

What a difference 24hrs make! Its like when you make the appt. with the doctor, the symtoms get better! My cocker has realised this pup (Italian Spinone) is not going away, so I might aswell play with it.....and share the water bowl at the same time. I've kept the pup on a long lead while they are playing, but things are looking very good. I will keep things going slowly. The pup goes to puppy socialising classes at our vets, and when he can go public next week he will be walked alone and with friends dogs as well as with my cocker, who is fine when walked on a lead.
Thanks for all the replies
Kareen

Kareen,
Great. What a relief for you. Hope it continues.
Dot

Good news Kareen :-) For some reason I was imagining a little puppy but Spinoni don't stay little for long do they? Glad to hear all is now going well!

Jane