I've thought long and hard about posting this, but I really need some advice. The inlaws came over on Saturday and brought with them their 12yr old springer spaniel x border collie. She was ok with Holly to start with, but she did keep growling at her when Holly tried to say hello. We kept to Holly's normal routine (putting her in her crate to eat and sitting her on my knee whilst holding Isabelle so she could stroke her) so as not to unsettle Holly too much. When Holly was sat on me being stroked by Isabelle my inlaws dog flew across the room at Holly growling and snarling. Fortunately I was able to move so that Holly didn't get bitten but she is now terrified and very submissive.

I got very angry with my inlaws especially as they encouraged Meg sleep on Hollys blanket and drink out of her water bowl. For some unknown reason they didn't bring her bed or water bowl with them.

Our big problem is that my parents are coming over this week with their 8mth old cocker spaniel and we're not sure how to reinforce Hollys position as top dog in our house. My inlaws won't be visiting again and we won't be taking Holly to see them, it's a good excuse for me to stay at home :D , but we see my parents every fortnight.

Any tips?

Thanks,

Fiona

HI Fiona

i guess what may have happened is that the ESS x BC sees you as her pal and was'nt too keen on the fact that you were giving your attention to Holly. Obviously too your inlaws should have had more control over their dog, what happened was not acceptable in your house.

When the ESS X was initially growling it may have been not so bad, because adults tend to put pups in their place and it's normal. However you will know by what the body language was and so on as to whether it was actually serious.

ONe thing I do believe, along with others on here, is that WE can so easily cause problems by reinforcing fear or wrong behaviour... and to be honest i wouldn't worry too much about HOlly's positon as such ...as a pup, most older visitng dogs will see her as a wee fly in their ointment and not much else <g>

I suspect that as long as the new Cocker visitor is of a good temperament, the 2 will be fine. Ask if it is OK with other dogs normallly and if so - don't be too protective. Stand bakc if you can and relax. Leave Holly on the floor too i would suggest, as then she can interact and wont feel you are trying to "protect " her.

jusrt my opinon, anyway.

HTH a bit

have fun!!

Lindsay

Couldn't agree with Lindsay more. It's so easy to be over protective with Holly and give her the impression that there is something to be worried about. Particularly when our dogs get bitten the temptation is to make a big fuss of it and kiss it better. A far better move it to say something like, "Serves you right! Teach you to keep your nose out next time!" I know it goes against the grain but it's far more likely that with that kind of approach there will be no long term psychological problems.

Regards, John

Another thing to consider and I'm not a behaviour expert is to introduce any new dogs on nuetral territory ie: away from the house maybe in the park or a garden or something,thats what we do when introducing strange dogs we are rehoming,and when strange dogs visit here. Bitches are a law unto themselve though I admit. I often think its the way we introduce animals that help a stuation....just a thought.

Good point :)

Lindsay

YES I AGREE TAKE YOUR PUPPY TO MEET MOM AND HER DOG, AND WALK BACK TOGETHER , BY THEN THEY SHOULD BE FRIENDS, MARI

It took my two elder Labs, mother, Mars and daughter, Min, a couple of days to get used to our new pup, Moose. As she grew in confidence, the more the elder two have had to put her in her place.It took a while but they have definetely settled into a group structure. We left them to it in the main as interfering only caused confusion.Moose has met a lot of outsiders and I suppose she lives with two other dogs she has got quite a lot of confidence but still will submit and roll on her back if she meets a new dog for the first time.It is important for them to socialise as much as possible with both dogs and humans for them to learn how to behave in different situations.

My mother came with her young minature long haired Daschound at Christmas and because she is a lap dog and hasn't learnt how to behave with other dogs we had problems.My mother kept on interfering and picking her dog up and putting her on her lap if there was any boisterous play as she was afraid that Moose would hurt her dog. All that it did was make Moose more insistent on playing with her as it was a game to her. It ended up quite a streesful time as we had to seperate our girls form my mum's dog for most of the holiday. If she had left them to it we would have had a much motre relaxing time !