Introducing my dog to OH's dogs help please!

PinkFairy

PinkFairy

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As I mentioned on the post below, my OH has two staffy bitches, who both get on fine with other dogs, and are fairly young (both under four years old) and I own a cocker spaniel bitch who is older, at about 7 years old, possibly 8 years old (not sure) and she doesn't like other dogs and reacts by growling/whining and occasionally snapping (not biting, but snaps) at the dogs. We really want to try and see if the three dogs can get along, as my OH would like to bring his dogs round rather than leave them at home on their own but yesterday we tried to introduce the dogs to each other, one by one and my dog just whined and barked at them, and wouldn't stop growling. This probably wasn't helped by the fact that we had put my dog outside so that his dogs could come in (they ran straight through his friend's fencing on both sides, and left massive holes, so wasn't going to risk that!) Any ideas? Can this be resolved? P.S. my dog is a very placid dog, she never bats an eyelid, its just when other dogs are brought over, she reacts in the same way.Even on walks, she will react this way to a passing dog.
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I would do it in a neutral space so no one is defending their territory. She sounds as if she is maybe a bit insecure and feels the need to defend herself.

She is a bit of an age to start reversing this and bringing the dogs into her area was a bit of a shock for her, I am sure.

With my boy it was a case of checking him when he started to 'look' at other dogs (you know what I mean, a 'come-on' look rather than a normal look) and rewarding him when his focus was on me rather than another dog - so in his head, life is much more fun when he listens to me and does what I ask, because he gets a treat and a play, life is not so much fun when he gets arsey with other dogs, because he gets a check and a 'NO!'.

We can now pass other dogs, sit down beside other dogs, touch noses with other dogs without WWIII breaking out, we no longer want to try and kill the cat (much), etc etc etc.
 
OH said we should take them to a field or something where they could run about (which is a no-no, she is incredibly ignorant and takes ages to come back when called) The problem is, she was my Nan's dog before she came to me, and my Nan didn't train her in ANYTHING (she was battling cancer). OH's dogs were fine around her, and didn't retaliate at all, which I'm thankful for, but even on walks, she feels the need to bark and growl at them. She growls as she sniffs them, and then barks and whines etc.
 
I agree with your OH. Put her on a lead or a long line if she doesn't come to call.
As the other dogs are not a threat, a long line might be better because then she won't feel as much of your tension on the lead (they are very aware of our nerves!) muzzle her if you have to.
 
Agree with above.
Just because you nan didnt train her doesn't mean you can't train her.
Never introduce dogs on their own territory, needs to be in a neutral place.
 
Thanks for the suggestions, will try that tomorrow as he's bringing the dogs again
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Will update you all then!
 
Just a quick 'update' - we had to leave it yesterday because my parents took us out for lunch, but we will try again next week!
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