How to get dogs to get along?

[mycatoscar]

My mum has a border terrier who is 18 months. She is a gorgeous little dog and both me and dd love her and have lavished much attention on her when we visit, we've also dog sat and walked her and had her to stay at ours a few times. We now have a puppy (collie lab cross) who is now 15 weeks and very gentle and sociable. Loves meeting new people and dogs and is coming on brilliantly with training.

Our problem is that we've tried to introduce them in the hope that we can all have lovely long walks together. We've done it on neutral territory, walking them together in local parks etc. my puppy is a typical puppy, leaping about like a loon and generally wanting to play. My mums dog is, we think, jealous! She snarls and growls at my puppy and is generally quite unfriendly.

Does anyone have any top tips to get them to get on a bit better?

My mums convinced that I'm the problem as her dog adored me and is apparently broken hearted that a I have a puppy!

[Floralnomad]

Is your mums dog generally good with other dogs ? My mum has 2 border x JRT and the girl is an absolute nightmare with other dogs ,despite me taking them to puppy classes and training when they were young . We can't take our dog anywhere near her .

[mycatoscar]

Both the dogs are very good with other dogs. No signs of agression.

My dog is obviously playful and jumpy because she is a puppy but pretty much every other dog has either joined in or given her a bit of a cuff round the ear to put her in her place.

I suppose I am just hoping there is something we can do which will help as we do spend a lot of time with my mum and her partner, in the past we have stayed with them at their second home by the sea and we are planning to go away together at new year to center parcs with both dogs (seperate accomodation thank goodness!). It would seem such a pity to not be able to do these things because the dogs dont get on.

So far they have met in the park etc about 3 times, once a week. They are more reasonable if we are walking and they are both on leads but still if my puppy tries to play then mums dog growls and snarls. She is only 18 months - surely she should still be a bit puppyish herself?

[LadyTurmoil]

Just a vague thought - could you perhaps go to training classes together? Perhaps them being together but with other dogs around would be something that could make them get used to each other. Perhaps you and your mum could swap so you were training with her dog and she with yours for certain things...others may have better ideas!

[mycatoscar]

Thanks for the tips, my mum and her partner say their dog is perfectly well trained so the classes wouldn't be an option, maybe we just need to persevere with short walks .... Beginning to think my mum is thinking its my dog that's the problem

[lifeistooshorttodrinkcheapwine]

your mums dog is feeling that her domain - her house is being invaded by this puppy interloper and also that in her mind you belong to her not this little puppy. puppies can be irritating to older dogs. Maybe make lots of fuss of her whenever you see her and try to do things like feeding them treats together. Perhaps you can take your mums dog out on her own so that she sees that she still belongs to you and slowly work introduce the the new pup to your mums dog - its all doggy psychology

[SpicyPear]

Does your mum's dog socialise with other puppies (I mean recently, not when she was a puppy)? Some adult dogs just really don't like puppies or have any patience for them. My dogs get along really well and big dog is good with pups, but if pup starts jumping all over big dog when she's trying to have a sniff around or quiet mooch she'll growl at him until he gets the message that she wants her space. That is fair enough as even nice puppies are generally rude and annoying!