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Will puppy learn old dog’s ‘tricks’?

4 replies

WasWildatHeart · 03/02/2018 09:20

Our beloved Border Terrier cross is 11. We adore her and she is 90% perfect but she has a couple of terrier traits that aren’t ideal and, as we have started to ponder about getting a puppy, wonder if she would seriously influence the puppy. Worst trait is her unpredictability around other dogs - she looks for and reacts to any hint of aggression in another dog so we keep her on lead if dogs are about. She has a very strong prey instinct and gets very excited about going on a walk so that she is a bit manic on the lead for the first 15 mins of any walk. Again we manage this but have never been able to stop it. We rehomed her aged 2.
Is it a given that the puppy will learn these traits too as if so we’re better waiting till our lovely girl has left us?

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AstrantiaMajpr · 03/02/2018 14:36

I don’t think the she will necessarily learn those traits unless they are inherent in the breed. We have just adopted an 8 year old terrier who is a dream most of the time. But her reaction to traffic and other dogs is awful. I am hoping that a trainer will help her reactiveness, but at 8 I doubt she will change.

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villainousbroodmare · 03/02/2018 19:28

I'd imagine a puppy is very likely to form a bond with your older dog and take many of its cues from her. Dog-dog aggression is such an unpleasant behaviour that I would certainly avoid modeling it in front of a puppy.

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rightsaidfrederickII · 03/02/2018 20:24

Dogs certainly can and do learn from one another. I was playing fetch in the park with PestDog the other day and another owner wandered in our direction with their 5 month old puppy. To their amazement, their pup watched PestDog, grasped the concept of the game and started bringing back the ball (I always have a spare!) to his owners and dropping it at their feet. He'd never done that before!

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WasWildatHeart · 08/02/2018 07:56

Thanks everyone- I think it would be a problem and the puppy would learn all terriers bad habits (and maybe none of her lovely ones!) but other family members don’t get it. DH is worrying about not having a dog when DDog heads off to higher places but she is only 11 so I think she’ll be with us for many more years. I’m going to hold my ground and say no.