Younger dog aggressive towards older dog

[Mouseorchestra7]

I have a ten-month old working cocker, and a 10-year old working cocker. Their relationship has always been fractious, but recently it has got worse with the younger dog snarling and growling at the older one whenever she approaches (and the younger dog is on the sofa or bed with me). It’s like she is territorial. If they get too close it turns into a fight and it’s quite scary to behold (although, touch wood, no injuries yet). I’m worried that they could hurt each other. They otherwise get along ok on walks, etc. Both dogs dislike other dogs (although have never hurt another dog (just growl and bark).

Any tips on how to control this behaviour? Is it just going to get worse? I’m so worried they will hurt each other

Why are you allowing to turn into a fight?You can see the warning signs and the triggers!
Stop the young dog from coming on the sofa etc, any sign of the growling I'd remove the young one from room, so unfair on your older dog to be attacked.

Sounds like you have two anti-social dogs who surprise surprise are anti-social with each other.
Avoid triggering behaviours and seek out a recommended behaviourist ASAP.

I think you need to step in and discipline the younger dog. Remove her from the room and confine her elsewhere when she starts. Let her know it is not acceptable. If you go out do not let them stay together.
Perhaps introduce a muzzle if the behaviour continues just when they are indoors.
She needs to learn it is not in her best interests to do this.

Hi @OnaBegonia. Sometimes it is out of the blue and they will go for each other, although only seems to be noise and baring of teeth at this stage. The other day it happened in the back of the car, and had to pull over and put a stop to it.

No dog has been hurt yet, and I should note that the older dog can be a bully at times as well. In fact up until recently, she has been the aggressor, but now the little one seems to have become more aggressive. So it’s six of one, half a dozen of the other. It just worries me they are both volatile now.

@SantaHat Yep, you are right. They actually are my parents’ dogs, but the younger one is more mine, and I visit regularly to spend time with them. I’m pushing them to engage with a behaviourist.

How can one be more yours if the dog doesn't live with you?
The older dog is probably intolerant of the pup, introducing pup with a much older dog is often a mistake

@OnaBegonia I bought her for my parents and may take her at some point when I move down to near where my parents are (certainly will if the dogs continue not to get on). I think part of the issue may be that she is very bonded to me and territorial around me when I am here. So a lot of factors.

In terms of the age difference, I’ve read that it’s worse/more volatile if they are closer in age. My parents have previously had WCs with similar age difference, and no issues. Agree that it probably is an intolerance thing, but the Q is how we address it.

If you were going to take her in the future take her now before she gets worse or hurt

Why on earth did you buy your parents a puppy knowing their older dog (in your words) "dislikes other dogs"

What a silly, reckless and potentially incredibly dangerous thing to do.

You need to have a gated community and keep the dogs away from each other to start with.

Put doorgates into rooms and make sure dogs are in different rooms at all time. The dogs need to be able to calm down at home and feel safe. It may be ok for the dogs to see each other from different rooms but someone in rl would have to tell you if that is going to be ok for the dogs to start with.

If they are travelling together in the car they need to be in separate metal crates

As the younger dog is getting older this will escalate without a correct behavoural plan. If they once have a full on fight it will be very very hard to alter their behaviour to each other so best to get onto this asap

Contact a qualifife behaviourist

Are they both bitches? Bitches will seriously fight once they take a dislike to each other and do some awful damage. So keeping them apart is a good idea. It may be that the older dog is weaker for some reason, like illness and the younger has picked up on it, so get her checked out too if you suspect this. Good luck with it all.

Two bitches together is not a good mix.

The older dog is dog aggressive and has taught the puppy the same manners unfortunately. They need separating, ideally to live separately, before one of both get hurt.
Would the breeder take the younger dog back to rehome? It doesn't sound like your parents, or you, have the necessary knowledge or experience to work through this problem.

I introduced a third dog to my two settled ones. Tm my shame I treated the third as a diva and she behaved accordingly. Even as a very young pup she developed anti social behaviour towards the older two and I didn't nip it in the bud quick enough. The older two were terrified of diva. I had a behaviourist to the house who didn't see any problem as the youngest behaved beautifully.
I just want you to know that it ended badly and even though it was ten years ago it plays on my mind regularly. It was all my fault. The pup was gorgeous towards humans and I treated her differently. Allowed her to be nearest me on the sofa and bed etc and didn't discipline when she started her aggressive behaviour.
Please learn from my mistakes. These dogs need separating now. It's not fair on either of them

@fairylightsandwaxmelts What a completely OTT comment. The older dog got on beautifully with my parents’ previous dog, so there was every reason to think she would be fine with a new puppy, and in fact she does generally get on with the new dog. They are very happy dogs. There is just the occasional ‘spat’. My parents always meant to buy a third dog, so it wasn’t a case of just buying her out of the blue. Their dogs have always been incredibly healthy and happy. They have owned WCs for 25 years. Your comment is not helpful.

@hesbeen2021 Thank you for your comment. I’ll make sure my parents/we nip this in the bud now, and contact a behaviourist.

@weaselwords The older dog is in rude good health. Very wiry, happy and robust. They get taken to the vets all the time. But thank you.

@PollyRoulllson Thank you for your advice. Really useful.

@AgathaX Agreed.

[quote Mouseorchestra7]@fairylightsandwaxmelts What a completely OTT comment. The older dog got on beautifully with my parents’ previous dog, so there was every reason to think she would be fine with a new puppy, and in fact she does generally get on with the new dog. They are very happy dogs. There is just the occasional ‘spat’. My parents always meant to buy a third dog, so it wasn’t a case of just buying her out of the blue. Their dogs have always been incredibly healthy and happy. They have owned WCs for 25 years. Your comment is not helpful.[/quote]
Not unhelpful or OTT at all, though perhaps not very nice to hear.

Your parents have a bitch that you openly admit dislikes other dogs.
You then introduce a second bitch when it's well known that bitches can (and do) fight to the death.
The dogs already dislike each other to the point that numerous fights have broken out.

Introducing a new bitch to a resident bitch that already openly dislikes other dogs is dangerous and foolish.

@GeneLovesJezebel

Two bitches together is not a good mix.

Especially when the older, resident bitch is well known to dislike other dogs.

Posts about bitches that fight always remind me of the poor lady on here a few years ago who came home from the shops to find her bitches had fought and one was lying dead on the floor

I had this with my young American bulldog and my older Staffie fighting. We honestly thought we would have to rehome the younger dog, but tried a behaviourist as a last resort. He came and solved the issue within an hour! Whereabouts are you? I can definitely recommend the behaviourist we used - he is Midlands based.

@fairylightsandwaxmelts Utterly unhelpful. You clearly want to leap to the conclusion that I (and my parents) are neglectful, bad dog owners. They are unbelievably happy and healthy dogs, and the reason I have come on here to ask the question is because I love them dearly, as do my parents, and if there is an issue developing, I want constructive advice as to how to deal with it. There are reams of owners with more than one female dog that get along fine (that was my parents with their previous dogs - they have always had bitches).

@Ethelily That’s awesome, and very reassuring to hear. My parents are going to get a behaviourist. We are in Dorset, so might be a bit far for your one!

@Mouseorchestra7 I don't think you're bad owners but I do think on this occasion you've made a mistake by continuing to keep these particular dogs together knowing they fight.

Your parents may have had no issues before, and yes, many owners keep two bitches quite happily, but as you admit yourself, both bitches in this scenario dislike other dogs and as a result they are already fighting.

So my advice would be to split these dogs up as soon as possible before one of them gets badly hurt and they end up even more reactive towards each other and other dogs.

While a behaviourist is a nice idea how can you ever trust these two dogs alone?