Puppy becoming aggressive to our other dog

[June340oo]

Please be gentle, this is a heart breaking situation and just looking for advice..

Our male 7 month old cocker spaniel puppy has started to become aggressive towards our older male dog, who is 2.5 years old - this has only started in the last 4-6 weeks, it’s progressively getting worse, he started off by resource guarding toys, so these were removed and allowed only outside or if the dogs are separated and can play with their toys alone. It’s now progressed into guarding areas of the house and it’s got to the stage he will sit and wait for our dog to walk past him, will start whining and then just lunge at his face, he hasn’t broken skin but he means business when he does this and it is entirely unprovoked and our other dog is just minding his own business and then he’ll whine and just go for him.

we have been to a vet incase he was in pain and we didn’t know and it was causing this aggression and he’s had a full health check and there’s no physical issues with him. On the vets advice we’ve tried an adaptil plug in, anti-anxiety medication incase it was fear based aggression and nothing seems to be working. We have been working with a behaviouralist and have been implementing their advice but nothing seems to be working.

it’s like a switch is flicked and he just lunges at our other dog and then 10 minutes later, he’s cuddled up next to him. The unpredictability of it is making myself and DH so anxious and we have a small child who we are worried is going to get in the middle of it. We don’t want to have to re-home him, we adore him but we feel so awful for our older dog who seems anxious and walking on egg shells around him despite not being a threat and never showing him any aggression back to him and doesn’t correct his behaviour

we don’t know what to do, and are just wanting advice or help from anyone that has been in this situation before and the outcome?

What did the behaviourist advise?

It sounds like adolescence has hit with a vengeance, and that's probably a big part of this.

Some dogs don't manage living with other dogs very well. My own is one of them; I don't know the details but he was rehomed from his first home in what I suspect were similar circumstances (details are murky). Like yours, he resource guards around other dogs. With my dog, he's fine when out / off lead but really struggles when in a confined space / on lead. He's just happier as an only dog.

There are some circumstances where rehoming is best for everyone, including the dog. I wouldn't rule it out for your dog.

I know its early but neuter?

I knew a very aggressive cocker who started ike this, cocker rage (what colour is your cocker?). he was put down, very dangerous and bit a child too

sorry OP, i would neuter and rehome (through a rescue) at the very least

Not a cocker, but male dog. He is younger than female but sits and stares at her to intimidate her. He ‘goes’ for her, but never seriously, though not playfully either- what I mean is he isn’t intending on attacking her. She is intimidated by him though and reluctant to walk past him.
We had him neutered but it made no difference.He is devoted to her normally. I feel awful to think he is bullying her, but two minutes later she is wagging her tail at seeing him. I am hoping the little bugger grows out of it!

@carly2803

he is full chocolate (liver) do certain colours have more chance of having cocker rage?

we spoke the vets about neutering but he was very reluctant due to his age and said it could make his aggression worse. He mentioned chemical castration as a possible option however as this is temporary

He's far, far too young to be neutered - he's barely hit adolescence.

How much time do the two dogs spend apart? I would be giving them both plenty of space and walking/training/feeding etc. separately for now so that you can protect your older dog.

What training have you done with the cocker? They're super intelligent, active dogs and need a job or they do go a bit bonkers in my experience. Have you considered gundog training?

Do not castrate!

Resource guarding is extremely common in spaniels

A dog that resource guards is a stressed dog

You will need a lot of management in place to prevent it happening - this should have been discussed by the behaviourist

DO make sure your behaviourist is qualified to minimum of level 5. If not change behaviourist.

Resource guarding only gets worse and can spread like fire if not taken seriously.

I hope your qualified behaviourist can help you

Neutering is the worst thing you can do with an anxious dog. And 'cocker rage' is a very very rare thing. I personally as a dog trainer who trains lots of cockers have never seen it but I have seen the majority resource guard which is of course fear.

You need in house support with this. It's not insurmountable but it does need tacking now.

I agree about cocker rage - I get a bit sick of seeing it trotted out on every single thread about cocker spaniels.

It's incredibly rare and that's if it even exists - there's lots of debate around it I believe.

@coffeecupsandwaxmelts

The dogs spend a lot of time together, however they are fed in separate rooms (this has always been the case) as when the cocker was a tiny pup he’d walk over and try and eat out of the older dogs bowl, he never showed any aggression but we didn’t want this to become a habit. They have 30 min off lead walk in the mornings before I head off to work at 9am, I come home again at 11am so they can go outside for the bathroom. They have a dog Walker at 12:30 who takes them for a 1.5 hour woodland or beach walk and then I’m home again by 3pm. When I’m home, the older dog spends a lot of his time just lying down and resting, whereas the cocker is very busy and wants to play so I normally go outside with him and do some clicker training and throw ball etc. It’s hard because one minute he is cuddled up next to my other dog and the next he’ll just start to whine and lunge at him. I have never had this behaviour in any of my dogs before, so I feel so out of my depth but I’m doing everything I can to try and minimise the risk to my older dog, who I feel awful for as he’s so kind natured and won’t respond or correct any of his behaviour.

My FIL has suggested training as a gun dog as he goes shooting regularly and already has 3 spaniels who are very good gundogs. I think he’d really benefit from doing a job and keeping mentally active. In the house (separately) he always has a kong or a frozen lick mat to keep him occupied on the occasions I have to get stuff around the house.

its just a very hard situation to be in, when I love them both equally but it’s becoming an awful environment for both of them.

Unfortunately the reality is that many working dogs are not suitable for living in "pet" homes - they need to be somewhere they can work, and when they don't get that outlet, they become frustrated and that shows in their behaviour.

I would also stop chucking a ball for him - all it does is hype them up.

He’s way too young even as a non working breed to be on his own that long IMO. That amount of exercise is also vastly too much. He’s going to be wired.

I think you need to look at his day as a whole which your behaviourist will do. Working cockers are very hard work and need a lot of input. I’ve taught many. I couldn’t live with one. They need too much. He’s still a baby. You may have to look at a sitter at least some days for him.