Expert: Delores Beck - 1/2/2010

Question
QUESTION: I have 2 Cocker Spaniels (one is 5 and the other is 4); the elder one has always been aggressive to the younger one without being provoked in the slightest.  The younger one is in hospital at the moment with a slipped disc and i am of the opinion that when he is able to return i will have to either keep the 2 of them completely separated with is unfair on both of them, or the alternative is seek alternate accommodation for one of them. I do not want to do this so i am looking for help as to how and prevent these un-provoked attacks so i can feel safe that the younger one will have a better life and get better after his operation. Thanks, Mel (UK)

ANSWER: Is your 5 year old neutered?  I'd very strongly recommend that for a lot of reasons.

First, tell me what you do when this happens?  Have you had both of them as puppies or is the 4 year old relatively new?

You will need to keep the poor little chap who's had surgery VERY quiet for awhile and that will probably mean a puppy gate.  Even under calm circumstances, they can't be allowed to "play, run, jump".

But that's a temporary situation.  Yes, you can stop this nonsense and I have a feeling you've kind of let it go on :) and now it's a bit of a crisis.  We can address it.  Your older boy is ruling the roost and I have a few tricks for boys who think they're the alpha dog :).

Barney is a total cutie - is the the problem boy?

So first I need to know this - your elder boy is behaving aggressively - tell me precisely what you do.
Delores

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for the quick reply! Barney is the little one who is in hospital - he is a cutie!  Well this behaviour has gone since he arrived.  Willis is the older one and when he attacks him we tap him on his nose and then we will put him in a separate room for a short amount of time until he clams down then we let him back in.  I think we have both always thought that his behaviour would calm down and that the attacks would stop, now as you have stated we are at a crucial point where we can no longer have him behave like this.  They have both been neutered, about a year ago because we wanted to try and change the situation between them, unfortunately this has not helped and we try and take him on long walks to reduce his energy but nothing seems to stop him. We are keen fans of the dog whisper and watch it regularly for tips.  Barney should be able to come home in the next week or so, but as you noted (and has the vet) he can only have 5 minute walks and will not be able to jump on couches or climb any stairs in case his back dislodges. Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks again, Mel

ANSWER: Melanie, dogs simply don't "get" a time out.  And you "tap him" on the nose?  Okay, I'm really laughing here.  No wonder he doesn't stop behaving badly.

And I need to know exactly what you mean by "Willis ATTACKS him".  Is this a lot of "show" stuff or has he drawn blood? Be precise. And how long have you had Barney?  

I'm glad you're a fan of the Dog Whisperer...Cesar is a fabulous, no-nonsense trainer.  I'm sure he'd giggle at your time out and "tap" on the nose.  I know I did :).

Willis is getting away with murder and no-one is really delivering any motivation to stop.
Dogs are simple.  You do "that" - and "this" happens.  No yelling - punishing - lots of drama.
It has to be fast, simple and direct.

If you'd written me right away when this began, I would have told you to get some empty pop/beer cans - put about 15 pennies in - duct tape top shut.  Willis goes after Barney...you say NO in a firm voice - raise the can in the air and bring it down HARD once. (You do "that" and "this" happens).
No conversation - taps on nose - time out.  One NO and a thundering crash. You walk away.
It's over.

How is Willis with other dogs in general?  Is this behavior limited to Barney?
Delores

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: We do try to be stern with him!  There has been one episode where he draw blood around the testicles, however i do not know if this was because of the way they were seperated or because that was where Willis aimed for.  When he goes for him Barney tends to lie on his back (trying to be submissive) and uses his legs to try and push Willis away, me or my partner separate them as soon as we here anything, left to there own devices i don not know if anything more serious might have happened.  We have had Barney since he was a pup and he is a year younger than Willis, they also have the same dad.  We do realise we need to be more strict and intend to start, don't get me wrong we have tried to change his behaviour, things like making sure he leaves the house after us when we take him for a walk and other things however after watching various programmes and hearing your advice it is pretty clear that we need to act more calmly around him and make sure he knows he is not the pack leader, and doing something like you suggested with the beer can, a sharp noise to distract him when he is behaving badly. Thanks, Mel (I have attached a picture of Wilis)

Answer
Calm and authoritative is the way to go.  Dogs do not respect yelling, swatting, or a lot of drama.

First you'll have to get Barney through his healing process and that does mean he'll have to be separated from Willis and generally watched carefully.  But one thing you can do during this period is the "umbilical cord exercise" with Willis.  You just use his short, light leash and attach it to you (belt loop - whatever works) and where you go, he goes.  NO CHAT.

The message to a dog is "You are not in control and you are not the pack leader."  The leash is a powerful tool.  And oddly, both anxious dogs and aggressive dogs react the same way to this exercise.  And doing this will allow Barney a little more freedom during his recuperation.

The fact is you've let this go on and not addressed it properly.  It's overdue!  So get through the post surgery - watch Willis like a hawk - do the umbilical cord exercise when Barney is free and get all over this when Barney is better.

Get a few cans - they've got to be "there" - no use if you have to go hunt one down.
Be prepared - be fast. Act at the first signal. One growl and you're on it.  Most dogs will experience this maybe twice and then they'll flee if they just see you pick up the can and give it a little tinkle.

A dog's hearing is about 50x more sensitive than ours - so this "crash" of noise is totally startling and not something they want to experience.

Also - when Barney is up for walks - take them together.  And you walk with two humans in the middle and a dog on either side.  You walk - you stop - you watch.  At the first sign of Willis acting out, it's "let's go" and move on.

The key to training is to anticipate and stop the behavior before the dog is "in flight" so to speak.

I do hope sweet Barney comes through his surgery well.
Delores