[fishhead]

I adopted a 1 1/2 yr old springer this spring and cannot figure out how to discipline her without my other dog thinking that I'm disciplining him.

She is absolutely relentless at chasing and snapping at him every single time he tries running. She even races to him and jumps on his back as he sits next to the truck and will pull out hair from his back.

He tolerates her very well which is lucky for her since he's 75 lbs and she's 45 lbs.

Whenever I scold her I shout her name Coco! first followed by No!

My older dog still acts like he's the one getting scolded. His name is Buck so the names don't sound anything like each other.

If he starts to run I'll try to make her stop chasing but when I tell her to stop he stops.

How do you get the message across that commands are specific to a certain dog?

 

[Bearfootfarm]

Use different commands for each dog. The dog doesnt know what "no" means until you teach him the word. Its your tone of voice and other actions that convey what you want.

I've seen Malinois drug dogs that only understood commands in Dutch.

Another thing that is "dog specific" would be a shock collar. It just depends on how serious a problem it is

 

[fishhead]

Thanks. Virtually any command will make Buck stop whatever he's doing and sit.

 

[2horses]

Put a shock collar on the springer and zap her when she jumps your other dog. Choose a word that is specific to her and that behavior, and say it forcefully (single syllable works best) when you zap her. She'll associate the word with the shock and you should be able to stop the behavior without the collar once she understands the command. You can even use a word for correction that isn't a corrective word - just something you can say quickly.

Good luck!

Pam <---------------- would use the word QUIT

 

[Corgitails]

I'd actually recommend NOT using a shock collar but doing some serious work with her (on leash) to teach "leave it!".

 

[Maura]

Is this the only issue you have with this dog? I think she is trying to dominate your older dog. Or, she may think that he is instigating play when he starts running, and she doesn't know how to play. Teach her to retrieve. Everytime she starts for the older dog, tell her "fetch" and toss a frisbee or something. This will distract her. If both dogs go after the toy, use two toys and see how that works. If you are diligent, and continue to distract her with the fetch game, she may forget about jumping all over the old dog.

Instead of using "no" when the spaniel is going something you don't want, have her "do" something else. She needs to know sit, down, wait, come, etc so that you develope better control over her.

 

[fishhead]

I used the chasing of my other dog as an example but am more interested in knowing how to be able to give her a command without Buck thinking I'm giving it to him. Poor dog thinks I'm scolding him when he hasn't done anything wrong or will come when I'm calling her. It may have to do with him being the only dog for so many years.

How do you give a command to a specific dog?

It does seem that she doesn't know how to play nice. She doesn't bite me but hits you with her teeth. The springer I used to have did that until she was 2. Coco does grab his legs and if he spins around with teeth bared she will not back down. Sooner or later he is going to show her who's boss. I did see him put his paw on her shoulder and dominate her once when his patience wore out. That time she accepted it.

 

[Maura]

You need to train Coco seperately. Once she is doing well, work them both together. Use Coco's name, give command, then your other dog. Repeat repeat repeat. Then, work on using His name first. For instance, "Bobo, sit" he sits. "Coco down". When Bobo moves to lie down, you give him an aversive, "Ahhhhh!!" and motion him to go back to his sit. Treats help. When Bobo holds his sit, give them both a treat (Bobo first because he's higher ranking).

Speaking of rank, are you maintaining Bobo's rank? He should get his dinner first, be treated first, petted first, etc. I would also keep Coco off the furniture.

 

[Rouen]

have you tried draining the puppies energy till she's exhuasted? a year and a half is still very much a puppy but adult enough to really exercize, and a dog with no energy to burn will not be a bother to the other dog.

 

[fishhead]

Yes Buck is still top dog in this house.

I do throw the ball to work Coco a bit but she's a springer so short of making her run behind the truck for a few miles exhaustion isn't possible.

This fall I'll make it a point to train her separately.