Assertive Dog with a Timid dog

New Topic

Assertive Dog with a Timid dog

Ed G

Posted : 7/17/2006 9:40:07 AM

I have one assertive dog who is a collie mix, 9months old and spayed. She is still a puppy and likes to do all the puppy type things. We also have one very timid, docile, dog who is a terrier mix and 6 years old and spayed.

Our collie lunges and nips after our terrier mix and this puts her into a defensive mode. Our collie picks up on her defensive mode and then they being to growl and bark fiercely at each other. How do I get my terrier used to my collie mix if she keeps lunging and nipping at our terrier? Also how do I get my Collie from staring and lunging at my terrier ?

Ajalee Hood

Posted : 7/17/2006 12:48:03 PM

I am having the same problem with my Australian Shepherd mix puppy (Lakshmi), and my 2 year old toy poodle (Sophie). Lakshmi wants to play too rough for Sophie, then Sophie growls and lunges and gets Lakshmi so worked up that it ends up being a fight. So far, I've begun to teach Lakshmi the "off" command, and that has been working ok. When I see Lakshmi annoying Sophie, I tell her "off" and usually she will back off (we are still training, so it's not 100% yet). Then, I will distract her with a ball or a bone, and she will leave Sophie alone. Sophie is becoming less timid because she sees that I do have some control over the bigger dog. This is a long process, but hopefully Lakshmi's manners will improve with more training , and they will be able to play nice together.