Hiya! Can't help but feel slightly jealous that you've got two dogs to take the brunt of some of the cocker pup agro - mine reserved all of hers for me! Heeheehee!
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Just wanted to say, I've got a working type cocker ( my first cocker) and although I don't have any other dogs in the house, she was immediately socialised twice daily with all sorts of other dogs, and, like yours, my goodness was she in their faces! She would get growled at and nipped and would still go back for more! She was utterly relentless. It was totally all play, but she must have been so annoying!!
. She got quite badly roughed up a few times, so I just wanted to say that my pup is now 14 months and that in my experience:
a) They are quite tough and the regular tellings off don't seem to have made her nervous of other dogs at all- she is still very sociable and friendly with other dogs and has lots of friends ( some of whom told her off when she was younger).
b) Eventually she learned to approach other dogs with her paws on the floor.
If meeting a new dog head on now, she now does a polite down position and let's the other dog decide if they're having a play or just saying hi.
c) It is not one sided-our dog is fantastically tolerant with puppies-they can jump all over her head and she takes it all with good humour..maybe she remembers what she was like!
So, on balance, (this is just my opinion-as I am not an expert) but as long as your older dogs aren't getting too upset - not really old or Ill or something I would probably (keep an eye on them obviously) but let them sort it out between themselves. It sounds like your two existing dogs are nice people and wouldn't hurt the pup, perhaps if you give them permission to do what they think is appropriate, they can probably explain the rules to him quicker than you can, not speaking dog. If you know what I mean!
I had a springer before and I have to say, this little cocker has been very much harder in every way. We had to use tome out in the boring hallway for bad behaviour..Anything else she just thought was a hilarious game. She's doing great now though so it all comes good in the end.
I'm sure your dogs will all fit together just fine once the little whippersnapper has been put in its place! They are funny.
I can say that now.
For you....he stocked up on wine.