Holly has bitten!

[ShellyJeff]

I took Holly and Benson to my Sisters for the day and she has a 2 year old Chocolate Lab Bella. Benson & Bella has grown up together so they play and are friendly but this is the first time Holly & Bella have met.

Holly was showing all her teeth and was acting aggressive towards Bella and then she bit her?

She is sometimes aggressive towards dogs when we're out walking if they come up to her she snaps and tells them off. Benson is so laid back and docile I've never had to deal with this behaviour before?

[bracken]

How old is Holly ? What were the circumstances leading up to the incident ?

[Karma]

In addition to bracken's questions...

What there any injury?
How were they introduced?
What happened next?

[ShellyJeff]

Holly is almost 11 months old.
I was there on my own with the 3 dogs, we were sat in the lounge Benson was asleep in front of me and Holly sat to my left then Bella walked in very calmly to say hello and Holly went for her. She got her on the leg and Bella yelped but I checked her over and there was no blood.

I didn't really know what to do so I turned my back on Holly ignored her and gave Bella a fuss because she was feeling sorry for herself bless her.

I wondered if Holly was guarding me because later on Bella went to lay down and snuggle next to Benson and Holly chased her away. Holly is very quiet and never barks so when I heard her snap I was surprised.

When we got her she was only 9& half months old and she was very timid and shy so I'm wondering if she hasn't been socialised properly? I know they live together and it's different but she loves Benson she's like his little shadow and she'll cuddle up to him in the evenings on the sofa.

When we first got there I went in and let both Holly & Benson off the lead and they all sniffed each other then Benson & Bella started playing and Holly followed me round the house while I did some housework.

[cazza]

My personal opinion for what it's worth, is that you need to get this sorted now and get a behaviourist in to see the behaviour and work with you - as just on a forum we can't see the dogs reactions and signals etc  Also I think that getting a behaviourist in will help you read Holly's signals as you say she is very quiet and when you heard her snap you were surprised, but she would have been given off signals before this

from what you have said I would say it sounds like guarding, but not just you, but also Benson as she chased Bella away from curling up with him  - I would also agree that there is a good possibility that Bella hasn't been socialized properly

For what it's worth I would not have introduced them for the first time in a house but in the very least a garden as this was your sister's house and not yours, my advice for now would be DO NOT let another dog come into your own home / garden until you have got Holly and you some help and that includes your sisters laid back lab Bella

What was Holly's reation when you fussed Bella and turned your back on her after the event?

When you first got her did you socialise her as at 9 months?

Good luck and please get some proper help before this escalates, as now she has bitten another dog you can't be 100% that she wouldn't do the same to another or a human. Sorry some people may think I am scarmongering you, but I don't mean to, just want you to see the worst scenario if you don't get help now

[ShellyJeff]

Bella is 2 years old and has been socialised properly when she was younger she attended puppy parties along with Benson then group social walks once they hit 12 months, once Holly snapped at Bella she immediately stayed away from Holly and laid on the other side of the room. It's Holly who has not been socialised.

When I turned my back on Holly to fuss Bella she came rushing over to try and get a fuss too but I ignored her. The lady we got her from told us that she was not used to visitors and admitted she never cuddled her! So Holly was wary of me and I sat on the floor and let her come to me and eventually she wouldn't leave me alone she's loved cuddles ever since and she gets a lot of fuss in our house as there are 4 of us here.

We got her closer to 10 months and I was focusing on socialising her with people first and she's really good with them now she will approach people with a waggy tail instead of hiding behind me now. She is the same on her off lead walks with other dogs she actually wants to say hello and give them a sniff but that's the only socialisation she's had with other dogs so far.

[bluegirl]

I think Holly is guarding you, and she's warning Bella to keep away. I do have 2 girls who would both love to be my number one and as soon as one is closer to me they will single out the other and growl if they come near (they do not fight amongst each other though because one does not want confrontations). I divert these incidents from escalating by moving away from both of them so no one has more right to me than the other. I don't think you are likely to get the girls to be best buddies anytime soon but with careful handling they should be able to tolerate each other (more so Holly than Bella as Bella did not react) and diversion techniques may be the way to go. I know your natural instinct is to turn Holly away as soon as she bit Bella and then try to fuss Bella because she was hurt but I think it sends confusing signals to Holly that she needs to make more of an effort to guard you more from Bella because end result to Holly shows  Bella got the most attention which wouldn't make her any less stressed.

[Pudding]

I think Holly is guarding you, and she's warning Bella to keep away. I do have 2 girls who would both love to be my number one and as soon as one is closer to me they will single out the other and growl if they come near (they do not fight amongst each other though because one does not want confrontations). I divert these incidents from escalating by moving away from both of them so no one has more right to me than the other. I don't think you are likely to get the girls to be best buddies anytime soon but with careful handling they should be able to tolerate each other (more so Holly than Bella as Bella did not react) and diversion techniques may be the way to go. I know your natural instinct is to turn Holly away as soon as she bit Bella and then try to fuss Bella because she was hurt but I think it sends confusing signals to Holly that she needs to make more of an effort to guard you more from Bella because end result to Holly shows  Bella got the most attention which wouldn't make her any less stressed.

As soon as i read your post that was what i first thought Holly is guarding you

[ShellyJeff]

I think Holly is guarding you, and she's warning Bella to keep away. I do have 2 girls who would both love to be my number one and as soon as one is closer to me they will single out the other and growl if they come near (they do not fight amongst each other though because one does not want confrontations). I divert these incidents from escalating by moving away from both of them so no one has more right to me than the other. I don't think you are likely to get the girls to be best buddies anytime soon but with careful handling they should be able to tolerate each other (more so Holly than Bella as Bella did not react) and diversion techniques may be the way to go. I know your natural instinct is to turn Holly away as soon as she bit Bella and then try to fuss Bella because she was hurt but I think it sends confusing signals to Holly that she needs to make more of an effort to guard you more from Bella because end result to Holly shows  Bella got the most attention which wouldn't make her any less stressed.

Thanks Bluegirl,
We have been back this morning and when there were lots of people in the house (my Sister, her Husband and 3 kids) Holly was completely different she hardly paid me any attention and sniffed Bella and there were lots of waggy tails.
I know some people wouldn't have brought them together again so soon but I spend alot of time here so they have to learn to be in each others company or I'll have to leave Holly at home which I don't want to do.
We're going walking in the woods today so I'm hoping they'll be different out of the house. Then I'll take Holly & Benson home so they don't have to spend all day together. I'll continue to go over for a few hours each time.

[Karma]

You really would be better leaving Holly at home until you can get a behaviourist in to observe as Cazza suggested.    Holly really only gave a warning this time - if she meant to cause damage, she would have done.  BUT, if you keep putting her in a situation where she feels she needs to react, it will increase.

Guarding is a very complex behaviour and you need to be alert for the very small signs Holly will be giving off, which a behaviourist will be able to pinpoint for you.

Honey started guarding us when she was a similar age, and it got a lot worse before it got better - while we didn't see a behaviourist specifically, we did have regular contact with a behaviourist through the training we attended at the time, so were able to get good professional advice.  But it took months to see any progress and get back to a point where we could even acknowledge another dog out on our walks.  I also learned a LOT about canine commuincation so that I could see when Honey was feeling uncomfortable (and also when she was justified in telling off another dog because *their* body language was inappropriate!). 

[cazza]

Bella is 2 years old and has been socialised properly when she was younger she attended puppy parties along with Benson then group social walks once they hit 12 months, once Holly snapped at Bella she immediately stayed away from Holly and laid on the other side of the room. It's Holly who has not been socialised.

Sorry I did mean Holly and not Bella - it was the early hours and my brain obviously wasn't 100% awake