Cocker Specific Discussion > General Cocker Spaniel Discussion

Reactive dog and puppy?

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Candyfloss2022:
Hello everyone just looking for some advice please as I have been dancing around this topic for two years or so and I feel I need to make a decision one way or the other now! So I have a 9 year old neutered male golden cocker who is the most wonderful dog in the world :) I’m very isolated with no friends or family so my dog is my world however I’m haunted what will happen when he is no longer here and debating a puppy?

However he is quite protective/ resource guards me and can be reactive on a lead with dogs- is this asking for trouble? Will a puppy copy him? He also does bark in the garden at every car door slam, person go by etc which due to last neighbour moaning it makes me very worried someone else will complain ( once he barks more than twice or so I get him in of course) I worry a puppy will copy this?

And I worry he will be upset as it’s always just been us two, my vets are 50/50 split on this- some say yes I think a third ‘ being’ will stop it being so intense- another vet looked horrified :(  I have had behaviourists in since he was young and they said they could t suggest anything I wasn’t already doing and we are quite accepting of our little life on that front- he is what he is and the times we do venture into a cafe etc I just prepare like a military op in case kids/ dogs come at him etc

Anyone had a new puppy with a reactive dog or am I asking for trouble? I did try many tears btw but they wouldn’t let me adopt due to the reactivity before I get lambasted for ‘shop not adopt’. Thanks x

AndyB:
My immediate response is NO.  Sorry if I sound a little brutal.  I too am on my own.  I am a widow and have no children.  I have always had cockers and almost two years ago following the lost of my beloved boy Jazz, I adopted an 18 month old beautiful blue roan bitch who happens to be deaf.  Maisie was an extremely anxious dog and for the first three months it was very difficult.  I had many sleepless nights because she was barking.  Maisie can also be reactive with other dogs and I have realised it's her way of protecting me.  She now sees me as her saviour and is completely adorable, my shadow and incredibly loving and cuddly.  When anyone comes to the door she is there right away, standing between me and the person at the door, checking who it is and sometimes barking.  I now have a guard cocker, never had one of those before.   :lol2:  A relative brought her 5 month old cocker puppy to my house a few months ago and Maisie reacted very badly, it was a big mistake.  She had to telephone her partner to come and collect Charlie and take him back home.  I really think you would be creating a problem and it would be heartbreaking for you to take on a puppy which you would obviously come to love and adore and then find you have a massive problem and a very difficult decision to make.   I know this is not what you want to hear.  I think your dog would view the new puppy as a threat to your very close relationship with him and may be jealous. 

Mudmagnets:
I agree with AndyB for me it is not a case of adopt don't buy, that should be a decision (in my opinion) to make for yourself, and nothing to do with anyone else, but more the case that having a new puppy around an already jealous protective/reactionary dog is asking for trouble sadly.

With a new puppy either rescued or bought you have to consider the time it will take to train and care for him/her and how jealous this will make your other dog (who may feel he is being left out) and yes the new puppy could well pick up the older dog's bad habits and then you will have double trouble.

As I said at the beginning this is only my personal opinion and you and others may well disagree. It may work with an older dog who is less reactionary/protective - obviously all dogs are different

Good luck with whatever you decide.

JohnMcL:
Tough decision.
I didn’t plan on having a 6 month old join us when Peanut was a year old the following day. I was cornered, the owner didn’t want the pup back and I didn’t trust sending her back.
The barking is not twice as bad it’s worse. Peanut rarely barked but now it’s like a competition of who barks first, the other joins in and i need to get them both in or quiet very quickly - it’s stressful. It’s improving with work but progress is slow.

I’m lucky that both pups are easy,  so far I will add, it’s not been 3 months yet. We’ve had one spat, I separated them within two seconds, no injuries, but I do not trust them to leave them together alone. So that needs managing and is restrictive.

The other big thing that you’ve touched on is your bond with your dog, I struggle with this, probably more than Peanut does, I hope. I spend time with Peanut on our own to try and compensate but it’s not the two of us anymore and if I’m honest I miss that.
Training is impossible together. As a result the younger one is way behind Peanut was at the same age.
Walking together can be hard going. I’m lucky that neither pull on the lead but they would if I took my eye off the ball. I often take them out separately!
Feeding needs supervision - Peanut has turned from a picky/fussy/slow eater into she’ll wolf both bowels.
Copying - hmm. The pup brings branches, stones, my bamboo fencing into the house. Now Peanut does too.

They do get on well, they are beautiful together, I love them both and things will settle but it’s not easy and I would not have managed without help from my wife, we share two houses and have an 11 year old cocker girl, neither of us are ever without at least 1 dog. The 11 year old doesn’t bother with either pup, she’s very laid back.

I knew the temperament of the new pup for 3 weeks, she lived with us so I had half an idea of what permanent would be like.

Of course it’s different for everybody but I don’t think it’s worth the risk on the bond you have already. Think about it like having newborn twins as that is what it has felt like on occasion!

John.

Jaysmumagain:
Candyfloss it is this sentence that pulls at my heart as it very much is what I fear and know I am facing
I’m haunted what will happen when he is no longer here and debating a puppy?

I too thought long and hard about 4 years back and had like you both positive and negative thoughts. In the end I decided that Ollie with the issues he had( rescue ) was too much a mums boy and wouldn't take a pup or indeed another dog in the picture.

So in my dark moments I sink with the thoughts, yet part of me ( personally ) know it was more me wanting to cushion myself that was wanting a puppy.

I cannot say to you one way or the other what you should do - but for me I knew what Ollie was and is, so I made my descision - I hope you get a glimmer of light which points you in the right direction

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