Originally Posted by Kimmy173

I don't agree with this. You should be the pack leader, not your cocker spaniel! You've had both for a long time and by the way you're talking it sounds like the cocker has always been the pack leader. Watch Dog Whisperer and take action !

The pecking order is leader, everyone else is a follower. Get your energy in the right place and keep thinking this is MY house! See the stage one of the cocker's behaviour, the signs that the Dane keeps missing as evie said, but you can recognise them. Prolongued eye contact, the stiffening of the chest, redirect the cocker's thoughts so he doesn't attack your dane! Ceser on Dog whisperer is amazing and I suggest you watch a few episodes to see what I'm talkin about.

I know I'm sounding quite aggressive in this post, I'm sorry. It's just I don't believe in letting one dog pick on another to the point on drawing blood, because it's "nature's way". be the boss!

Originally Posted by Evie

You don't have to agree. I don't watch the dog whisperer, I am talking from experience of this particular problem, with several generations of dogs.

Try this for new thinking. People aren't dogs and as such can't be part of a pack. The pack only includes the 2 dogs concerned and one has to be the leader and one is the omega. I didn't say that the attacks should be allowed to continue, I said that the dogs have to be allowed their pecking order and the way to limit the conflict is to support the order as it is. Cages and muzzles are ok a restraints but they won't solve the problem, nither will punishing the spaniel - the owner has already said this aggravetes the problem. I hope my explaination as to why the problem exists may lead the owner to understand the issues and then work with that knowledge to solve the problem.

Programs like the dog whisperer give the impression that serious behavioural problems can be fixed in five minutes. This is not the case at all.

Originally Posted by mckala

I think that if you watched the Cesar work you would change your mind. Humans are part of the pack and have to be pack leader.

Originally Posted by Evie

I have seen it a couple of times but don't make a habit of watching. He uses choke chains and pinch collars in some cases, and I dont have any time for that kind of training. I am sure it works for him but I prefer a more hands off and reward based approach.

Please tell me why there are so many dogs who are aggressive with other dogs and fight with dogs in the park but wouldn't dream of attacking a human? And why hasn't the cocker spaniel in question ever attacked its owner in order to acheive a higher status?

Originally Posted by mckala

The short answer to this question is they do! Dogs do bite and even kill humans.
Lots of dogs are human aggresive but not animal.

Originally Posted by Evie

Ok deliberately misinterpreting the question doesn't make you right. I posted here because I wanted to help not because I wanted to argue.

Lots of people have posted on the strength that they have kept dogs all their lives. So bear in mind that We have all lived among people all our lives but it doesnt make us psychologists, we have all spoken English all our lives but it doesn't make us English teachers - there's a bit more study involved.