our coton growls consistently at our other dog

How can we get our Coton to stop growling at our other dog? This is non stop behavior. She will growl at her even for walking in the room. I am afraid that one day one will hurt the other.

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Jan 20, 2015
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Two dogs. . . NEW
by: Anonymous

My Coton responds well to reasoning. First, I explain the processes & reasoning. He seems to get just about everything. Only once did I have to sit him down in my lap for "an adult" talk. I told him I was the boss, not him. He acted out yet again. I told him he would need to find a new home if he didn't listen to the rules (he was biting aggressively). I gave him to my cleaning lady, with his favorite animal toy, and told him to go find a new home. She drove him around-the-block in her car & came right back. He was shaking in fear. I greeted him & his toy animal home. He's never bit since.

In your case, I get your Coton is afraid, fearful. He's so small and feels uncomfortable. He growls from high places cause he feels secure enough to do so. Punishing this fear is not the answer in my opinion.

The Coton needs to learn safe ways to play with the older dog. Learning to be best friends. Comfortability. I get that the older dog is communicating in "doggie" talk some message where she is unhappy with the Coton. Integrating the two dogs is the next step. Find a creative way to figure this out.

I'd try this creative idea: On the next growl from the Coton I'd take the older dog for a short walk. I'd talk to the older dog asking him to find ways to love & play with the Coton. On returning I'd have the older dog wait in the car or truck. I'd re-enter the home without the other dog. That would get the Coton's attention! After several minutes I'd ask the Coton if he wanted to help find his older sister. I'd take the Coton for a brief walk looking for the other dog, eventually finding him in the family vehicle. Happy family all go in the home together!

This may smarten-up both dog's attitudes and permit the Coton to believe that he invited the older dog into his home. The older dog may even be grateful the Coton found him. Treats await for both dogs in their happy home!

I'd Try that each time the Coton growls. After 3x, reverse the roles. Sometimes we need to loose what we don't like to find a way to get along. I get the older dog is with the subliminal attitude.

Dec 09, 2014
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Coton growls at our older bichon NEW
by: Anonymous

Thanks Vicky I wish I had the channel to watch Caesar. I and we in the household have been stern but not enough. I get this and I and we will more stern and hope the constant coton growling will cease towards our older bichon. Thanks so much :)

Dec 03, 2014
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Dog Whisperer NEW
by: Vicky & Jonah

I'm sorry I forgot to put Saturday Mornings is the day it is on weekly. I still use my old VCR to record. I find that when I watch shows on dog training every time I rewatch I catch things more clearly on a trainers points they r trying to make.Goodluck

Dec 03, 2014
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Coton dominates older Bichon NEW
by: Vicky & Jonah

I hope I have the hierarchy right on label. I have saved this trying to think of how to approach this ques in writing. It is such a hard thing to say what to do over a post. For the last month I have spent recording Cesar Millen 'Dog Whisperer' in AZ on channel 6 The CW from 7am-8am. He may b on in ur area around this time. I never really watched him much just bc we didn't have his channel in our pkg. He deals w/hierarchy of dogs in households quite a bit which may help.

When I talk of hierarchy some examples r the 1st dog in household always gets his treats, food & pets 1st this establishing that he is king of the house. Which if I understand is the Bishon. If the Coton gets on the furniture, bed & starts to bark at the older Bichon he needs to b taken off furniture w/a sharp Ah Ah or Shhh bc it is your furniture not the Coton. He is a dog & needs to b put in his place. You r head of the pack. Period! Then comes the Bichon bc he is the oldest & 1st in the house b4 the Coton. If I understand correctly. Knowing this is a hard subject to explain over a post if you can record the DW shows they would b a grt 8 help in helping.

I do understand the situation u r in bc yrs ago I had a 6# Maltese/Poodle mix & got a male Silky & made the mistake of not establishing 1st one rules & my Silky keep intimidating my little one until I got help.

I hope this helps or some. Good Luck.

Nov 06, 2014
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Coton growls NEW
by: Anonymous

Hi thanks for your reply. Our other dog is a full bichon friise and she is 8. They are both fixed females. I used to think the trigger was jealousy but now it occurs when ever our cotton feels like growling at our bichon. It is really bad when the cotton is off the floor as when she is higher in a chair or the bed while the bichon is on the floor.

Nov 05, 2014
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growling NEW
by: Vicky & Jonah

How old & breed or mix is the dog ur Coton intimidates. Are they fixed & what r the sexes & age of 2nd dog? Is their a trigger or they just seem jealous of each other so can happen at any time.

I also like Victoria Stillwell & have probably watched each one of her shows over 10 times. About 2 wks ago was the 1st time I had seen her on Animal Planet in a long time.

You can watch them on line on You tube but when she was on every morning I would record them. Every time I rewatched them I would pick up or understand the process more clear. Honestly I was surprised how I absorbed more w/a clearer understanding of steps.

The one Sherry is talking about that was on not this past Sat but the previous one would b worth a view. You might b able to still view on Animal Planet.

Nov 04, 2014
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Our coton growls at our other dog
by: Anonymous

Hi thanks for your advice. I will definately give that a try. I like the command part n like you say hopefully they can concentrate on that rather than growl all the time. :)

Nov 04, 2014
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growling coton
by: sherry cotton candie

I just saw the other night on the tv show "Me or the Dog" where a family had the same problem. One was a large mixed dog and the other a yorkie. They could not be in the same room without fighting and the trainer Victoria had them walk the dogs together outside.

After a few times of that she had them keep them on leashes and bring them back inside and tell them to sit- stay. She rewarded them with treats and after awhile the dogs did not even notice each other they only focused on commands.

I realize with the time lapse it would take more than the one hour show but perhaps you might want to try....It is difficult when our dogs do not get along----hope this might help you.

Good Luck----

Nov 04, 2014
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Any other Suggestions
by: Anonymous

Hi unfortunately we do not have a dog park or any other place to gather n socialize our dogs. We live in small community with dogs that carry puppy parvovirus often. As for other dogs visiting that does not occur due to allergies. The coton is two years old.

Nov 03, 2014
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growls
by: Vicky & Jonah

How old is ur Coton? Do you socialize @ a dog park or play area & when u walk do u walk alone or w/another person & their dog?

When company comes do they bring their dogs along & do they play?

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