Hi everyone,

This is my first post, so, a little background first! I have a 10 year old male vizsla mix, and a 4 year old Manchester Terrier. I got into training when I got the vizsla mix, and later started conformation with a basenji. I got sort of bored of that, and I'm now getting myself into obedience with the manchester terrier. I've been to other training forums but this one seems a little more serious, and since I'm trying to break into other areas of training, I think it's a good spot for me. Anyhow, on to the problem!

The terrier is constantly harassing the vizsla mix. If she decides she wants to sleep where he's sleeping, she'll go up to him, barking and snarling. Other times it seems she just wants to play, but even if he doesn't, she'll follow him around nipping at his feet and grabbing onto the skin on his neck. His response is to just try and ignore her, but some times when she's being particularly pesky, he'll find me and start whining until I get her to stop. Most of the time they get along, but I feel pretty bad in these moments. Is there something I can do to try and prevent her from bugging him other than separating them, and is there a better response than me putting her into a down stay for a few minutes when I catch her doing it? The down stay for a minute seems to distract her and after that she goes off on her own.

Any ideas or criticisms of my current response?

Thanks everyone.

If you have to have them together I would advise teaching the leave it command and an e-collar. Works wonders for my two when they get too rowdy!

Well, your bratty Man.Terror is tormenting your poor old Viz half to death (he's begging you to put the little bitch in her place!) but you don't want to keep them separated -- So I'm with Steve:

You could e-collar avoidance/escape train the ManTer to stay the HELL away from your veteran Viz all the time, but you will still have to supervise constantly -- So, why not just put up a few baby-gates instead ???

Candi's baby gate idea is good, but it may not be enough. I have a bratty Chihuahua who has tormented my GSD since day 1, and if those two are in the mood to tangle, I can separate them, but they'll still stare and growl at each other. I can put the Chi out of the room and he'll still quietly snarl every time he hears the GSD walking around nearby. Separating them actually seemed to make them resent each other more, if that makes sense. For this reason, I'd try the e-collar or a dominant dog collar (or just scruff the little beast). I would grab and scruff my Chi every time he pulled any of his stunts so my GSD wouldn't have to correct him. Your Viz is MUCH more patient and less dominant than my GSD, it sounds like (lucky!). Therefore, it's even more unfair to allow this behavior; my GSD has put my Chi in his place a couple of times, well-deserved, and still his attitude does not change. These little ones can be incorrigible, and it's horribly unjust to the bigger guys, and could prove deadly to the little ones if they ever got what they deserved. Tough situation, I know. P.I.T.A, too, to keep them separated at all times, but probably your first step.

Is it better or worse when you're close by? In my case, mine get along great when I'm not there, like when they're outside. My Chi minds his own business unless I'm right there to bail his snotty little a$$ out of trouble. Smart little punk. <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Jenni,

Ok. I know your post was not meant to be funny, but it gave me the best laugh of the day. I visualized the chihuahua and the GSD in a staredown. (Like in a western movie. "There's only room for one of us in this town, kid!") I mean, I have to give chihuahuas credit they are fearless. Don't the chihuahuas realize that with a little nip from a GSD they could be lunch?

By the way, it seems every chihuahua I have met has an attitude. Are most of them like that?

Oh Carolyn it IS funny. I sometimes have to grab my Chi and face him away from the GSD b/c they will just stare and growl at each other until someone makes a forward movement...it's ridiculous. To his credit, however, my Chi is awesome w/all people, including children, which is highly unusual, and loves all cats and dogs too....except my GSD. I think it's b/c he was the first "competition" for my attention. I have had fosters and he was fine w/all of them. I think he just saw that this one was there to stay and was NOT happy a/b it. My poor GSD kept trying to be friendly until he was about 18mos and hormones took over. <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

I have a feeling that my post didn't go through?

Anyway, I would prefer to solve the problem rather than separate them. What exactly IS an e-collar? Heh.

PS. You're right, my vizsla is a complete pushover. The Manchester has only been corrected once, while we were babysitting a friend's GSD, the GSD bit her in the EYE on Christmas morning! She's fine, but wow! Sort of turned me off GSDs...guess I better get a doberman. <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

thanks everyone.

Heather,
An E-Collar is a electric collar, it gives the dog a small stim or shock how ever you would like to say it. It can and will work wonders but I would not even try to begin to use one until you get Ed's e-collar training DVD for pet owners. It is a great DVD and will teach you how to solve problems like this one with the use of an e-collar.
You may also have to be a bit more forceful with the dog that is being a pain. If I read your post correctly this dog has only been corrected once and that looks like you did not do the correction but the GSD did. Ed says that once a dog is bitten by another dog that dog will always be dog aggressive. So you may need to be a bit more forceful with this dog and make sure that it knows you are the boss/pack leader. This is a pack rank and order problem and you need to take the lead and never allow this little one to bug your other dog. That may mean for a while you keep them both with you seeing as how you do not want to seperate them, any time this dog goes after your other dog you will need to play the pack leader role and correct the one who is being offensive. Having two dogs only means that you must be an even stronger pack leader and some times that means correcting the heck out of a pack member who is not falling in line.
JMO

Heather, I agree with Jay: You are allowing that dominant-aggressive ManTer to make your poor older dog's life an endless nightmare <:-( Why not do your softer Viz senior citizen a merciful kindness & keep that younger hellion AWAY from him ???

 Quote:

.....you may need to be a bit more forceful with this dog and make sure that it knows you are the boss/pack leader. This is a pack rank and order problem and you need to take the lead and never allow this little one to bug your other dog. .....

I agree 100%. As pack leader, it is my job to protect my dogs and it is my decision to allow or not allow aggression. One is not getting protection from the pack leader, and the other is being shown that you're not in charge and that it's his choice whether or not to terrorize the other dog.

If I could not end the aggression immediately, I'd separate them.

You can do this. Remember who's in charge! <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />