2 rescue springers 1 problem!!!

I know it's early days having only brought home my two rescue springers yesterday, but I am slightly concerned by the behaviour of Gwen. She is 7and a half and was spayed 5 days ago. He has been neutered. Buster is 9 years old and is simply the most perfect gentleman. They have always lived together with Gwen joining buster as a puppy. We are their 3rd home, the last owners being devasted at having to give them up but work meant they were being left for very long periods of time. They were in kennels for the week before I brought them home.
My concern is its apparent that Gwen is top dog, but she snaps at buster for no apparent reason. He was sat cleaning his paw today and she just lunged at him. She doesn't bite him, it's like a warning but he hadn't done anything wrong. Again earlier today he walked past her when she was in her bed and she just flew at him. Is this normal top dog behaviour, how should I deal with it. It's quite scary especially as I have never had 2 dogs at the same time before, but always had gentle springers (boys) I know and understand she has been through a lot but he has too and is just so chilled out he is a joy. He doesn't react to her just takes it on the chin but I don't like seeing it happen to him as he isn't doing anything wrong. She is a very loving dog, climbing on your knee for cuddles etc and can get jealous when we make a fuss of him but we deal with that , its just this lunging and flying at him that I'm worried about and don't like. Poor buster !!! Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Am going to ring the rescue centre tomorrow to see if she has a history of it but in the meantime any help or advice would be appreciated.

Many thanks

Del, Gwen and Buster xxx

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2 rescue springers 1 problem!!!

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Apr 21, 2012
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Great news! NEW
by: Michele

What great news! I'm so glad to know her problems were not behavior based. Poor girl. Hopefully she is on her way to better health and happier times with her new wonderful family!

Apr 19, 2012
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All coming good NEW
by: Anonymous

Just an update from Gwen and Buster.
After a trip to the vets to have her stitches out, we discovered she was in the throws of a phantom pregnancy.... Bless....., so not only had she been removed from her home, put in kennels, been spayed, and the came to live with us, she also thought she was having babies... No wonder she was a bit messed up !!!! Anyway, nearly 4 weeks down the line she is now an absolute joy.... Hasn't lunged or growled at Buster for a couple of weeks now. She is so happy and chilled out, she is a joy to have in our home.... As is buster the noble gent. She still has a random bark at random people but is more because she is scared than anything else

Janet who posted her respone was way way off the mark, one bark away from a bite... I certainly don't think so. Just shows how little people know and how little time some people give their dogs to settle in...
Thank you for all comments... Well most of them lol!! SS are special dogs and we love Gwen and Buster to bits, we are so glad they are now in their forever home

Enjoy your dogs and thanks again to everyone xxxxx

Apr 19, 2012
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springer NEW
by: Anonymous

We fostered and then adopted a rescue dog she came to us in a sorry state both physical and with emotional issues.(eight years old)
She has settled in very well with her two resident springers once all the medical issues were sorted (spray and mammoray stripping)her attitude and general confidence has improved.She still has days were she will have a grumble and quiver of the lips considering all what she had to deal having to leave her own home after eight years must of been a terrible shock...We are nine months down the line the resident bitch is still top dog followed by the resident dog ,she will take time to settle in it will be the case of one step forward ,two steps back ...One thing that helps us greatly is having a wonderful behavourist on board who intoduced the clinker ..Have you thought about getting in touch with the rescue society perhaps they might be able to put you touch with some one ?? ...dont give up it is hard work and you might never be able to get to the root of her issues ,,just understanding them and watching for the trigger signs ...I still use a dap spray ,rescue remedy and sweet potato which is so usefil..best wishes

Apr 19, 2012
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Maybe not dominance NEW
by: Janet

I would worry, frankly, that this is more then dominance.
This is over the top and I wonder about 1) there is something, medically, wrong with HIM or 2) something nuerologically wrong with HER
I think she is a bite away from going at it with humans if she is barking for no apparent reason.

Apr 07, 2012
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2 Springers NEW
by: Michele

I also have 2 Springers and a collie / aussie mix. My younger Springer is very definitely the alpha dog. Both Springers are spayed females and my collie mix is a neutered. They all get along well with me keeping an eye on Sadie for any overzealous alpha behavior.

Some dominance is going to occur and that should be expected when you have more than one dog. One thing I'm wondering is if you are able to contact the previous owners to ask about her behavior. Just wondering if this is something she's always done or if she has started then since the rehoming. Could be she is unsettled in her new environment and she's taking it out on the other dog. It can take an older dog a few weeks to settle in to a new home.

I would do as someone else has suggested and monitor her behavior. As you said you are getting to the point where you can predict when she might act out, so as soon as I was aware of it I would clap my hands or call her name. Something to get her attention elsewhere. If she responds to that positively I would reward her with a treat. As far as barking at people, again I think she may just be unsettled. Is she crate trained? I give my Sadie a time out in her crate if she goes too far. Just about 10 minutes works well. It gives her a chance to calm down and forget about what she was doing that was annoying everyone else.

Apr 04, 2012
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2 rescue 1 problem NEW
by: Betsy Kiehl

It seems as though she is reminding him that SHE is the top dog, and not to forget it. I am having the same problem with my springer. I have a springer (female) and a beagle (male). Although our beagle is older and we have had him longer, my springer is often reminding him who is boss in the house. I have to say, that she isn't doing it as much as she used to. I think you will find that this behavior will become less frequent as time goes on. Good luck and take care!

Apr 04, 2012
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2 rescue springers...... NEW
by: Anonymous

Thank you for that. As the days have passed and I am getting used to her ways I have been doing exactly as you suggest.... Either distracting her or saying no and it is defiantly working. The issue I have now is that she is barking at other members of the family!!! Random barking at various people at various times!! Have never had a spaniel that has barked before let alone at people!!!! Is all a learning curve for us and also for them. We do love them both to bits already and have found their forever home!! Thanks.... Xx

Apr 04, 2012
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top dog NEW
by: Anonymous

i think you will find that female dogs always take top dog position. keep an eye on it and if you can predict that shes about to do her deed by lundging at him try and order her to stop.hope it works out for you.we only had one dog for ages then we had a rescue now we got three.two english springers and a snorkie(mini scnauzer x yorkie)and they r brill!!

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