I’m thinking about adding a 3-year-old female English Setter to my family. She’s been kennel-raised, and her current owner says she’s generally playful but sometimes growls or ‘postures’ at younger dogs. I already have two female dogs (a 5-year-old English Setter and an 11-year-old Beagle/Bulldog mix), plus two kids (ages 10 and 8). My older dog is definitely the alpha. Should I be worried about the growling? Is this a safety concern for my kids or other dogs? The breeder has a solid reputation, but I don’t want to take any risks.
Honestly, the growling sounds like a normal warning behavior to set boundaries. My dog does this too, and it’s never escalated. You might want to do a meet-and-greet first, though.
JacquelineJoy said:
Honestly, the growling sounds like a normal warning behavior to set boundaries. My dog does this too, and it’s never escalated. You might want to do a meet-and-greet first, though.
Totally agree on the meet-and-greet. You could even have all the dogs meet on neutral ground like a park to reduce tension.
JacquelineJoy said:
Honestly, the growling sounds like a normal warning behavior to set boundaries. My dog does this too, and it’s never escalated. You might want to do a meet-and-greet first, though.
What do you mean by ‘neutral ground’? Like not at anyone’s house?
Since the Setter’s been kennel-raised, she might just need more socialization. Slow introductions and some time to adjust should help.
William said:
Since the Setter’s been kennel-raised, she might just need more socialization. Slow introductions and some time to adjust should help.
Good point! I’d also check if she’s spayed—it can make a big difference in behavior.
William said:
Since the Setter’s been kennel-raised, she might just need more socialization. Slow introductions and some time to adjust should help.
What difference does spaying make? Just curious.
@NomadNerd
It can reduce hormonal aggression, especially in females. Makes them a bit calmer around other dogs.
If she’s good with humans and has no history of dog fights, I wouldn’t worry too much. The growling could just be her way of saying ‘back off’ to younger, rowdy dogs.
Joel said:
If she’s good with humans and has no history of dog fights, I wouldn’t worry too much. The growling could just be her way of saying ‘back off’ to younger, rowdy dogs.
Exactly! My dog growls at puppies sometimes—they can be annoying, lol. Never led to anything serious.
Since your older dog is the alpha, adding another female might create tension. Have you thought about getting a male instead?
Faithjones said:
Since your older dog is the alpha, adding another female might create tension. Have you thought about getting a male instead?
Hmm, that’s a good point. I didn’t consider that. But the breeder only has females available right now.
Faithjones said:
Since your older dog is the alpha, adding another female might create tension. Have you thought about getting a male instead?
It could still work, just keep an eye on the dynamics and make sure they all have their own space.
I’d ask the breeder if they’ve done temperament testing on her. Could give you more insight into her personality.
andy said:
I’d ask the breeder if they’ve done temperament testing on her. Could give you more insight into her personality.
Great idea! That would definitely help you feel more confident about her behavior.