We have 4 dogs; 3 permanent and one being fostered. 2 are primarily inside dogs while the other two like to spend more time outside.
Here are the players in this drama:
Roxie is a 6 year old pedigreed black German Shepherd.
Roofus is a 5 year old mixed breed, probably Border Collie and who knows what else.
Rosie is a 3.5 year old Pit/Hound mix that was adopted after she was abandoned on the parking lot of the local high school.
Buster is approximately one year old and is a Pit/Lord knows what else mix (he's the foster).
Now, here's the problem. Roxie tolerates only one other living creature on earth, and that's Roofus. We think that's because they were both really younger when we got them. But any other creature, be it cat, squirrel, dog, mouse, bird, etc. she will attack immediately with no warning growling or posturing. Instant, mad for death hostility.
We've tried for years to get her used to Rosie, but after being threatened so often by Roxie, Rosie now avoids her when she can, but will not hesitate to return aggression with aggression. The same is happening to Buster. He's the sweetest dog ever and gets along perfectly with all of them except Roxie, who he now equates with hostility.
What can we do to get Roxie to get along with Rosie and Buster? I think that if she could halt her aggression, they'd come around soon enough. I hate that Rosie and Buster can only come in the house when Roxie is locked away in a bedroom, but we're at our wits' end.
I would recommend checking Bark Busters. They're pretty good trainers, but you'll want to check out on the specific trainer in your area.
When I went through them, they charged $200, but that covered multiple home visits, as well as consultation for the life of the dog. Having a professional observe and provide evaluation is huge over reading a book or watching videos. They can pick up on things you don't realize you're doing.
That said, dogs are like people, they have personalities. Roxie just might have a very prickly personality. It's possible that it's a fixable problem, but it also might be something that you can only mitigate.
Thanks for the info!
Can you take roxie for a walk with one of the other dogs? My Blacklab/norwegian mix is VERY territorial, but I introduced her to a pitbull that had to stay the weekend by taking them both for a walk together. If you can't walk them both have someone else pass by you on the street, starting with a few seconds of exposure and working your way up.