Introducing an old boy to a incumbent old girl
Discussion
I've decided to adopt a 2nd rescue dog and want to get the introductions as right as possible.
Dogs will only have to deal with each other and me!
Cassie - current female staffy cross is 6.5 years old and been with me for 2.5 years.
She's OK with other dogs on walks (except female staffies) so long as they don't get too personal with her and is usually off lead.
She doesn't seek out contact with other dogs but will join in for a bit if they are playing.
She's had a couple of squabbles over toys with a dog we walk with and has picked on a nervous lurcher once.
She's not had other dogs in 'her' house for any length of time but I did borrow a known female lurcher for a couple of hours last week.
She greeted the other dog with a sniff and a wag and then retreated to her safe corner and snoozed with one or both eyes open for the rest of the visit.
New dog will be a 7 year old male Malamute cross GSD who has been in rescue kennels for a while. During that time, I've walked him many times and am now ready to offer him a home. He's not dog reactive out on walks but has failed a home trial with a female husky after a serious argument over who should go through a door first! He will very likely be on lead only.
I will have a dog behaviorist on hand for the initial meetings who has also met my dog and has seen the videos of her meeting the lurcher at home.
Both dogs are quite laid back, very people friendly and not hyper excitable. As far as I know, neither have lived with another dog,
So far:-
Initial meeting will be a walk followed by some time in a paddock at the kennels - probably all on lead.
Initial home meeting will be with new dog on lead and possibly with a muzzle - suggested by the kennels.
Beds will in opposite corners of the living room and new dog will be discouraged from sleeping in current 'safe corner'
Food will be served apart
Current dog sleeps upstairs and will continue to do so
I'll try new dog downstairs only - he's big and hairy so don't want to let him in bedroom
When I'm out both dogs will be confined to the same open plan living / kitchen area - no doorways!
Any other suggestions to try and get it right?
Cassie at the seaside
Dogs will only have to deal with each other and me!
Cassie - current female staffy cross is 6.5 years old and been with me for 2.5 years.
She's OK with other dogs on walks (except female staffies) so long as they don't get too personal with her and is usually off lead.
She doesn't seek out contact with other dogs but will join in for a bit if they are playing.
She's had a couple of squabbles over toys with a dog we walk with and has picked on a nervous lurcher once.
She's not had other dogs in 'her' house for any length of time but I did borrow a known female lurcher for a couple of hours last week.
She greeted the other dog with a sniff and a wag and then retreated to her safe corner and snoozed with one or both eyes open for the rest of the visit.
New dog will be a 7 year old male Malamute cross GSD who has been in rescue kennels for a while. During that time, I've walked him many times and am now ready to offer him a home. He's not dog reactive out on walks but has failed a home trial with a female husky after a serious argument over who should go through a door first! He will very likely be on lead only.
I will have a dog behaviorist on hand for the initial meetings who has also met my dog and has seen the videos of her meeting the lurcher at home.
Both dogs are quite laid back, very people friendly and not hyper excitable. As far as I know, neither have lived with another dog,
So far:-
Initial meeting will be a walk followed by some time in a paddock at the kennels - probably all on lead.
Initial home meeting will be with new dog on lead and possibly with a muzzle - suggested by the kennels.
Beds will in opposite corners of the living room and new dog will be discouraged from sleeping in current 'safe corner'
Food will be served apart
Current dog sleeps upstairs and will continue to do so
I'll try new dog downstairs only - he's big and hairy so don't want to let him in bedroom
When I'm out both dogs will be confined to the same open plan living / kitchen area - no doorways!
Any other suggestions to try and get it right?
Cassie at the seaside
With our rescues we have brought them home and then taken the new dog out for a walk with the incumbent before bringing them both home together.
We just tend to let them get on with it and they sort themselves out, Watch them as there will be a squabble or two while they determine who the boss is (usually the b
h), they sound worse than they are, with our recent rescue she and the old boy they only had one and that was them sorted, although I think the old boy just can't be arsed with it anymore at 14!
Feeding is always supervised as the boy can be a nark around food.
You'll know if it's going to work out when the two meet at the kennels probably.
She looks lovely
We just tend to let them get on with it and they sort themselves out, Watch them as there will be a squabble or two while they determine who the boss is (usually the b
h), they sound worse than they are, with our recent rescue she and the old boy they only had one and that was them sorted, although I think the old boy just can't be arsed with it anymore at 14!Feeding is always supervised as the boy can be a nark around food.
You'll know if it's going to work out when the two meet at the kennels probably.
She looks lovely
Edited by tedmus on Saturday 3rd August 14:12
Mals can be grumpy and they tend to be better with new people than new dogs. Not sure about a gsd cross.
Ironically we rescued both a mal (1 year old female) then a year later a gsd (1.5 year old female) took about two weeks for the arguing to settle down and only had to step in once (had to pin both dogs down and get my wife to take the gsd a bit further away while both dogs calmed down) but that was the only real incident, the rest of the time was akin to a shouting match for a few seconds before one or the other walked off.
Similar to you, we walked both dogs 1st a few times. Then when they were home, we collected the gsd and walked both on my normal walk before then brining both dogs in the house. For the 1st few days we fed them separate (the Mal had already learnt to wait till being told she could eat, but the gsd took a couple of days to pick this up). Both have there own beds next to each other and oddly never had any issues at night.
Ironically we rescued both a mal (1 year old female) then a year later a gsd (1.5 year old female) took about two weeks for the arguing to settle down and only had to step in once (had to pin both dogs down and get my wife to take the gsd a bit further away while both dogs calmed down) but that was the only real incident, the rest of the time was akin to a shouting match for a few seconds before one or the other walked off.
Similar to you, we walked both dogs 1st a few times. Then when they were home, we collected the gsd and walked both on my normal walk before then brining both dogs in the house. For the 1st few days we fed them separate (the Mal had already learnt to wait till being told she could eat, but the gsd took a couple of days to pick this up). Both have there own beds next to each other and oddly never had any issues at night.
ctdctd said:
Thanks for the advice - taking them for a reasonable walk together just before going home sounds a good idea.
It will be an interesting few weeks!
We are now in the same boat.It will be an interesting few weeks!
We have had Steve now for 18 months, (he was 2 when we got him) he is a rescue Dachshund and a lovely thing, a proper mummies boy. We thought he might like a companion and spoke to The Red Foundation who we got him through as they know his history and characteristics.
A while went by and then they contacted us about a possible suitable companion for Steve and after lots of chatting we said we'd try this out on a foster basis with the option to adopt if all goes well.
Yesterday we went and picked Stan up, he is 10 months, another Dachshund and bloody lovely. We met on neutral ground and they were fine together, so Stan came home with us, a 3 hour car journey thanks too a stuffed Dartford tunnel.
Took them out for a walk together all went well. There are some minor issues but it is early days and a work in progress. Another long walk today which went well, with lots of other dogs and people at the nature reserve.
Feeding time has to be supervised as Stan wolfs it down, where Steve takes his time. Stan then rushes towards Steve who instantly reacts.
Steve is so far very unimpressed with Stan, I guess he maybe feels he is having his nose put out a bit, and I understand that, (much more than swmbo.) Stan is desperate to cuddle up to Steve on the sofa, but Steve just turns his back currently and gives him the cold shoulder.
We give both of them an equal amount of love and attention, so we'll see how it all goes in the next few days, weeks and hopefully years.
We introduced an old(er) girl to a young incumbent male. Did the whole "meet on the green for a walk" thing first and then took them both home.
About 4 years on, Lola occasionally pretends that she dislikes Otis but it's all a game really, in truth they love each other to bits and absolutely have each other's backs at all times.
They have a strange dynamic. In some respects he (at twice her weight/size) is ruled by her (for example, he won't come through a doorway if she's lying by it, he just stands there looking as pathetic as a fully-grown GSD knows how), in others she defers to him entirely (for example, she almost never eats until he's finished despite them having separate bowls in separate places. He often eats her food too unless checked by us, and she just watches and lets him).
Overall it works fine! Good luck
About 4 years on, Lola occasionally pretends that she dislikes Otis but it's all a game really, in truth they love each other to bits and absolutely have each other's backs at all times.
They have a strange dynamic. In some respects he (at twice her weight/size) is ruled by her (for example, he won't come through a doorway if she's lying by it, he just stands there looking as pathetic as a fully-grown GSD knows how), in others she defers to him entirely (for example, she almost never eats until he's finished despite them having separate bowls in separate places. He often eats her food too unless checked by us, and she just watches and lets him).
Overall it works fine! Good luck
I work in a dog shelter, we deal with this all the time. A meeting or two on neutral ground before the rehome is a good idea if logistically viable.
Removing any toys that will potentially cause a fight is a sensible idea. Also have more water bowls and beds than dogs, to try and minimise that being an issue. I've got 7 dog beds for 6 dogs so they're more likely to find a spare one than to start a fight over one with a dog in it
If you've already removed toys and there is still a fight or problem, it'll almost certainly be at feeding time. With a Mallamute and a staffie you'll want to avoid this at all costs, I'd start by feeding the new dog in another room or outside. Then you can progress to feeding them in the same room, but at opposite sides. with you in the middle to keep them apart.
re keeping one on a lead, sometimes that has the opposite effect. They can feel trapped or the other dog can see they're vulnerable. We were letting 2 dogs meet a couple of days ago and they were perfect running loose in a field. When we tried to put one or both on a lead they started getting a bit nippy.
Removing any toys that will potentially cause a fight is a sensible idea. Also have more water bowls and beds than dogs, to try and minimise that being an issue. I've got 7 dog beds for 6 dogs so they're more likely to find a spare one than to start a fight over one with a dog in it
If you've already removed toys and there is still a fight or problem, it'll almost certainly be at feeding time. With a Mallamute and a staffie you'll want to avoid this at all costs, I'd start by feeding the new dog in another room or outside. Then you can progress to feeding them in the same room, but at opposite sides. with you in the middle to keep them apart.
re keeping one on a lead, sometimes that has the opposite effect. They can feel trapped or the other dog can see they're vulnerable. We were letting 2 dogs meet a couple of days ago and they were perfect running loose in a field. When we tried to put one or both on a lead they started getting a bit nippy.
Introductions at the kennels went very well.
Initial sniffs, then walked well together followed by some paddock time.
New boy tried a bit of a play but didn't go over the top and was largely ignored by Cassie.
No signs of stress from either dog and they were fine being fussed together.
Now onto stage 2 - a home visit or three starting next week.
Initial sniffs, then walked well together followed by some paddock time.
New boy tried a bit of a play but didn't go over the top and was largely ignored by Cassie.
No signs of stress from either dog and they were fine being fussed together.
Now onto stage 2 - a home visit or three starting next week.
Right, we've had three home visits of between 3 - 5 hours and the jury is still out.
New dog is not being very tolerant of resource sharing and I'm finding it hard to read his hairy body language.
Resources include me, doorways, shared spaces and treats - not yet tried mealtimes. Outside on walks are fine.
When current dog is close by, waiting for an event like going out or coming over for a cuddle, she is very calm.
New dog also appears calm but then suddenly whips round with a rather convincing snarl - no pre-snarl growl that I notice.
I can manage doorways and treats OK, but not sure if this behaviour while trying to have cuddle time with the current dog is going to be something I can cope with.
I'm also concerned about leaving them together for any period, which I will need to be doing reasonably quickly.
This was prompted by an event on day 2 when current dog was on bench outside - I was watching from inside. New dog was sniffing outside when he suddenly elevated his tail and marched over to the bench and sort of went head to head. Nothing happened and I called him away fine, but the behaviour worried me. It was not a pre-play sort of greeting, more either excitement or possibly a precursor to aggression.
I'm speaking to the kennels and a behaviorist - any more advice from the knowledgeable community here?
New dog is not being very tolerant of resource sharing and I'm finding it hard to read his hairy body language.
Resources include me, doorways, shared spaces and treats - not yet tried mealtimes. Outside on walks are fine.
When current dog is close by, waiting for an event like going out or coming over for a cuddle, she is very calm.
New dog also appears calm but then suddenly whips round with a rather convincing snarl - no pre-snarl growl that I notice.
I can manage doorways and treats OK, but not sure if this behaviour while trying to have cuddle time with the current dog is going to be something I can cope with.
I'm also concerned about leaving them together for any period, which I will need to be doing reasonably quickly.
This was prompted by an event on day 2 when current dog was on bench outside - I was watching from inside. New dog was sniffing outside when he suddenly elevated his tail and marched over to the bench and sort of went head to head. Nothing happened and I called him away fine, but the behaviour worried me. It was not a pre-play sort of greeting, more either excitement or possibly a precursor to aggression.
I'm speaking to the kennels and a behaviorist - any more advice from the knowledgeable community here?
I don't think anyone can give hard and fast answers, but this sort of behaviour so early on would worry me.
Especially as I feel that the breeds of the two dogs in question tend to be quite devoted/closely bonded to their owner, which might cause future problems if the resource guarding includes you.
I think it's important for you to get the judgement of others who can actually see their behaviour - but make sure they are impartial! It is you that will have to deal with any issues down the line.
Especially as I feel that the breeds of the two dogs in question tend to be quite devoted/closely bonded to their owner, which might cause future problems if the resource guarding includes you.
I think it's important for you to get the judgement of others who can actually see their behaviour - but make sure they are impartial! It is you that will have to deal with any issues down the line.
If you're already having multiple reservations and issues at this early stage I'd back out now while you can easily do so with minimal hassle or upset to the dog going back into the shelter.
Dogs are like people... some just don't like each other You could go back to the drawing board and find another dog that gets on superbly with yours. Its still a dog rehomed out of a shelter and hopefully the Huskey will be picked up by someone who's setup better than you to care for them
Dogs are like people... some just don't like each other
You could go back to the drawing board and find another dog that gets on superbly with yours. Its still a dog rehomed out of a shelter and hopefully the Huskey will be picked up by someone who's setup better than you to care for them Well, I persevered for a while but I couldn't get the new dog to stop initiating squabbles with my current dog.
Careful management minimised issues but I couldn't monitor them all the time and I wasn't seeing any improvement over a few nights at home.
So, back to the kennels he has gone. I will continue to walk him there and really hope he finds a home - probably as a only pet.
Thanks for the advice and comments here - they helped!
Careful management minimised issues but I couldn't monitor them all the time and I wasn't seeing any improvement over a few nights at home.
So, back to the kennels he has gone. I will continue to walk him there and really hope he finds a home - probably as a only pet.
Thanks for the advice and comments here - they helped!
ctdctd said:
Well, I persevered for a while but I couldn't get the new dog to stop initiating squabbles with my current dog.
Careful management minimised issues but I couldn't monitor them all the time and I wasn't seeing any improvement over a few nights at home.
So, back to the kennels he has gone. I will continue to walk him there and really hope he finds a home - probably as a only pet.
Thanks for the advice and comments here - they helped!
We recently went through this. The 1st couple of days were fine, looked like it'd work. Then the problems in the house started, new dog excitement levels would escalate to defcon 5, (barking, biting, scratching) resulting in (all of us) retireing to a separate room and closing the door, while he calmed down (5-30 min). We had a behaviourist round, which helped with coping and training techniques. Mostly OK in the garden, walks and car. Careful management minimised issues but I couldn't monitor them all the time and I wasn't seeing any improvement over a few nights at home.
So, back to the kennels he has gone. I will continue to walk him there and really hope he finds a home - probably as a only pet.
Thanks for the advice and comments here - they helped!
We lasted 2 months, it was unhealthy for all of us, new dog was getting more and more frustrated/stressed, whatever we did seemed wrong. When we played back the episode, we hadn't managed one pleasant stress free day.
So back to dogs trust, very upsetting, but best in terms of welfare.
That said I'm sure he'll make a great dog for someone.
The whole episode was very stressful for all, which we're not in any hurry to repeat.
Edited by PositronicRay on Tuesday 27th August 08:29
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