Any tips? May get a second dog in a few days....!

[Stitchex]

My neighbor is moving, and he offered us his dog, Chase. Chase has a sweet personality, and looves humans. I would love to have him, I said, if the two can get along(my dog, Duby, and Chase). Duby is rather territorial, that’s the problem. But, when another male dog came over, he wasn’t mean to that one, or the female that came over. He actually seemed to like the company....but I don’t know about Duby and Chase. Chase is coming over tomorrow for a few hours so we can see how they are together. Any tips? Thank you!
Here’s Chase-

Here’s Duby-

 

[Mel&Keith]

You might try having them meet at a park or somewhere neutral first or taking Duby over to Chase's house first and see how they do before bringing them to your house. Hopefully you'll be pleasantly surprised by good behavior. Good luck!

 

[Untide]

Maybe muzzle the dogs? Just one of those leashes with a mouth thing. Not an actual muzzle xD. Just so you can see what happens without fear of a fight ^_^

 

[Stitchex]

Thank you for the suggestions, I'll see if I can bring Duby over to Chase's yard. The neighbor is going to be giving him away in a few days, and moving in a week, so we would have to hurry. What about putting Duby and Chase on a leash, and bringing Chase over, if it turns out that, for some reason, Duby can't go over there? Thank you!

 

[Stitchex]

Oops, sorry Untide, I must have posted the same time as you. I do have a Halti that I can put my dog in, that's all. I don't think Chase would fight, but I'm so sure about my dog. He hasn't been socialized that much when he was a puppy, and now I'm regretting it =(.

 

[Alusdra]

I had a really dog-aggressive dog that we got to accept another. For her, it took almost two weeks! Which proves that with patience anything is possible...

For these two, to set them up for success- go to a neutral place, with someone else to hold the other dog. Walk in circles, never directly toward each other (moving directly toward a dog is confrontational). Be relaxed and let the leashes be loose- tension in yourself and the leash will key in your dog that there is something to be afraid of. Have treats so that if there starts to be any antisocial actions- turn and walk away from the other dog, then once the dog you're holding is refocused on you, give a treat. Start over again at this point from far away and slowly move closer. Repeat as needed until you can spiral in to where they are in the nose-to-tail position. At this point they should sniff and either ignore each other or start playing.

Depending on your dogs, getting them together could take 5 minutes, or like my cute but mean grouch, several weeks. Most dogs will be fine after 5-30 minutes, though.

This method takes a while, but it is setting them up for success. Just throwing two dogs together, especially in one or the other's territory, is very stressful. It can work, sure, but if you want to give it the best shot possible- the circling method is really great.

 

[LizMarie]

I heard you shouldn't muzzle because it might heighten their anxiety especially if you or the vet used it for doing something he doesn't like. This is what I was told by my vet when I introduced my dog to my cat.

I say take them to a neutral place and don't make a BIG fuse about it. Have both on a leash and have one person handling each dog (2 ppl. on person for each dog.. for some reason that didn't come out right, Lol) . Walk around as if nothing then slowing cross paths and see how they interact. do they growl? snap? etc.. and if they're doing pretty good get a little closer let them sniff and play.

 

[Stitchex]

I've asked my mom to let them meet in a neutral place, but she refused....no reason why, I just don't think she wants to go through the trouble. Alusdra, I've heard and seen of that method, and it apparentally works very well, I wish I could do that. Could that be done in another's marked territory? Thanks!

 

[Stitchex]

Thanks LizMarie, I'll try that in the yard, it's the best I can do. Thanks^^.

 

[Mel&Keith]

Hopefully Chase is a submissive dog, then you probably won't have problems. We have a male Chihuahua rescue from a puppy mill who wasn't socialized to anything so we were worried when we got our male Bulldog. The Bulldog submitted to him immediately and the Chihuahua will snap at him if he's completely encroaching on his personal space but they've never had a fight and they're best buds. Wherever you meet, just put them both on leashes and stay calm. If you freak out your dog will be more likely to want to "protect" you from the other dog.

 

[Alusdra]

That's rough if you don't have anyone to help you. I don't know of any methods really that only one person can do... unless you can get one in a yard and then walk by? That way they can see each other through the fence. Why can't the neighbor help? If he wants this to work out he should be willing to spare half an hour. Just putting them together can work, but you're basically playing Russian roulette. And if they get into a big tiff by doing it that way it's a LOT harder to get them to come back around, if not impossible.

 

[Stitchex]

Sorry, let me rephrase that. I have my Dad to help me. We tried putting both of them on leashes and bringing Chase inside Duby's yard.....immediate failure. Duby kept snapping and snarling at Chase, but Chase was absolutely fine. Duby is already seeing Chase everyday through the fence, they're next door to each other. I think it has something to do with Duby seeing another dog on a leash, because they were in the same yard together before, according to a neighbor that watched over Duby when we were on vacation. I really would like them to get along, and Chase isn't that submissive, Mel and Keith. He's sweet, but he'll try to make place as a Dominant sometimes, I've seen him doing it when I was petting Chance(the dog they used to have also).

 

[Stitchex]

One person said in another forum to take them for a walk together, bring them in the yard, and keeping them on both leashes. If Duby shows signs of aggression, I should spray him with a spray bottle. Does this seems like a good plan?

 

[clear]

What I would do is take your dog for a LONG walk to get him tired. Let him rest for a few mins then take both of them for a walk, keep them separated by you and do not let them touch/sniff/play/look at each other, remember your the leader. After another long walk take them to neutral grounds and then let them sniff each other. A muzzle will do more harm than good IMO.

 

[LeapinLizards]

LOL spray him with a spray bottle? That is hilarious...he's not a cat. If I sprayed either of my dogs with a spray bottle in a situation like that, it would not even phase them.

Definitely take them on a walk together. Make them get used to the presence of the other dog, without the opportunity to confront each other. Obviously have them both on slack leashes, be calm about it. Don't go into it expecting a reaction, as that can in turn CAUSE a reaction. It may be too much to handle for you having two dogs (especially a new dog, to you) at one time, so you can ask someone else to walk one of them while you walk next to them with the other (of course separate the two by your bodies). At the sign of ANY aggression, make sure to correct them in whatever way you feel necessary...a sound, quick tug of the leash, tap with your leg, etc. Be sure when you give a verbal correction that you are firm. The tone of your voice can mean everything to an animal.

I would explain to your mom about the fact that it is safer for the dogs to meet in neutral ground first, as territory won't be a factor in that situation, giving the dogs one less thing to worry about when trying to get to know each other.

Dog aggression boils down to either fear or dominance. Most dogs show aggression as a response to those two factors. I'm assuming, since you said your dog was not socialized very well, that it is a dominance issue, therefore, you are going to need to assert yourself as the dominant one. You call the shots, correct any behavior you feel is wrong. Do not feel bad for being strict, if you don't take hold of the situation, nothing will change.

It's not something that can be accomplished in a day, so keep at it

I say all these things having successfully trained many dogs - we have bred and competed with Rottweilers, a VERY stubborn breed!

 

[Stitchex]

Yeah, my dog absolutely HATES water, so I thought of the spray bottle =D. Thank you Heather and clear, I'll keep you all updated!

 

[Stitchex]

Updates, as promised!

I just came inside from a SUCCESSFUL confrontation, let me tell you the story.
I put Duby's harness on, gave him to my dad outside of the yard, and got Chase. Some other dog saw what was happening and jumped the fence, running over to the two dogs. Chase and Duby immediately jumped at the dog, aggresively. Luckily, none was hurt and the runaway dog was put inside. The walk went fine, though Duby kept wanting to run to Chase. We went in the yard, both of them still on leashes, and they both got a drink. After a while of walking them around there and Chase marking his territory sometimes, Duby started whining. Both of them were wagging their tails. I pet Duby and he was fine(I'm holding Chase), but then he went near Chase. He sniffed him, barked and tried to jump at him, but this only happened twice(In the WHOLE time!). Chase was fine, he didn't show any aggresion. They got around to sniffing each other, both of their ears were forward, tails wagging.

Besides the third dog mishap, I'd say this is the best yet, and we're going to try this again tomorrow. Wish us luck!!

 

[Stitchex]

Okay, so it's Saturday, my dad is planning to do several walks, and one of them he plans to let the leashes go in the yard, basically letting both of them loose. What do you guys think about this? I think it's far too fast, but we have to move fast, I suppose...

 

[Mel&Keith]

It's already afternoon so you may be out with the dogs already but I think it seems like a fine idea to let them loose together. Just leave their leashes on so you can grab them quickly if anything starts to happen. Hopefully if goes well!

If it makes you feel any better, my mom had dog that looked similar to Duby (Terrier mix) before I was born. When I came home from the hospital he had a VERY hard time adjusting. He only bit me 3 or 4 times before he finally gave in. Thank goodness, because I probably would have been up for adoption if he would have kept up the biting. LOL So there's hope for all dogs!

 

[Stitchex]

LOL! We actually just came in from letting them go around on their leashes free for about 30 minutes, the only time Duby and Chase got into a few fights was when Duby tried to jump on Chase. We worked on training them together, made them lay down and sit, it worked pretty good. The walk was better, they went out three times together. I enjoyed it because they were so good together, though it'll be a while until they're 100% comfortable, if ever. Thanks Mel for the story, I'm so happy to hear that they may actually work!