[laurah5107]

Yesterday I picked up my new dog from the animal shelter. She is a 1 yr old mix (looks like a shorthaired sheltie). I already have a 7 yr old Great Dane female and a 6 year old female Pitbull. Pitbull is alpha.

In the shelter the dog seemed very submissive and sweet. But within 5 hours of coming home she began "resource guarding" about my husband and me.

She is a velcro dog and won't let us out of her sight. Sleeps on our feet or just sits and stares adoringly with her head on your knee. But if either of the older dogs approaches for a pat the new dog growls and bristles.

If they are in the yard alone she is always in the other dogs faces licking their lips.

Due to the size and fighting ability differences I am scared to "let them work it out". The Dane has just retreats to another room. The pit has snarled and snapped but hasn't actually contacted and the new dog threw herself on the floor in a submissive pose.

Now the older dogs have taken to bristling every time they come near the new dog even if she doesn't bristle at them.

I know that the pit can truly tear a dog up (she had a few vicious fights with the Dane over position and the Dane ended up with dozens of staples closing her wounds).

Is this guarding of my husband and me something fairly common in shelter dogs? Is it something that might get better as she gets used to being in a loving home? Is there anything I can do besides supervise supervise?

Thanks for any help.
Laura (Spud the pibble, Shasta the Dane and Daisy the idiot).

[Thracian]

In the shelter the dog seemed very submissive and sweet. But within 5 hours of coming home she began "resource guarding" about my husband and me.

It's very common for the dog to change somewhat after coming home--they act one way in a shelter where they are scared and another way once they get home and start to feel comfortable.

Is this guarding of my husband and me something fairly common in shelter dogs? Is it something that might get better as she gets used to being in a loving home? Is there anything I can do besides supervise supervise?

As far as I know, it's not common but not uncommon either. Do a forum search on resource guarding and you'll get lots of tips.

I know that the pit can truly tear a dog up (she had a few vicious fights with the Dane over position and the Dane ended up with dozens of staples closing her wounds).

Yikes. How do they get along now? Honestly, I'd be very careful about having the new dog and the pit together since the pit has shown aggression like that.

Is Daisy the new dog? Why is she called the idiot?

[TxRider]

Both mine have done it. They instantly lose access to the resource (usually me) and the other dog gains it as a result.

Seemed to put an end to it rather quickly.

My new little rescue Kaya started doing this to Hope, she sticks to me and loves to lay by me or with her head in my lap.

If she growled or lifted a lip, she was instantly pushed off the sofa unceremoniously and the other dog called up in my lap.

When it was strange dog out walking or at the dog park, I shoved her away and petted the other dog overtly.

She seems to have learned the point now.

[laurah5107]

I've just started the "nothing in life is free" method wherein she has to earn attention. I've also kept her leashed beside me most of the time so I can intervene if there is a tiff between the Pit and Daisy.

I call Daisy an idiot because she tends to argue the most with the pitbull. And the pitbull carries herself with an air of dominance, that "I'm in charge" sort of carriage.

The Dane and the Pitbull have come to an agreement on who is alpha and there have been no arguments, not even growling, since then. For a long time the Dane lived in fear of the Pitbull but now they are buds and lie together on the couch or the poolside lounge chair.

What most concerns me is that Daisy will not submit even when pinned down by the neck by the pitbull. She continues to snarl and fight. Nor did she cease her attack on a visiting dog when that dog was pulled off. She merely changed targets and went after another visiting dog, which ran away. The pitbull intercepted Daisy as she was chasing the dog and it ended there.

I think Daisy could be a great little dog. She's smart, loves to please when doing training, is a big snuggler and kisser. A great fetch player and would be a great fly ball player if she could get along with the other dogs.