Meeting a new dog

patrickandduncan'smom · 07-27-2008, 11:29 AM

Hi everyone. Haven't posted in awhile but I have a question.

I am going to meet a potential new dog on Tuesday and I am bringing my 2 current dogs with me to meet him (he is 1 1/2 hrs away so I would like to make only 1 trip if possible). I have a 9yr old lab mix and a 2yr old standard poodle mix. The puppy I am meeting is a 9 month old Shih Tzu/Husky mix (??). Here is the link on Petfinder if you would like to see him.
http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/dis...petid=11512492

My question is: I am going to introduce Duncan and Patrick to him separately. What should I watch for when I introduce the boys to him? Are there any signals that would clue me in on him not being a good fit? I am not really worried about Duncan as he has always gotten along with other dogs and is submissive but Patrick hasn't met a lot of dogs and he has a dominant personality. Also, the lady I am in contact with about adopting him says that I can take him home with me on Tuesday if everything works out. Is one meeting between the 3 dogs OK or should they meet more than once?

Thanks in advance.

FilleBelle · 07-28-2008, 01:08 AM

I highly recommend enlisting the help of a friend, family member, or the foster family to help you take all three dogs on a walk together. Meet away from the new dog's foster home, walk around the neighborhood a bit and then end up at the house or, ideally, a more neutral location like a school yard. Dogs seem to get a feel for each other while walking and I suspect you'll get a more accurate reading of how they are getting along in the house if they already know each other from taking a walk.

patrickandduncan'smom · 07-28-2008, 01:37 PM

Thanks. The suggestions will really help me out. Wish me luck!

FilleBelle · 07-28-2008, 01:40 PM

The potential new family member is quite the stunning dog, too!

harrise · 07-28-2008, 04:46 PM

DON'T FORGET THE STICKY!!!!

http://www.dogforums.com/3-dog-train...ddle-best.html (Meet Me in the Middle – The Best Way To Introduce Dogs)

Oh, when it's decided to bring the new dog in, make sure you meet somewhere not at the house but within walking distance. Then have them walk back together and go leisurely. After five dogs, I would also warn you not to over think the squabbles that will happen at first.

patrickandduncan'smom · 07-29-2008, 10:28 PM

Thanks everyone. Well we met and everyone seemed to be mostly good so I brought him home. Duncan just wants to be left alone so he is going to be fine. The puppy is very, very feisty and him and Patrick have already had some tiffs. Patrick is very possessive of his toys and the new puppy doesn't back down. They have had 2 fairly serious fights (I broke them both up) I want them to work it out but I am afraid Patrick will hurt the puppy (Patrick outweighs the puppy by about 80lbs). Any suggestions?

Patrick also seems ticked off that there is another dog in the house.

I am keeping the new puppy on leash by me.

Everyone is sleeping right now.

Patrick wanted to play with the puppy outside. He started running around and play bowing but I wasn't sure if I should take the puppy off the leash and let him play so it was only partial playing. Patrick ran around the yard and the puppy ran with him the leash length.

Any more suggestions on the dogs integrating with each other?

FilleBelle · 07-29-2008, 11:12 PM

Keep breathing. The more relaxed you are, the more relaxed the dogs will be.

I think integrating a new dog is absolutely terrifying, but I also think they need to work things out on their own as much as possible. The first few days are going to be awkward, but it doesn't usually take more than a couple weeks for things to settle down.

Make sure you strike an even balance between giving the dogs face time to get to know each other and spending individual time with each dog so that they all know they are loved.

patrickandduncan'smom · 07-29-2008, 11:42 PM

Thanks FilleBelle. Right after I read your post Patrick and the puppy got into a fight. It looked like Pat was trying to kill the puppy. He had him by the back of the neck. EEEK. I tried to let them work it out but it was a little scary

. There was a few chunks of black fur after this tiff. Hopefully this will all work out sometime in the next few weeks. Patrick and the puppy (I will figure out a name soon) both will not back down yet. Patrick is a big bully (poor Duncan gets it all the time but Duncan won't fight so it doesn't usually escalate) and toys are obviously a major trigger so no toys when they are together at least for a while. Patrick won't let Duncan play with toys either but he usually justs takes them so hopefully the puppy will soon give up.

P.S. I still love Alvin. I am really partial to big black labs and lab mixes!

FilleBelle · 07-30-2008, 12:04 AM

Hehe, thanks!

If you do a search under my name on the site, you will see my posts from when Clifford joined the family a few weeks ago. I was trying to be calm about the whole thing, but every time the dogs even looked at each other sideways I got all teary. I was afraid they would never get along, I was afraid Alvin felt neglected, I was afraid Clifford was going to be more trouble than he was worth. It took about two weeks for everyone to settle completely and now it feels like Clifford has been here forever.

patrickandduncan'smom · 07-30-2008, 10:31 AM

Well this morning we are all a little more relaxed. The puppy had a good night. He slept in his kennel in the bathroom. Patrick and the puppy played this morning in the back yard. They chased each other at full speed all over the yard. They both got filthy and wet (Patrick jumped into his swimming pool every once in a while). The puppy really stinks but I can't give him a bath yet because he just got fixed Monday. It looks like the main problem will be toys as Patrick and the puppy are both possessive of their toys. When Pat and the puppy were playing, Duncan even tried to join in, so so far so good.

patrickandduncan'smom · 07-30-2008, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JenHeil

Progress sounds great! (and fast) Good job

Here are a few tips on Resource Guarding (toys) ... maybe they'll help you overcome that challenge.

http://www.dogacademy.com/dog-behavi...-guarding.aspx

Thanks. I just read this and I think I have a strategy to work with now. I haven't tried food yet but am thinking this might be a problem also. I have given the 3 dogs treats and they seem OK but we will see at supper time!

OH NO!!! There has been blood drawn. I was eating lunch and the puppy attacked Patrick (I think he thought Patrick was going to get his food even though I was eating not them). Well Pat won't take anything so he grabbed the puppy by the back and shook him. I broke them up before Patrick hurt the puppy but about an hour later I noticed that the puppy had bit Patrick in the shoulder and there was blood.

Now there is no toys, the puppy goes in his kennel when I eat and he eats in another room. The last fight seems to have done something because the puppy is very careful around Patrick right now. He wouldn't even go near him for a couple of hours and now he is very slow to come up to Pat. I hope this will mean that the puppy is aware that Patrick is dominant so he stops attacking Patrick.
Will they eventually calm down? When is too far, too far? I can take the puppy back if I need to but I really don't want to so when would I know that it isn't going to work out.

Thanks