[kellyandmike]

First, let me say that I LOVE this forum already! I have read over some articles and just love the fact that it is exactly what I was looking for!

Background:
Resident dog is 7 year old Golden Retriever female, had her since she was 2 months old. When she was about 2 yrs old, this loose dog came running into our yard, attacked her and left with the owner running after it.

A couple months later, she broke through her invisible fence and attacked a dog in the street that usually strolled by and teased her from the street. Fast forward a couple years... She has been very aggressive/territorial to other dogs. Walking her, she would turn into this lion. She broke out of our house about a year ago when my daughter left the door open and attacked a dog walking on the street.

I watched many Dog Whisperer shows. She now can walk on a leash, ignoring other dogs. She still barks and acts "lion-ish" at other dogs from our yard. And trucks like UPS, but that is ok with me.

New Puppy:
We rescued a 5 mo old German Shepard/Boxer mix puppy over the weekend. We were ready for whatever it took. She seems timid, is house trained. She backs away when we go to her. I am thinking this will change when she feels more comfortable.

The Introduction:
Day 1: We had them meet in our neighbor's yard, then brought them into our house (resident dog first), and kept them both on leashes for the first few hours, not really letting them look right at each other. Then we kept only the puppy on a leash and let the resident dog loose in the house, giving her lots of praise. She was very well behaved.

Fast forward to Day 3... Both dogs pretty much sniff each other, we walk them outside together, resident dog seems to have accepted the puppy being in the house. Only, when puppy goes to sniff her, resident dog, moves away as if she is scared of the puppy. She keeps moving and the puppy keeps trying to sniff her. Until, I tell resident dog to come to me, and then puppy gets distracted and leaves. What do you think this behavior means? (the fact that she now seems scared by this puppy).

PS, resident dog has growled at puppy when puppy "corners" her or startles her. This is normal I am assuming?

Thanks in advance, feel free to email me.
Kelly

[FutureVetGirl]

I can't say an answer except perhaps trying to get them to play with each other, but it's not what I'd call "normal".

I am no expert, but over the fifteen years of my life, we've had around 20-30 dogs. And I'm planning to be a vet. I'd say that your puppy is doing great. She's getting used to life around the house, without being terrified of your older dog, and gaining confidence, which is a great thing to see in a rescue pup, especially one as timid as you were saying.

As for the older dog, I think that now that the younger dog is gaining confidence, she is the one losing confidence. She's apparently accepted that this dog is a permanent member, but she's fearful of the puppy. You said that quite a while back she was attacked by another dog? Inside her own yard? Moments as traumatic like that can have lifelong effects. I'm thinking that perhaps the puppy might be rousing up old memories. Your older dog is probably feeling like she's threatened, that she might be attacked once more. Or perhaps the fact that this younger dog is coming in and threatening her "single" dog relationship with you.

The only thing I can think of is perhaps getting them used to each other in a place outside of a familiar home, perhaps at a dog park, or at a friend's house. Keep them both on leashes at first, and just let them get to know each other, let them play, and gradually do the same thing at home. You want them to be friends, not dogs with a pecking order. As long as either dog isn't possessive of toys, you could get them a long rope that they could play with, or perhaps just walk them together, let them get used to each other without worrying about whether one will "corner" the other.

There are probably better options. Like I said, I'm not an expert.