[Shelleyroxy]

Hi.
I don’t know if anyone can help me. I have 2 beautiful golden retrievers and just recused a 3 year old from Albania. The rescue is amazing with people but growls and snaps at my dogs at times. I don’t know what to do with her because keeping them separate the whole time is very hard.

 

[pandora]

Do you have any background info on how she was kept?

Some of the dogs from these places have learned to beg nicely from people which makes them social but they know food is scarce and the snapping at the other dogs could be a form of resourse guarding,. She doesnt want to share her food source ie. you with other dogs.

Avoid high stress situations such as treats toys and feeding where they can see each other for a while until she gets used to your dogs. Make sure all interaction is supervised for a while and let them get to know each other, it is early days.

 

[Shelleyroxy]

Thank you so much for your comments. It’s helpful.
I know exactly what her life has been. For 3 years she has been “owned” by a man who has left her and her sister in a compound kinda thing. ( it’s not his home but a place he occasionally works at) so she’s not technically been “on the street” but close enough.
She has been totally neglected, sometimes fed bread and sometimes not. She has been beaten at times and when he has groups of people to the workplace ( he works with teenagers ) then the 2 dogs have got put in a tiny wooden kennel for sometimes up to 24-36 hours. so I understand how food is a huge trigger.
I have not left her alone yet ( and certainly will keep her away from my other dogs) but am uncertain where to put her. She is not ready to be left alone in her crate ( we are working on this bit by bit ) and she climbs over the dog playpen fence I have. She’s been outside her whole life so I wonder if I should leave her outside but have never done that with any dog before. My anxiety for sure is high since I don’t have a good solution for when I go out but will try and find a solution ..
Thanks again.

 

[3GSD4IPO]

What are the genders of the two dogs you have? If they are males time and patience will sort this out tho the males may at times get grump with each other.

If they are females, keep them separate. Females will escalate to a "bitch fight" and try to kill each other.. and it is only a matter of when not if.

The back ground of the dog may or may not have influence. Golly only knows the genetics of the rescue and therein lies the behavior that may be quite unreliable. You just don't know.

Yes. It is a ROYAL pain to keep dogs separated, but that should have been thought through BEFORE getting the third dog. So, actually, you own this and that may, in fact, be your life as long as you have three dogs.

Dogs are not always designed to get along with other dogs. Most do not want to know every dog out there any more than a person wants to know every other person out there. A couple of known friends? Fine. As long as they like each other (and that can change too). Three dogs there is always the odd one out. Just like with people. I do NOT suggest you get a fourth dog but would rather see you recognize this is not what you wanted and go back to two dogs.

 

[sydneynicole]

How recently did you get the new dog? How old are your other dogs? In what situations is the new dog snapping?

I'd need more detail to try to understand what is happening here. But a few things come to mind straight away. A 3 year old dog will take time to settle in - expect months to truly see the dog's personality and for her to feel settled in.

Another thing is that you say she growls and snaps - is she rightful to do this? IE, are your dogs invading her space, being relentless, approaching while she is eating or has a toy or etc. Growling and air snapping is communication. I'd much rather have a dog who growls than one who will just go straight for a fight.

 

[Deacon.dog]

I would muzzle the dog when around the other dogs. Send me a direct message if you are interesting in learning more about brands/fitting. If you are able to do so, it would be smart to hire a trainer. Also, Do realise that dogs may take upwards to 6 months to get used to your dogs, and your home (maybe even younger) take it slow and be patient

 

[Shelleyroxy]

Thank you so much for your comments. It’s helpful.
I know exactly what her life has been. For 3 years she has been “owned” by a man who has left her and her sister in a compound kinda thing. ( it’s not his home but a place he occasionally works at) so she’s not technically been “on the street” but close enough.
She has been totally neglected, sometimes fed bread and sometimes not. She has been beaten at times and when he has groups of people to the workplace ( he works with teenagers ) then the 2 dogs have got put in a tiny wooden kennel for sometimes up to 24-36 hours. so I understand how food is a huge trigger.
I have not left her alone yet ( and certainly will keep her away from my other dogs) but am uncertain where to put her. She is not ready to be left alone in her crate ( we are working on this bit by bit ) and she climbs over the dog playpen fence I have. She’s been outside her whole life so I wonder if I should leave her outside but have never done that with any dog before. My anxiety for sure is high since I don’t have a good solution for when I go out but will try and find a solution ..
Thanks again.

 

[Shelleyroxy]

I only have had the dog 4 days. So it’s all very new. My retrievers are really chill and laid back.
She is 3 years old. I am noticing the triggers for her to snap. If she’s being petted or feeling cosy with us and one of my retrievers comes up she gets grumpy. If however I am petting one of my retrievers then she is completely fine and joins right in.
I did make a huge mistake which was her biggest snap. I gave her a piece of food and she dropped it. Unfortunately one of my retrievers moved in to take it and she was madder than mad and went for my retriever. I understand that Cos her whole life has been fighting for whatever food she can get. So that was my mistake. She did well today and only growled twice but snapped out of it quickly. She has a crate which I am working on being her “safe space” and she’s actually enjoying going in there. I leave the door open for now but will bit by bit work on her being comfortable with me closing the door and then even leaving the room. Not quite there yet.
She’s already feeling a bit more comfortable in the house. I have to remember she flew from Albania on Friday. A 2 hour flight followed by a 10.5 hour. So that’s pretty brutal for anyone. So it’s early days yet. I just want to get a grip on this right away and not perpetuate issues ...
I have had many dogs in my life, just not rescue dogs. Thanks.

 

[pandora]

Its good that you are seeing her triggers. Makes it a lot easier to work with , I disagree about the muzzle idea. It wont stop her triggers it will only stop her causing damage to others but if they retailiate she cant defend herself which will only make her worse in the long term.

Giving her a safe space a room crate or run away from the others might be a good idea right now so that she can have time to relax esp at feeding times . Building up play gradually is the best way to go.
I adopted a new boy a year ago and although my two bonded we had already removed all toys from shared areas before he arrived so that there would be no triggers. There were fed in seperate rooms so that there could be no food stealing issues.

We gradually introduced new toys in neutral surroundings and then allowed those toys to appear in the garden one by one then one of the boys bought a toy into the house and the other ignored it. Gradually we have got to a pont where they will sit happily next to each other while getting a treat and are now fed at opposite ends of the kitchen. They play nicely with toys and share sleeping areas.. So it does take time but if youre willing to see this as a long term project it can work.

 

[ValerieK]

I only have had the dog 4 days. So it’s all very new. My retrievers are really chill and laid back.
She is 3 years old. I am noticing the triggers for her to snap. If she’s being petted or feeling cosy with us and one of my retrievers comes up she gets grumpy. If however I am petting one of my retrievers then she is completely fine and joins right in.
I did make a huge mistake which was her biggest snap. I gave her a piece of food and she dropped it. Unfortunately one of my retrievers moved in to take it and she was madder than mad and went for my retriever. I understand that Cos her whole life has been fighting for whatever food she can get. So that was my mistake. She did well today and only growled twice but snapped out of it quickly. She has a crate which I am working on being her “safe space” and she’s actually enjoying going in there. I leave the door open for now but will bit by bit work on her being comfortable with me closing the door and then even leaving the room. Not quite there yet.
She’s already feeling a bit more comfortable in the house. I have to remember she flew from Albania on Friday. A 2 hour flight followed by a 10.5 hour. So that’s pretty brutal for anyone. So it’s early days yet. I just want to get a grip on this right away and not perpetuate issues ...
I have had many dogs in my life, just not rescue dogs. Thanks.

Well, I think things are progressing nicely right now, especially as it's only been 4 DAYS !
Ensuring you feed all 3 dogs apart from each other - in separate corners of the room for example, in the same place EVERY time, and preferably facing away from each other should minimise and even eliminate growling and snapping over food. Make sure you maintain the "pecking order" and put down your newbie 's food last. You may have to leash your rescue at first to stop her trying to grab the others' before she gets hers. Stay and supervise at all times to prevent any pup approaching another's bowl if they finish their food first.
I have 3 dogs, 2 Golden retrievers and 1 Staghound X. The staghound is the most recent addition (8 y.o.), She is a gobbler and is always looking for more food and initially would try to steal my other girls' meal. After a few weeks with us, I had her trained to stay away from the Golden's bowls until they walked away from them.
All of my dogs will make a warning growl if either of the other two pass by too closely when eating a bone. Has never escalated though.
Good luck, becoming part of a family always takes time; and teaching your rescue manners will be ongoing.

 

[Shelleyroxy]

Thank you for your help. Any thoughts on separation anxiety ? Because now I am certain this will be a big issue. I have not left her yet .. other than 10 minutes and she went crazy in her crate. Almost pulled the door off and salivating big time. So the crate in not an option right now clearly :-(

 

[ValerieK]

Thank you for your help. Any thoughts on separation anxiety ? Because now I am certain this will be a big issue. I have not left her yet .. other than 10 minutes and she went crazy in her crate. Almost pulled the door off and salivating big time. So the crate in not an option right now clearly :-(

Personally I think it's way too soon to be trying to leave her in a crate. You need to have her feel safe and secure with you and in your house and garden first. A week will hardly do that and it wil probably take up to at least a month for that to happen (it did with our rescue girl).
When she's confident enough to move around your home and know she's safe, and perhaps have the crate always nearby wherever her "safe place" is (which may change from time to time), perhaps then you can try her in the closed crate, but with you present.
Until she feels safe and secure, she will always need an escape route from anything that frightens her, and they will be many, from new sounds to new people. So trying to confine her to a crate now at such an early time isn't going to work. Imagine having lived in a confined hell prior to being rescued and then being re-caged again..... a crate too soon must be a trigger for her. At the very least, the crate door must be left unlocked initially so she can get out if she panics. Of course, this is no help if you wish to go out; but in the initial training period I think it would be a must.
Luckily for us, we're retired and can do what is needed for our pups whenever it's needed. If you have to leave her to go to work, then this is going to be very difficult. Could you perhaps take some vacation time to settle her?
Also, are your other dogs crate trained? Are you trying to crate train the rescue and not crating the others at the same time? Are all the crates together - which might help if your rescue can observe the others - but I think it unlikely. I believe crating can only work if the pup will use it willingly.
I know you must think you've bitten off more than you can chew; but believe me it can work. You just have to be consistent, have a strict routine, make sure she knows only good things come from you and be prepared for relapses in your progress with her. Understand she may never be a "normal" Golden Retriever. Our Amber has come a long way in 18 months; but she's not typical. She knows not, how to play, never fetches toys as gifts, and only tolerates the softest of cuddles. It is only recently she has chosen to sit by us and not in her safe place, and she still needs work on her recall.
However, there's nothing more rewarding than seeing progress no matter how tiny and knowing she's happy and safe and loved and becoming the pup she was meant to be.

 

[Romasia1]

Hi, gun
You should separate the two of them into different cages. Don't do that while he's eating or sleeping. He'll get angry and turn to bite him. If there's no way, you should give them a numbing medicine and let them sleep, and then splitting will be easier bro.