Positive PetzineIntroducing a new dog to our old dog
We have 2 gorgeous female desexed Blue Cattle dogs . Chloe we have had since a puppy she is 17 months old and Lily we have had for a week rescued and she also is 17 months old . They could be sisters .We were told that Lilly was given up because she had food aggression and jumping up on people . When we bought her home she was a jumper but settled down very quickly . The first night we introduced them after 3 hours of separating them . They were fine and then suddenly it was on for young and old ! We separated them again and when they were introduced again,
they had another fight !The next day we bought harnesses and muzzles . Worked like a charm .Until the muzzles came off and then fights again .We took them walking and they were fine ! They were happily playing in the back with this broken up thing (not sure what it was ) ! So in my ignorance I thought they would want their new toys they had played with separately .Well it was on again . It was terrifying to see how quickly they changed from happily playing with each other to trying to eat each other !
We feed them separately and for the last 2 days they actually manage to eat their food separated by the screen door !
How do I reward them when teaching them without food ? And what do I need to do so gradually they can receive treats without eating each other?
I realise it has only been a week and they are actually very good ,but I am in knots all the time trying to figure out how they can not start fights ! i want to be able to play with them and have fun We are starting the RSPCA dog courses in a fortnight .
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re: Introducing a new dog to our old dog
It's difficult for me to comment without seeing them and talking with you, but for a start the "resource guarding" is going to be a problem for you unless you are really committed to training and management. For that, you would first need to be committed to integrating the rescue dog, and if I may be so frank, I would have to wonder why? You've had her for a week, it isn't working out, you've got a long hard road ahead of you and it doesn't seem fair on either of the dogs or you.
Talk with the rescue organisation. I think you are better off with a dog who does not have resource guarding issues, and preferably a male. If you decide that Lilly is "the one", then read this: http://positivepetzine.com/food_guarding and book an appointment with a veterinary behaviourist ASAP.
I've got to be honest with you (and I speak from experience), it's tough living with two dogs who will fight and invariably the quality of life for dogs and humans is not the best that you would otherwise be capable of offering. Put Lilly in a home with no other dogs and no kids and her problems become a simple matter for a trainer, but in this situation the problem is magnified exponentially.
New dog to the family
Thank you for your reply. We thought we were doing the right thing by both dogs . We have always had RSPCA dogs that were older ,this is a whole new area for us . Any positive advice we can get is important to us .I had read on the web that Dogs need a settling in time usually up to 4 weeks .As we are now in the 9 Day ,Lilly and Chloe now sleep in the same room and in fact Lilly has taken over Chloes bed and Chloe didn't even murmur !We keep them separated for food still but there doesn't seem to be any problems there . They quite happily play together now except today my adult daughter who hadn't met them yet decided to play fetch with Lilly and Chloe ,all was wonderful and they were all playing together when all of a sudden Lilly just went Chloe and had her by the throat! It was so surprising .So in your opinion Lilly is a lost cause and we should get rid of her ? Thank you for your opinion .
re: New dog to the family
I wouldn't say she was a lost cause; just that it will be difficult, time consuming, possibly expensive, and stressful for you, your other dog, and Lilly. But I have not seen them together, I can only go off what I have read about them. She is a resource guarder, this is not an impossible problem to solve but where it causes attacks on your other dog I'm not sure that is fair?
I would suggest you talk to the RSPCA.
I have similar problem with new/old dog
I have had Babboo since he was a pup; very mellow Aussie mix, now 16 months. We got Frieda, Cattle dog mix, about he same age, as companion. They played well for a while, then seemed distant. Frieda obviously wants to be alpha. Babboo doesn't, but we thought they had settled down. Babboo seemed more confident and their play was more equal, both took turns being on top, lots of play biting and chase games; then Frieda started snapping at him, over toys, sticks. He hides under the bed and today hasn't even come out for breakfast. They seemed great on Wednesday, but by Thursday this snapping began. Now it is Sunday, and he's still under the bed. We've had Frieda about five weeks.
They are both good with other dogs, and I have been training Frieda in the basics. They eat in same room, with me between them, both bolting their food. Until today, when Babboo won't come out. He is usually a voracious eater.
Help!
re: I have similar problem with new/old dog
Sorry I can only give a short reply today. Feed them separately for now. Put them both on a "Nothing in Life is Free" program. Not for rank reduction, but to give them a big repertoire of heavily reinforced polite, deferential behaviours and to give you control through lots and lots of training (everything they do).
You wouldn't be surprised to
You wouldn't be surprised to hear it but dogs will act differently if at home, if outside on a leash and if outside with no leash. This is very common. At home they have the territorial instinct which is telling them to protect their own place. That's why they fight. Outside some dogs are aggressive while on a leash and then playful and happy when the leash comes off. Obedience training is the key to coping with on-leash aggression, as far as at home aggression, they will just have to get used to each other. It may take them some time but they'll get over it. In the mean time keep doing what you've been doing and make sure they have pet insurance in case anything happens. You may not need it later, but at least when they are still aggressive it's best to be safe than sorry.