"Introducing a 2nd dog to the home?" thread in "General Mayhem"
Hi All I might have to give a home to a puppy Jack Russell. We already have one who is 6. She is very protective ...

Hi All

I might have to give a home to a puppy Jack Russell. We already have one who is 6. She is very protective of the family and doesn't really like other dogs in the house. Although she tolerates them she does snap at them and mark their card so to speak.

That said she is quite maternal and tends to only be concerned with us and has little interest in other people. If the kids run of she will try and round them up.

Has anyone else introduced a 2nd dog into their home? How did the resident dog take it? Any tips or dos and donts on bringing a pup into the house?

Many thanks.

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I could write volumes on this, wait someone else already has. Phew.

http://www.leerburg.com/pdf/introducingdogs.pdf

Taipan you've posted before about your dog being aggressive in pack situations so I'd advise reading the leerburg stuff KDR1 linked - it's all good stuff and he knows of what he speaks. Also think about whether your existing dog is sufficiently well adjusted to accept another dog into the pack..... I don't know the answer, but beware of the risks.

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Formerly known as Mikey

I probably give the wrong impression of my dog. She has no interest in other dogs what so ever. But if they sniff her she will react as she doesn't like it. She never gets into fights or owt though. Dogs always sort themselves out.

If we have other family members dogs here she will play at times but she makes it clear its her house. In all her exploits with other people or dogs she has never bitten "properly". She snaps but never closes her jaws and draws blood etc and its only ever defensive or protetcive. She is only the size of guinea pig and the only way she could kill anything is by getting stuck in its throat!

Myy daughter and her friends are alwasy dressing her up. Th elab below is her best mate. We look after him some times and she snuggles up in his paws. But she nips him when the clumnsy sod treads on her!

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Long story short it was an unwanted litter. The owner was going to give them to the Pikeys. So we brought them all home between us. We'll have one if its ok with our dog but the priority was to get the puppies somewhere safe and where it can be cared for properly. I don't mind sticking my hand in my pocket for something like this and wil happily give it a home or find it one if our dog doesn't get on with it. I'll post some cute puppie pictures tomorrow!

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when i got my second he had to piss all over to mark his territory, few boots up the arse and a new carpet and all is fine now. my first dog was happy to have a new friend in the house.

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Debt Free

Oh how it all falls to the insomniac to look after things

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This isn't working out too bad I'm pleased to say. Initially the pup thought my other dog is her Mum and follows her about. The other dog (Tilly) snarls if she gets too close to her and the pup seems to heed the warning? But gradually Tilly seems to be accepting her. They both laid on me last night. But Tilly snarls if the pup touches her.

The pup has decided she likes Tillys beanbag and keeps going on that. Tilly leaves her to do so and doesn't get upset by it at all, although we take the pup off it. But i'm gradually breaking down borders between them.

For safetys sake we got the pup a cage so they can be left in the same room when Mrs Taipan is out at work. The only sign of aggression from Tilly is when the pup barks at us and play bites the kids. Tilly will come straight in when she hears the pup yapping. I think she recognises the pups aggression and feels she needs to look after us. She doesn't do anything just watches the pup. I guess she is just displaying her dominance with most of her behaviour?

Last night the pup was sleeping and started twitching and making funny little noises. Tilly flew over to her and sniffed her and nudged her? I dont know if she was checking if the pup was ok or not, but it did appear to be an act of concern?

I thought I was long past getting up for middle of the night feeds. So this keep getting up for the pup is wearing! Why are puppies nocturnal? One thing is for sure, this temporary homing of the puppy is looking permanent!

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we I need pictures!!

Don't remove the pup from the beanbag. As you said earlier, dogs will sort out their own place in the pack. It may be that the puppy will become the top dog, it may not, but if Tilly doesn't object to the pup sharing her bed, leave them to it.
If Tilly wants to discipline (not hurt) the puppy, let her do so. Puppies learn acceptable behaviour from older dogs far more quickly than you can teach it. Sadie regularly chastises some of the pups she walks with. They learn how to behave from her.

Sounds very cute. Again, unless Tilly shows actual signs of aggression, leave them to it. Very few adult dogs will actually attack a pup, but sometimes their doggy discipline can be misinterpreted as an attack.

what she said ^^^^



i'm glad it's going ok so far Taipan

Got some more coming soon. I might even upload a video of her to youtube. She barks and slips over on the flooring all at the same time. She also barks and makes herself jump!

In the bottom picture she was looking at me with the camer and then just fell asleep. Her head just drooped until her nose hit the floor. Then a few seconds after that she fell over on her side and snored!

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OMG!!

so cute.. can i come round and play

Taipan it seems Tilly's accepting the pup quite well so far. Rather than talk about "cage", you're better off using the word "crate" - it's much less emotive. I guess you've already figured this out, but for the pup's safety the only time they should be left alone is when the pup's in the crate.

Mad Liz has typed some good stuff - let the dogs sort things out for themselves. Adult dogs are genetically programmed to be tolerant of pups - pups have the same big eyes and stubby nose that make us humans go "aaaaah" at babies - but provide gentle discipline when the pup steps out of line, and so far Tilly seems to be obeying her genetic programming.

I've noticed in the your post above you're trying to interpret examples of Tilly's behaviour that have surprised or interested you. Dogs are very different to humans and are driven by instict rather than conscious thought. Beware of anthropomorphism - the attribution of human characteristics to animals. A dog's behaviour is dictated by three "drives" - pack drive, prey drive and defence drive, and her behaviour can only be correctly interpreted in the context of drives. Can I recommend that you do some reading on these, it will help you recognise behaviour in Tilly that could potentially cause you future problems with the pup. The Leerburg site that KDR1 suggested at the start of the thread is not a bad place to start.

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Formerly known as Mikey

Hey I watch Caeser Milan every day. I'm thinking of becoming a Dog Behaviour Specialist next year! I'm going to go with letting Tilly do her thing with the pup. I think its her right and place to sort it out. Its just the kids and Mrs panic anytime the two get close. The pup is only 6 weeks old and so tiny that they worry about it. Understandable I suppose? I worry that the more they seperate them the bigger any bad feeling could become. i don't want Tilly resenting the pup because of their interferance.

Re the cage/crate thing, she no likee! Mrs Taipan just phoned me and i could hear the poor little thing screaming for all she was worth after being put in there!

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