The first meet...... :/

[claire_88]

Next week i am moving into a house with two other dog's and taking mine with me, now Skye has met the two dog's and this just leaves the introduction of titon. This house is a mutual meeting ground, none of the dog's live there as yet but we hope to be able to form a bond between the four of them and be able to live with them all with no or little squabbles.

Now i want to make sure we do this right and not force anything too heavy or overwhelming for titon, who is the one who will take the most convincing that these new arrivals will not hurt him or cause him any damage.
For those of you that don't know titon had a bad case of fear aggression a few years ago due to an attack from three dog's at once which led to him having a no tolerance level for any other dog's.

So the introduction, the other dog's are an 18month old bitch called miley and a 4 year old male called kibble. When meeting with Skye the bitch was fine, greeted and played. Now the male is really a loveable friendly guy but his excitability leads him to being boisterous which i know for a fact titon will not accept well. We are thinking of going for a walk with just the two males on leash to see how they react with that, but at some point, if we are to live together they need to meet properly and at this moment in time i can't see how it will work

Has any-one on here had a fear aggressive dog and successfully introduced a pack to another pack as such?

Should we introduce slowly over a period of weeks, or let them greet straight away?

Present one dog at a time and see how he greets with say the bitch first?

Looking forward to your suggestions as i don't want titon to feel scared and become a danger to either dogs, i don't want any injuries...... xx

[LOVEGSD]

Diesel had fear aggression after being repeatedly attacked as a puppy and like Titon Diesel does not like to be bounced on, he prefers calm nose to bum greetings and then to give each other space. We have had quite a few dogs stay with us when their owners have gone on holiday and I have always found the best way to introduce them is to walk them together in a neutral place. I don't allow the dogs to meet, I just meet up with the owner and march...lol....I find the dogs then get a chance to be close to each other but not in each others faces. After doing this for a bit, I let Diesel off lead and then the other dog and it's always been fine......plus I always stay calm

Good luck, I'm sure it will work out fine, just don't allow the other dog to bounce on Titon, if he sees you are in control then he'll chill out.

[claire_88]

Originally Posted by LOVEGSD

Diesel had fear aggression after being repeatedly attacked as a puppy and like Titon Diesel does not like to be bounced on, he prefers calm nose to bum greetings and then to give each other space. We have had quite a few dogs stay with us when their owners have gone on holiday and I have always found the best way to introduce them is to walk them together in a neutral place. I don't allow the dogs to meet, I just meet up with the owner and march...lol....I find the dogs then get a chance to be close to each other but not in each others faces. After doing this for a bit, I let Diesel off lead and then the other dog and it's always been fine......plus I always stay calm

Good luck, I'm sure it will work out fine, just don't allow the other dog to bounce on Titon, if he sees you are in control then he'll chill out.

Would an option for me to walk the other male and for the owner of the other dog to walk titon make any difference?

A suggestion which was given to me last night. I do see what they mean by this though, as i do tend to tighten my grip without realising when we see another dog, it's become a habit and titon then knows there is a problem. so by the other guy holding the lead he might not pick up on that tension i'm sending out.......... or would he really be better with me because of his fear?

The intended walk is happening on wednesday. Thank-you for your reply

[Stuart]

I would guess that swapping owners wouldnt make a lot of difference, I think there are two ways of doing this, you might be better placed to pick one of them.

I wouldnt introduce dogs inside a house, even if it is neutural, there is no-where to run,... you can either walk your own dogs together untill such times as you are able to walk them together
Or you can release them free, [ or one free ],..this way they have the chance to move around, run if nessersary, they will not feel cornered as they would on a lead

The last twice mine have met other dogs it has been done by releasing them, we also picked the beach as they all loved water,.. we didnt have the slightest problem

[jc24965]

Out of interest (and in the worst case scenario) what will happen if Titon does not get on with the other dogs? Are you committed to living at this new house?

Not sure I would have agreed to move until I was sure the dogs would all get on first.

Sorry, just me looking at the negative side. I am sure things will be fine and good luck in your new abode.

[Moobli]

What breed are the other dogs? As JC has said, is this house move going ahead whether the dogs get on or not?

Personally I agree with Stuart. I think find a safe, deserted beach if possible - or at least an open area away from any roads - is best, and release the dogs (either one at a time or all at once).

I would never introduce new dogs in an inside situation - however neutral - for the reasons that Stuart already gave.

I think that you have possibly had the advice about walking each other's dogs because, as you have already acknowledged, your nerves and anxiety (however subconcious) will go down the lead to Titon and make him feel on edge. If he is handled by someone else he also may not feel either 1) the need to protect his resource (ie you) from the other dog and 2) won't feel he has the back up of his "boss".

Good luck with the intros - however you do them. How soon are you moving in together? Will there be enough space in the house to have the dogs separate if necessary?

[claire_88]

Originally Posted by jc24965

Out of interest (and in the worst case scenario) what will happen if Titon does not get on with the other dogs? Are you committed to living at this new house?

Not sure I would have agreed to move until I was sure the dogs would all get on first.

Sorry, just me looking at the negative side. I am sure things will be fine and good luck in your new abode.

Worst case scenario is titon getting hold of the other male, however when he get's them down he just's stand over them with their neck in his mouth.........he has never damaged a dog severely.

Before committing to it i told the person about titon's fear aggression, now his two dog's are working dog's, (one for cattle, one for sheep,) and his response to this was that his male needs putting in his place as he is aware that Kibble's boisterous behaviour can and does intimidate other dog's and owners he meets even though he means no harm and it's about time he learns he is not top dog........ he suggested the walk and the swopping of dog's but i'm now wondering as his male is a working dog, he is going to be a hell of a lot quicker than titon if things get heated and be able to run off so maybe off leash introduction might be a better option well................that is if Kibs does run off, if he challenges titon will they come to their own decisions of each other???

Originally Posted by Moobli

What breed are the other dogs? As JC has said, is this house move going ahead whether the dogs get on or not?

Personally I agree with Stuart. I think find a safe, deserted beach if possible - or at least an open area away from any roads - is best, and release the dogs (either one at a time or all at once).

I would never introduce new dogs in an inside situation - however neutral - for the reasons that Stuart already gave.

I think that you have possibly had the advice about walking each other's dogs because, as you have already acknowledged, your nerves and anxiety (however subconcious) will go down the lead to Titon and make him feel on edge. If he is handled by someone else he also may not feel either 1) the need to protect his resource (ie you) from the other dog and 2) won't feel he has the back up of his "boss".

Good luck with the intros - however you do them. How soon are you moving in together? Will there be enough space in the house to have the dogs separate if necessary?

The male is a Gsd/Rottweiler and the bitch is a small collie cross i think.....
Your right, i know i send the wrong signals down the lead, i have managed over the years to calm his leash behaviour down significantly but we are never in close contact with a dog, merely walking past it.

We are not moving for a couple of weeks yet, which is why this intro needs to happen, his dog's have an outside run where he is at the minute and intends to keep his dog's outside where they are used to, mine however sleep indoors at night.

I hope it does go well, my updates on incidents and stories aren't the best but il try and remember to let you know how it goes :P

[Moobli]

What does your friend do? If his dogs are working dogs and live outside in kennels then some of the pressure is taken off. If he is working his dogs on a daily basis, then if things don't go well, you could just walk your dogs separately and keep them separate for most of the time anyway.

Good luck

[claire_88]

Originally Posted by Moobli

What does your friend do? If his dogs are working dogs and live outside in kennels then some of the pressure is taken off. If he is working his dogs on a daily basis, then if things don't go well, you could just walk your dogs separately and keep them separate for most of the time anyway.

Good luck

He's a wild boar farmer, his dog's go with him on a daily basis too as he also keeps regular livestock.

I'm hoping that over time Titon will become accustomed to the new environment and as he is a little older now perhaps take more in his stride than he would of done 3 years ago

The walks would probably be done separately anyway as 4-5 am starts don't take my fancy i'm more an 8am girl

[jesterjenn]

I find the best way to introduce Harley to other dogs (he has fear agression on lead) is to parralel walk with them, then when they have calmed and start sniffing around onlead, I'm happy to let him off.

One of the reasons I buy leads that have handles next to the clips, is so I can have close control without tightening the lead as such, so I can stay more relaxed