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Help With Introducing New Dog To Shepherd


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Hi!

We have a 2 yr old Shepherd desexed male. He is excellent on walks when meeting new dogs, never aggressive. We rescued a female 'tiny' mixed breed last week who is about 12 months old and the Shepherd hates her. He bit her straight away.

When we first introduced them it was somewhere neutral, being the local park. Jasper the shepherd had just been for his walk and was on the way home to the park, where I was with the new dog.

They saw each other and slowly, after about 5 mins or so, we got them closer and closer. At first, Jasper was wagging his tail, all seemed ok. Then, as they got really close, he just jumped on her and started to attack her, out of no where. She is tiny and was yelping (tiny like chi x foxy or something).

Since then, we have been taking turns of having one locked in the crate, one inside, one outside etc. We put them both in crates in the laundry near each other and the Shepherd just growled and growled.

Now, the little one is growling at him and he has actually stopped growling. We locked her in crate and he is walking past the crate and ignoring her now.

He occasionally sniffs it then walks away.

Can anyone tell me what to do to slowly introduce them again. I'm afraid he will kill her if he gets hold of her. He has never been in a fight with another dog, he has never shown signs of aggression but her growling at him now is not helping.

What to do? They have to get along, I love dogs and can't stand the thought of only having 1 just because he can't get along with it.

We don't want them to be together all the time, it would just be nice to be able to walk them together or let them out in the yard together so the little one can go to the toilet without having to lock him in his crate first!

Suggestions please!

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Unfortunately this is not a problem i would consider giving internet advice for, given whats at stake. I would recommend you see a professional, if you can give your approx area, i'm sure there will be someone DOLers could recommend.

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When we first introduced them it was somewhere neutral, being the local park. Jasper the shepherd had just been for his walk and was on the way home to the park, where I was with the new dog.

Does Jasper consider you to be his human?

Our ESS is much worse with fosters if I am at the other end of the leash. When OH has him, he is much better behaved.

Maybe Jasper was upset that you were with another dog?

Usually we have growls and grumbles for a few days and after that things settle down again.

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Umm, no, my hubby is his human. Well he is the boss anyway, I'm just the cuddle giver so maybe I am? Oh, I hadn't really thought about that! Interesting!

Hmm. Now that I think about it, when they are both in their crates, they carry on like pork chops while we are in there with them. As soon as we leave the room, they both stop growling, sooking etc.

He is getting better, like I said, he has stopped growling at her, he is now ignoring her when she is in her crate, but she is growling now! I'm sooo scared to let them near each other. I won't do it until I feel they are totally used to each other being there. Could be weeks at the rate I'm going, I'm a wreck! Haha.

Plus, she is going to get desexed on Wed, she will be sore, so I won't do any introductions for quite some time yet.

Nothing has changed for the Shepherd, he is still getting the same amount of attention, still being let inside the same amount, still being walked as usual, still have games out the back during the day, fed the same etc. It's just there is a new dog and he is not used to it!

Oh I should add, he plays with the dog next door regulary in our yard and theirs plus meets dogs often on his walks, he is not the aggressive type. It's strange. It must be because it was 'us' with the new dog??? Makes perfect sense.

Edited by Shepsrule
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Well I have good news, they have met and were fine!

Lately when we have had one locked in the crate and one out they have been going up to each other in the crate and sniffing, licking, wagging tails.

This morning I got my Mum to hold little rescue dog 'Rosie' and let Jasper sniff her whilst in Mum's arms. Jasper just licked and licked her all over and Rosie didn't growl! She just sniffed him.

Still won't have them 'together' for a while but will let them meet the way they have been. So far so good!

I think you were right kamuzz, I think Jasper wasn't happy because Rosie was with 'us' as he was fine when Mum had her...

:)

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