Introducing Staffy Pup To Aggressive Chihuahua

[Summerside]

Hi all

We plan on getting a staffy pup soon but wanted some advice regarding introducing it to my parents dog. They have a poorly socialised 6yo female chihuahua, Attila, who is very friendly to us but to any other dogs (and humans for that matter) she is very aggressive and my husband is concerned she may traumatise our pup. As we often mind her she is used to our home and probably thinks of it as her domain too.

My parents are due to go away again for a few weeks in July, so we thought waiting until after that before getting a puppy would be a good idea, but there will be times in the future we're asked to mind her so would really appreciate any advice you can offer as to the best way to help them get along.

Thanks in advance

[WreckitWhippet]

My suggestion is not to introduce then at all. The last thing an SBT pup needs is to be introduced to a poor role model such as your parents dog. Stay well away and introduce your SBT pup only to those dogs you know have stable temperaments and look to introduce the pup to as many " indifferent" dogs as you can.

When the Chi is at your house, keep it seperate for it's own well being. The last thing it needs is an over the top SBT pup in it's face.

ETA: your husband is kind of on the right track. The Chi won't traumatise your pup but you need to remember that SBT's will fight fire with fire and there's no way I'd want to introduce my pup to any dog that is likely to bring out the worst of the breeds traits.

Edited April 25, 2012 by Pav Lova

[pixie_meg]

Completely agree with Pav lova. you don't want your sbt to become aggressive as a result of poor socialisation.

[Salukifan]

Yep, don't.

Your pup does NOT need that experience and the Chi doesn't need the aggravation. It also has the potential to go very badly wrong.

[Sandra777]

Agree with Pav lova too.

And remember - the Stafford will grow into a dog perfectly capable of killing the Chihuahua if it continues to behave aggressively and the Stafford decides to retaliate.

Keep them separated for everyone's peace of mind.

[Summerside]

Wow ok... thank you so much for your quick responses.

I guess I was hoping it wouldn't come to that but I understand where you're all coming from. We definitely don't want to encourage any aggressiveness so it makes sense to try to only expose it to good role models.

[WreckitWhippet]

Another piece of advice is to ignore whatever people tell you about getting them to meet a LOT of dogs. You are better of investing your time in training your SBT, especially when it comes to recall and working on having a very strong bond. Find out what makes your pup tick and use it to your advantage.

There are some Staffords that are social butterlfies when it comes to other dogs but most don't want to be friends with strange dogs outside of their own pack when they reach maturity.

A Stafford that has a reliable recall and is indifferent when it comes to other dogs is far easier to handle, than one that is dog aggressive or one that thinks it can play with anything and everything it comes across. Be very careful to control the interactions and the play with your pup, focus on you being the best thing in the world according to your pup.

It doesn't take much for a play situation or greeting to turn from nice to fight and it can happen in an instant.

[Rainy]

Honestly you couldnt pay me enough to put any puppy in this situation

If you and your partener are set on getting a puppy ( of any breed ) then id be letting your parent's know they need to find alternative arangements for the chi when they are away.

Any puppy ( othere then another Chi ) will grow bigger and have the potential to hurt your parents dog.

It doesn't take much for a play situation or greeting to turn from nice to fight and it can happen in an instant.

Again great information from Pav Lova.