Staffie And Maltese X Shih Tzu

[hippotamus]

Hi all

I'm hoping for some advice for a friend if anyone can offer some help please.....

She has an 18 month old desexed male pure bred English Staffie and is about to move in with her parents. They have a three year old male in tact maltese x shih tzu. When they see each other currently there is a mass of frenzied tail wagging, and seriously over excited jumping all over each other in a manic fashion but the Staffie is far heavier and stronger and it all looks like it will go dreadfully wrong. It is such an over excited frenzied "play" it borders on really worrisome.

The Maltese is not used to being off lead whereas the staffie is regularly off lead.

As they are shortly going to be living together - what is the best approach to getting them socialised and settled together please?

It is the staffie moving into the Maltese's home territory. Maltese seems fairly happy to see Staffie, but it is so FULL on it makes both owners seriously nervous about what might happen next.

As their tails are wagging, do they need to just get it out of their system and go for it (supervised)??

Thanks in advance

Annie

(I have a 13 month old weim myself).

[Her Majesty Dogmad]

It would be absolutely essential to desex the resident male dog - cannot understand why people don't do this if they are not breeders/showing.

The Staffy may be fine but with an undesexed dog it is high risk with the same sex dog in the same home.

Then, I would not leave them unattended together until 2 months had passed by without incident and perhaps this should never be done, hard to say without knowing either dog but there is always a risk when there is such a size difference. Never leave food or toys lying around if either dog has a guarding habit or aggression.

Just so you know, I've had well over 100 foster dogs in my own home in the last few years - most arrive undesexed. I usually own up to 5 of my own dogs and also manage foster carers as well.

Edited July 6, 2013 by dogmad

[mixeduppup]

Excitement can quickly escalate from play to aggression. I would intervene before they got to that stage and teach them to be settle don command and reward them for the quiet behaviour. Desexing is always a good idea (though not essential) as it can cut down a lot of testosterone fueled behaviour. Don't let them off together to play with that level of excitement, not only could it become aggressive but it can also lead to the staffy accidentally hurting the much smaller dog. Uncontrollable excitement like they are demonstrating should never be rewarded as it's inappropriate behaviour. Removing one or both from the room once they display the behaviour and then bringing them back in until they are calmer and then rewarding would be a good thing to start doing. I also second that they should not be left unsupervised, at least for a couple of months and then play it by ear.

Edited July 6, 2013 by mixeduppup

[Jed]

They already know each other and like each other. I would simply put them together - with supervision - to see how they go. The maltese, although smaller, is in a better position, as it is his house.

Some discipline may be necessary if the play gets over the top, or develops into growling. When they have spent a few days together you will find that being companionable will overtake running around like maniacs.

They are just excited when they see each other, as they obviously like each other, and would like company.

I don't think desexing the maltese will make the slightest difference.

Just watch them in the beginning, curb any bad behaviour and all will be well.

People seem to forget that dogs are pack animals. They love other dogs, and if all are nice natured dogs, nothing too bad will happen.

Also if you desex the malt just before the other dog arrives, he will be at a distinct disadvantage. In fact, if I neutered my dog, I wouldn't have a visiting dog until he had adjusted.

Edited July 6, 2013 by Jed

[Staffyluv]

They already know each other and like each other. I would simply put them together - with supervision - to see how they go. The maltese, although smaller, is in a better position, as it is his house.

Some discipline may be necessary if the play gets over the top, or develops into growling. When they have spent a few days together you will find that being companionable will overtake running around like maniacs.

They are just excited when they see each other, as they obviously like each other, and would like company.

I don't think desexing the maltese will make the slightest difference.

Just watch them in the beginning, curb any bad behaviour and all will be well.

People seem to forget that dogs are pack animals. They love other dogs, and if all are nice natured dogs, nothing too bad will happen.

Also if you desex the malt just before the other dog arrives, he will be at a distinct disadvantage. In fact, if I neutered my dog, I wouldn't have a visiting dog until he had adjusted.

Good advice IMO.

I have an over the top staffy cross and we have fosters here - it is all fun and games but the play can be full on, so has to be monitored so no one gets hurt in all the excitement (because we usually have recently desexed dogs).

Believe it or not, even though the play seems full on, they often regulate it themselves.

Ziggy plays with the littlest puppies at training and the biggest dogs as well - he has a play style to suit the situation. It seems that most of the dogs I know are the same - they play to suit the style of the dog they are with.

[Loving my Oldies]

I would imagine the frenzied excitement will die down a bit once they are living with each other.

You are right to consider the size difference.

I agree with everything Jed and Staffyluv say

Hope the move goes well and the dogs (and humans) have a ball.

[RiverStar-Aura]

My own two dogs can get into an overly excited, hyped up playing session too. One weighs 6.4 kilos the other around 15 kilos. When they both get so overly excited, the best remedy I've found is to separate and give them a cooling off period. I don't mind the excited play, but once Zeus, the larger dog, nipped Kirah (6.4 kilo one) too hard and a brawl started because Kirah is a typical, unforgiving terrier and wanted to tell Zeus where to go. It resulted in me having to pick her up and she continued carrying on in my arms and, when I thought she'd calmed, I put her down, only to have her try to start round two -- Zeus meanwhile had no idea why she was so feral.

My two only get this hyped up over a game of fetch, so after this one kerfuffle, I've learnt to stop play before it escalates too far. If they get to excited, the toy goes away. Once they've calmed, I bring it out again.

It may be a similar case with your friend's staffy. Just make sure she supervises the play and if she feels her dog is getting too rough, she needs to step in and separate them. Sometimes dogs do get so excited they forget themselves and their manners; we just need to calm them down and help them remember sometimes!!

[WreckitWhippet]

It would be absolutely essential to desex the resident male dog - cannot understand why people don't do this if they are not breeders/showing.

The Staffy may be fine but with an undesexed dog it is high risk with the same sex dog in the same home.

Then, I would not leave them unattended together until 2 months had passed by without incident and perhaps this should never be done, hard to say without knowing either dog but there is always a risk when there is such a size difference. Never leave food or toys lying around if either dog has a guarding habit or aggression.

Just so you know, I've had well over 100 foster dogs in my own home in the last few years - most arrive undesexed. I usually own up to 5 of my own dogs and also manage foster carers as well.

One is a boy and one is a girl, so there's no need for the owner to rush off and desex anything. Desexing is not going to instantly cure what could potentially be a bad situation, however given the dogs have met and from the sounds of it all they want to do is play, then it's unlikely to result in aggression.

Stafford bitches do not normally fight with male dogs of any breed or cross, once they have been introduced.

If she was going to rip him a new one, she would have done it when the first met.

My suggestion would be to take them both for long walks together and keep them separate for the first couple of days. Get them walking side by side and comfortable with each other and let the initial excitement wear off. Then bring them home and let them off together supervised in the yard.

We have introduced many adult Staffords into the home without incident.

[persephone]

It would be absolutely essential to desex the resident male dog - cannot understand why people don't do this if they are not breeders/showing.

The Staffy may be fine but with an undesexed dog it is high risk with the same sex dog in the same home.

Then, I would not leave them unattended together until 2 months had passed by without incident and perhaps this should never be done, hard to say without knowing either dog but there is always a risk when there is such a size difference. Never leave food or toys lying around if either dog has a guarding habit or aggression.

Just so you know, I've had well over 100 foster dogs in my own home in the last few years - most arrive undesexed. I usually own up to 5 of my own dogs and also manage foster carers as well.

One is a boy and one is a girl, so there's no need for the owner to rush off and desex anything. Desexing is not going to instantly cure what could potentially be a bad situation, however given the dogs have met and from the sounds of it all they want to do is play, then it's unlikely to result in aggression.

Stafford bitches do not normally fight with male dogs of any breed or cross, once they have been introduced.

If she was going to rip him a new one, she would have done it when the first met.

My suggestion would be to take them both for long walks together and keep them separate for the first couple of days. Get them walking side by side and comfortable with each other and let the initial excitement wear off. Then bring them home and let them off together supervised in the yard.

We have introduced many adult Staffords into the home without incident.

has an 18 month old desexed male pure bred English Staffie and is about to move in with her parents. They have a three year old male in tact

seems they are both male ?

I agree with the bolded bit ! :)

[Staffyluv]

It would be absolutely essential to desex the resident male dog - cannot understand why people don't do this if they are not breeders/showing.

The Staffy may be fine but with an undesexed dog it is high risk with the same sex dog in the same home.

Then, I would not leave them unattended together until 2 months had passed by without incident and perhaps this should never be done, hard to say without knowing either dog but there is always a risk when there is such a size difference. Never leave food or toys lying around if either dog has a guarding habit or aggression.

Just so you know, I've had well over 100 foster dogs in my own home in the last few years - most arrive undesexed. I usually own up to 5 of my own dogs and also manage foster carers as well.

One is a boy and one is a girl, so there's no need for the owner to rush off and desex anything. Desexing is not going to instantly cure what could potentially be a bad situation, however given the dogs have met and from the sounds of it all they want to do is play, then it's unlikely to result in aggression.

Stafford bitches do not normally fight with male dogs of any breed or cross, once they have been introduced.

If she was going to rip him a new one, she would have done it when the first met.

My suggestion would be to take them both for long walks together and keep them separate for the first couple of days. Get them walking side by side and comfortable with each other and let the initial excitement wear off. Then bring them home and let them off together supervised in the yard.

We have introduced many adult Staffords into the home without incident.

Same in this house - we always take them for walks to the park for a while and then come home and walk in together..

I rehomed a female stafford and then the owners bought a female malt cross - the two dogs love each other and have from the first day (they took them both for a good walk on my suggestion). I have also rehomed a female staffy cross to a home that had a female malt cross and they got along great from the first second they saw each other..

A lot of how it is going to go, depends on the dogs themselves and their personalities.

Still goes that they should be fed separately and don't have toys around that they might argue over.. At least until you know how they live together..

Edited to note they are both male dogs in question but I think males are more relaxed then females..

Edited July 6, 2013 by Staffyluv

[Her Majesty Dogmad]

Both are males according to the first para. I stand by my desexing advice, it's also better from a health point of view.

Anyhow, I hope it works out, there's plenty of good advice in this thread.

[WreckitWhippet]

Both are males according to the first para. I stand by my desexing advice, it's also better from a health point of view.

Anyhow, I hope it works out, there's plenty of good advice in this thread.

It's not better from a health point of view, it's just more rot that you are happy to shove down owner's throats

[Her Majesty Dogmad]

Both are males according to the first para. I stand by my desexing advice, it's also better from a health point of view.

Anyhow, I hope it works out, there's plenty of good advice in this thread.

It's not better from a health point of view, it's just more rot that you are happy to shove down owner's throats

Charming as always, Please take your axe and grind it elsewhere. I've known plenty of older rescued dogs who have health issues because they weren't desexed.

Edited July 7, 2013 by dogmad

[WreckitWhippet]

Both are males according to the first para. I stand by my desexing advice, it's also better from a health point of view.

Anyhow, I hope it works out, there's plenty of good advice in this thread.

It's not better from a health point of view, it's just more rot that you are happy to shove down owner's throats

Charming as always, Please take your axe and grind it elsewhere. I've known plenty of older rescued dogs who have health issues because they weren't desexed.

No axe to grind, just sick of people touting desexing as the cure all.

Males that are desexed have a higher incidence of HD than those that are entire. The only thing chopping testicles off prevents is testicular cancer, apart from that, there aren't any "health" benefits to be gained from desexing.

Have you ever stopped to think that maybe the "health" issues you are seeing in the rescues stem from receiving less than ideal care and adequate vet attention throughout the dogs life ? You're also quick to blame "aggression" on being entire and push the neuter/spay barrow as the solution.

[Her Majesty Dogmad]

Not blaming aggression on being undesexed but there are situations where mixing the two (desexed and undesexed) does not work. Sometimes the aggression comes from the desexed towards the undesexed.

I'm suggesting starting with a more equal hormonal playing field if these two dogs are expected to happily cohabit with no mishaps. It may work, it may not. We were asked for suggestions and I have given mine, based on my experience.

We don't all have to agree, and obviously we don't.

Edited July 7, 2013 by dogmad

[Katdogs]

I don't have a huge amount of experience but I haven't met a Shih X that couldn't look after itself quite well thank you - and cop a bit of rumbling/splatting if necessary! Arrogant tough little bone-heads. I'm going to get one someday to keep!

Long walks, supervision, no toys or bones to tempt trouble. I'm keen on desexing because I've only seen positives in behaviour - but maybe it's a small sample.

Tired dogs are good dogs. Bored dogs are bad. Triangle of temptation is brilliant!