IGX

My wife and I are looking to check out dogs this weekends, probably puppies. We currently have a 9 y.o. cocker spaniel who likes people but generally isn't crazy about many other dogs, especially bigger dogs. Little dogs she's fine with.

Wondering about anything we should do apart from making sure the current dog actively likes any puppy we may be thinking about bringing home.

I was always told to avoid having two same sex dogs in the house as they are much more likely to fight.

We're entering the season where rescue groups put on shows in malls and parks and such. I've seen a wide variety of cool looking and acting dogs in those types of events. Might want to check out the local news sections for some nearby suburbs. Haven't seen many puppies at these things though.

I saw a 1/2 mastiff and 1/2 English bulldog last weekend who wasn't all that big but was a best of both worlds super badass looking pup. He was absolutely the toughest guy in the bar and was below the knee at his highest point.

Good luck in your hunting.

get a pound mutt (a rescue dog qualifies).

the gods will smile upon you.

dead man walking wrote:get a pound mutt (a rescue dog qualifies).

the gods will smile upon you.

I fully endorse this sentiment. My Wonderdog rescued from the pound while a mere pup is now in his 16th year. He is of frosty chin and wobbly gait and still a fine companion.

Get the dog that you like. Don't consider the Cocker. Just choose the dog you want and could love. Then make a deal with the kennel, pound, owner: "we'll take him/her for three days but if she/he can't get along with our other dog, we'll have to bring him back." Many owners and most rescue organizations will make that deal with you.

We got a rescue who looks a lot like an Italian mastiff. We won the dog lottery. Very sweet dog who loves to play and is mostly a good listener. Only drawback is his "imasackofpotatos" defense when he doesn't want to come when called or continue his walk.

Doesn't really count as adding another dog unless you count !y youngest son who usually smells like one.

We have 2 Cane Corsos, and they both do the "imasackofpotatos" when they have to go anywhere they don't want to. Like getting off the bed.

My girl can be a pistol, with other dogs. It's a crap shoot from moment to moment how she'll act around another dog in the house.

This caused me and The Future Mrs. Herr Doktor quite a lot of anxiety because she has a big, goofy, good-natured American Bully. And I don't want my girl to hurt him. And worse, I don't want her bullying him so much that one day he decided- "know what? You're 57 pounds, and I'm 90 pounds and I'm gonna fuck you up, bitch!"

It was a big concern.

SO, we have been working on it. We manage their time together, resources like toys, food, water etc. making sure that there's nothing available that they could fight over, we give them treats separately and feed them separately, and I do obedience drills with them both. And we give them calm, supervised playtime. And we walk them together outside, and exercise the hell out of them, because tired pit bulls are good, well-behaved pit bulls.

And this can work with any dogs really.

Handling them in this way has allowed then to coexist peacefully. It takes a lot of work, but it can be done.

So, we got a puppy. There's a chance I am allergic despite breed mix and so we have a week to see how things work out. Older dog is not enthused, mainly because the puppy's favorite thing is to bite her ears. However, this was the chillest puppy of the four the older dog met, so we're hopeful.

I found an article that it basically takes a few weeks for the older dog to teach the new one manners. Got to see that today when puppy tried to get in the older dog's bowl.

Growl, puppy backs off, puppy comes back
Growl, puppy backs off, puppy comes back
Bark! puppy backs off, things about coming back, and doesn't.

I had doubts about my wife's ability to return a puppy, but these all get adopted, the work of crate training with two working adults is a pain in the ass, and it we are appreciating more how easy the older dog was to take home at 4 years old.

Dr. Agkistrodon wrote:My girl can be a pistol, with other dogs. It's a crap shoot from moment to moment how she'll act around another dog in the house.

This caused me and The Future Mrs. Herr Doktor quite a lot of anxiety because she has a big, goofy, good-natured American Bully. And I don't want my girl to hurt him. And worse, I don't want her bullying him so much that one day he decided- "know what? You're 57 pounds, and I'm 90 pounds and I'm gonna fuck you up, bitch!"

It was a big concern.

SO, we have been working on it. We manage their time together, resources like toys, food, water etc. making sure that there's nothing available that they could fight over, we give them treats separately and feed them separately, and I do obedience drills with them both. And we give them calm, supervised playtime. And we walk them together outside, and exercise the hell out of them, because tired pit bulls are good, well-behaved pit bulls.

And this can work with any dogs really.

Handling them in this way has allowed then to coexist peacefully. It takes a lot of work, but it can be done.

Very good ideas here. That being said, they will often have one or two flair ups and work it out on their own. The only times I am too concerned with it is if one or both dogs have been mistreated or if one is a puppy (they are too delicate). With bullies I can see reason for your concern but they will ultimately have to work it out themselves. Can't be any worse then bringing a half-wild coydog rescue home to two spoiled pups, one of which is a pit.

Dunn wrote:

Dr. Agkistrodon wrote:My girl can be a pistol, with other dogs. It's a crap shoot from moment to moment how she'll act around another dog in the house.

This caused me and The Future Mrs. Herr Doktor quite a lot of anxiety because she has a big, goofy, good-natured American Bully. And I don't want my girl to hurt him. And worse, I don't want her bullying him so much that one day he decided- "know what? You're 57 pounds, and I'm 90 pounds and I'm gonna fuck you up, bitch!"

It was a big concern.

SO, we have been working on it. We manage their time together, resources like toys, food, water etc. making sure that there's nothing available that they could fight over, we give them treats separately and feed them separately, and I do obedience drills with them both. And we give them calm, supervised playtime. And we walk them together outside, and exercise the hell out of them, because tired pit bulls are good, well-behaved pit bulls.

And this can work with any dogs really.

Handling them in this way has allowed then to coexist peacefully. It takes a lot of work, but it can be done.

Very good ideas here. That being said, they will often have one or two flair ups and work it out on their own. The only times I am too concerned with it is if one or both dogs have been mistreated or if one is a puppy (they are too delicate). With bullies I can see reason for your concern but they will ultimately have to work it out themselves. Can't be any worse then bringing a half-wild coydog rescue home to two spoiled pups, one of which is a pit.

That's true. And sooner or later I'm sure they will.

With four dogs in the house I've followed this guy's methods for new dog introduction and it just makes sense and works well

http://leerburg.com/introducingdogs.htm