Getting another dog today...

[Spoooon]

I'm getting a dachsund mix from the pound in a few hours. She's a 4 year old female whose owner didn't want her anymore. Her loss is my gain. Hopefully she'll get along with my 6 year old spaniel mix. Any ideas on how to get them used to each other? I can return her in two weeks if things don't work out, but that would suck. My dog, Dexter, doesn't like other dogs very much though he seems to get along with females okay. Atleast he doesn't try and fight them. Should they be introduced on neutral ground? Or would it be okay to just have them meet in my apartment, since Dexter is the only male he shouldn't feel too threatened by her presence.

 

[ZaneNBK]

You should take your dog to the shelter and introduce the two there. If they react badly to each other you want it to happen before the adoption takes place. Also, introducing a strange dog to your dog on it's home turf is a bad idea. Dogs are protective of areas they perceive as theirs and a strange dog would be considered a threat unless your dog is used to (and likes) meeting other dogs (and you say yours isn't).

If they don't get into a fight at the shelter then they'll most likely be OK when you get home. Your dog might growl or snap at the other dog for a while if it gets close to it while eating or while resting in a favorite place but eventually it'll get over that (get seperate food bowls to help with this). Most likely the worst case scenario (if you introduced them at the shelter first) is that your current dog will tolerate but ignore the new dog. Just make sure that you're not neglecting your old dog and lavishing attention on the new or your old dog might get jealous and decide to bully the new one when you're not around.

Hopefully they'll get along well and become best friends. How playfull are both dogs? If one is playfull and the other is not then you're looking at the ignore scenario. If both are playfull then eventually they'll become playmates (if neither is truly dog aggressive).

 

[Spoooon]

I brought her home today. After they sniffed around for a bit, they seemed to have settled into your "ignore each other" scenario. That suits me fine. They don't have to play together, I just don't want them to be lonely when I'm at school or work. My dog is sort of playful, as long as food or treats are involved. The new dog, Penny (maybe, name is subject to change), is sort of playful, but she seems really tired right now. Dexter snapped at her once because she jumped up on the couch near him, other than that he is handling it pretty well.

 

[datalink7]

I don't get how dog owners just "don't want there dog anymore." WTF? Just doesn't make sense to me

 

[geoff2k]

I don't get how dog owners just "don't want there dog anymore." WTF? Just doesn't make sense to me

Lots of people don't see their pets as family extensions or as companions. They view them as entertainment possesions, to be owned until they stop being amusing and then gotten rid of. :-(

If our county allowed more than two dogs on a lot of our size, we'd definitely have more. There are too many unloved canines out there...

 

[MazerRackham]

I want a dog!! I can't wait until I finish school and live in a place where I can have a doggie of my very own

 

[Spoooon]

Penny is really cute. She doesn't answer to the name though, so I'm thinking of changing it to Dee Dee since my other dog's name is Dexter. Poor thing must have been covered with ticks when she was with her old owner. She has patches of fur missing from scratching and biting. Bought her some anti-itch spray and she's on Revolution. Once she gets some better food her coat should come back nice and new.

 

[RossMAN]

I like the name Penny, cute dog name.

Do you have pics of them?

We hope to get a Jack Russell Terrier, Beagle or Boston Terrier one day.

 

[ohtwell]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
I like the name Penny, cute dog name.

Do you have pics of them?

We hope to get a Jack Russell Terrier, Beagle or Boston Terrier one day.

I think Jack Russell Terriers are very cute.





: ) Amanda

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: ohtwell

Originally posted by: RossMAN
I like the name Penny, cute dog name.

Do you have pics of them?

We hope to get a Jack Russell Terrier, Beagle or Boston Terrier one day.

I think Jack Russell Terriers are very cute.





: ) Amanda

Thanks, they are and super frikkin' hyperactive I love that dog Eddie on Frasier.

 

[ZaneNBK]

They actually had that dog from frasier and the dog from As Good As It Gets at the shelter I volunteer at for an event one weekend. Eddie (don't remember is real name) was a pretty cool little dog. He'd do all kinds of poses with people for pictures. The other dog just sat around.

(Irvine Animal Care Center - Irvine, CA)