Older dog won't accept puppy
June 25, 2013 11:44 AM Subscribe
I have a 9 year old pitbull female. I've owned her all her life and she is very attached to me and other members of my family. She seems to remember some past abuse and is not friendly to strangers, especially men. She did get in a serious fight once, with my son's dog who normally she enjoys playing and swimming with.
I bought a very young puppy and...
I have kept a muzzle on my dog 24/7 in the four days I've had the puppy. I've done all the recommend things: given the old one plenty of positive attention, etc.
I do not want to come home to a bloodbath.
Any suggestions?
Thanks.
I have kept a muzzle on my dog 24/7 in the four days I've had the puppy. I've done all the recommend things: given the old one plenty of positive attention, etc.
I do not want to come home to a bloodbath.
Any suggestions?
Thanks.
How young is "very young," exactly? Less than 8-10 weeks? (Anything younger than that means the dog is too young to have been taken from its mother, and you'll have to pay special attention to training bite inhibition going forward.) Did you buy the puppy from a BYB or pet store, or an ethical rescue or professional breeder that will be happy to respond to any further questions you might have? Did the person or business who sold you the puppy give you any instruction whatsoever regarding how to best introduce him/her to your current dog?
The only mention of your current dog "not accept[ing]" the new dog is in the post title, so it's not clear what your 9-year-old dog is doing to constitute her lack of acceptance. I would recommend Patricia McConnell's blog as a primer -- just search for dog introductions, multi-dog household, etc. If I were your older dog, I would probably have pretty strong feelings associating suddenly being muzzled 24/7 with the introduction of the puppy.
Cordon the puppy off in another room for the time being -- any room that guarantees the older dog cannot enter until it is clear that they can get along, anywhere the puppy will feel safe. Unfortunately, depending on the severity of whatever has already transpired between the puppy and older dog, there is a possibility you will not ever be able to leave them alone together. This is why crate training is a great habit to get into, as early as possible.
posted by divined by radio at 12:18 PM on June 25, 2013
The only mention of your current dog "not accept[ing]" the new dog is in the post title, so it's not clear what your 9-year-old dog is doing to constitute her lack of acceptance. I would recommend Patricia McConnell's blog as a primer -- just search for dog introductions, multi-dog household, etc. If I were your older dog, I would probably have pretty strong feelings associating suddenly being muzzled 24/7 with the introduction of the puppy.
Cordon the puppy off in another room for the time being -- any room that guarantees the older dog cannot enter until it is clear that they can get along, anywhere the puppy will feel safe. Unfortunately, depending on the severity of whatever has already transpired between the puppy and older dog, there is a possibility you will not ever be able to leave them alone together. This is why crate training is a great habit to get into, as early as possible.
posted by divined by radio at 12:18 PM on June 25, 2013
How aggressive is the older dog being to the new one? Can you give details?
When we got our rescue Terrier, he was about 1 and our Corgi was 11. Corgi was pretty annoyed at first and would randomly lunge at him and I would have to separate them. This dissipated after a few months. I did learn very quickly that I had to completely separate them for meals (both in crates). They are totally fine now. However I always crate my dogs when I am gone (for the Corgi it's for her feelings of security, for the terrier it's because he is curious/destructive).
My concern with your dog is that a Pitbull is a big, strong dog and could do a lot of damage.
posted by radioamy at 12:32 PM on June 25, 2013 [1 favorite]
When we got our rescue Terrier, he was about 1 and our Corgi was 11. Corgi was pretty annoyed at first and would randomly lunge at him and I would have to separate them. This dissipated after a few months. I did learn very quickly that I had to completely separate them for meals (both in crates). They are totally fine now. However I always crate my dogs when I am gone (for the Corgi it's for her feelings of security, for the terrier it's because he is curious/destructive).
My concern with your dog is that a Pitbull is a big, strong dog and could do a lot of damage.
posted by radioamy at 12:32 PM on June 25, 2013 [1 favorite]
Has your dog ever gotten along with other dogs? Have you attempted to socialize your dog with other dogs? Why did you get a very young puppy? Was it a spontaneous decision?
Basically you now have a huge power imbalance, where if they get into a fight, the puppy will likely be terribly mauled and possibly killed. You probably won't have a second chance. Get rid of the puppy.
posted by Glinn at 12:37 PM on June 25, 2013 [1 favorite]
Basically you now have a huge power imbalance, where if they get into a fight, the puppy will likely be terribly mauled and possibly killed. You probably won't have a second chance. Get rid of the puppy.
posted by Glinn at 12:37 PM on June 25, 2013 [1 favorite]
While all the pit bulls I've known in my life have been lovely doggies, I wouldn't trust one as far as I could throw one with another animal. They are too prey driven.
That said, you'll either keep them separated at all times, or you may want to re-home the puppy.
I hate to say it, but with Pit Bulls you just can't be too careful.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 1:52 PM on June 25, 2013 [1 favorite]
That said, you'll either keep them separated at all times, or you may want to re-home the puppy.
I hate to say it, but with Pit Bulls you just can't be too careful.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 1:52 PM on June 25, 2013 [1 favorite]
Part of your question seems to be missing, so without all the details I'll just make a few general points. If you can post some more info, you might get more specific answers.
Four days is not very long in the getting 2 new dogs to get along scheme of things.
How does your dog normally get along with other dogs? If it's OK then introductions in a more neutral location might help. Doing things with the 2 dogs together such as going for walks might help, though I'd suggest 2 people for that to make sure you have both dogs under control.
posted by wwax at 2:35 PM on June 25, 2013
Four days is not very long in the getting 2 new dogs to get along scheme of things.
How does your dog normally get along with other dogs? If it's OK then introductions in a more neutral location might help. Doing things with the 2 dogs together such as going for walks might help, though I'd suggest 2 people for that to make sure you have both dogs under control.
posted by wwax at 2:35 PM on June 25, 2013
Is the puppy male or female (please say male, if it's female, I would just take it back). Opposite sex is much more likely to lead to harmony.
I love Pits, they are wonderful dogs when in the right home, however they tend towards being dog aggressive for the simple reason that they have been selectively bred for dog aggression since day one.
And yes, you need to explain what is happening, however if your dog is being aggressive to an opposite-sex and young (8-10 weeks, if younger, take it back) puppy at this early stage, it is likely to get worse, not better, as the puppy matures and loses the "puppy get out of jail free" card. Some dogs do not live well with other dogs, and Pit Bulls are often that sort of dog.
posted by biscotti at 4:58 PM on June 25, 2013
I love Pits, they are wonderful dogs when in the right home, however they tend towards being dog aggressive for the simple reason that they have been selectively bred for dog aggression since day one.
And yes, you need to explain what is happening, however if your dog is being aggressive to an opposite-sex and young (8-10 weeks, if younger, take it back) puppy at this early stage, it is likely to get worse, not better, as the puppy matures and loses the "puppy get out of jail free" card. Some dogs do not live well with other dogs, and Pit Bulls are often that sort of dog.
posted by biscotti at 4:58 PM on June 25, 2013
Crate, separate, and rotate. And perhaps consider having an only dog. I loved my pitty girl, but she was not suited for a multi-dog household and so we had only her until she recently passed away.
posted by Mary Ellen Carter at 5:01 PM on June 25, 2013
posted by Mary Ellen Carter at 5:01 PM on June 25, 2013
What do you mean when you say you've owned your older dog for her whole life, and that she seems to remember dime past abuse? When did the abuse happen?
How long did you spend introducing the muzzle to her? Does she like wearing the muzzle?
posted by medusa at 10:42 PM on June 25, 2013
How long did you spend introducing the muzzle to her? Does she like wearing the muzzle?
posted by medusa at 10:42 PM on June 25, 2013
Response by poster: I have had a soft muzzle on her a lot in the past 2 years. She seems to like it, wags her tail when I put it on and doesn't try to get it off. She can eat and drink easily with it on. The puppy is a male. I am using a crate and keeping them separated.
My older do gets to be upstairs with me at night, which she likes.
posted by Kazimirovna at 12:44 PM on June 26, 2013
My older do gets to be upstairs with me at night, which she likes.
posted by Kazimirovna at 12:44 PM on June 26, 2013
I think we need more information about how your older dog is reacting to the puppy in order to know what to recommend.
Also, FWIW, I have known PLENTY of pit bulls who get along beautifully with other dogs (and cats) and plenty of non-pitties who do not get along with other dogs. The fact that this is a pittie is, in itself, not terribly relevant to the question - we need to know more about the individual dog.
posted by walla at 8:21 PM on June 26, 2013
Also, FWIW, I have known PLENTY of pit bulls who get along beautifully with other dogs (and cats) and plenty of non-pitties who do not get along with other dogs. The fact that this is a pittie is, in itself, not terribly relevant to the question - we need to know more about the individual dog.
posted by walla at 8:21 PM on June 26, 2013
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posted by jon1270 at 11:48 AM on June 25, 2013 [1 favorite]