I can has happy dogs?
July 22, 2011 9:04 AM Subscribe
We are going to be adding a foster dog to our household (currently me, my fiance, and our Corgi). Looking for advice.
I found a dog running around on Wednesday morning while walking my dog. Scooped him up and brought him to animal shelter and put up flyers. Yada yada yada he will probably be coming back home with us shortly. This will most likely be a temporary foster, but we want things to go as smoothly as possible for us and our dog. Can you please offer your advice, anecdotes, etc?
About my dog: Sunshine is 11-year-old female Corgi. She has lived with my fiance and me for a few years as a spoiled only child. She grew up with a bunch of dogs at his family's house so she plays nicely. Generally does best with submissive males because she is a bit alpha. For the few minutes he was in the house, she was okay, although not too pleased that he was humping her!
About the foster: Young adult male terrier mix, about 10 lbs. Currently intact but the shelter will be fixing him (which will hopefully cut down on the humping). He must have had a home because he got excited by the sound of the leash, but didn't appear to know commands.
A couple specific questions:
- What do we do when we're gone? Sunshine has a kennel in our room and hangs out in it a lot but doesn't get locked in. When we leave we close her in our bedroom. Is it okay to leave the new dog in there with her while we're gone?
- Should I keep them separated when eating?
- How do I keep him from tiring her out or aggravating her too much?
Anything else we should worry about or look for? Any and all advice is appreciated!
I found a dog running around on Wednesday morning while walking my dog. Scooped him up and brought him to animal shelter and put up flyers. Yada yada yada he will probably be coming back home with us shortly. This will most likely be a temporary foster, but we want things to go as smoothly as possible for us and our dog. Can you please offer your advice, anecdotes, etc?
About my dog: Sunshine is 11-year-old female Corgi. She has lived with my fiance and me for a few years as a spoiled only child. She grew up with a bunch of dogs at his family's house so she plays nicely. Generally does best with submissive males because she is a bit alpha. For the few minutes he was in the house, she was okay, although not too pleased that he was humping her!
About the foster: Young adult male terrier mix, about 10 lbs. Currently intact but the shelter will be fixing him (which will hopefully cut down on the humping). He must have had a home because he got excited by the sound of the leash, but didn't appear to know commands.
A couple specific questions:
- What do we do when we're gone? Sunshine has a kennel in our room and hangs out in it a lot but doesn't get locked in. When we leave we close her in our bedroom. Is it okay to leave the new dog in there with her while we're gone?
- Should I keep them separated when eating?
- How do I keep him from tiring her out or aggravating her too much?
Anything else we should worry about or look for? Any and all advice is appreciated!
Best answer: We have two dogs, a boy and a girl. We brought the girl home when she was just 2 months old so YMMV, while the boy we've had for a few years and have also spoiled him rotten (and had similar concerns about introducing a new dog into the family)
In the beginning (first month or so) they were separated when we were not home, usually in 2 rooms, and fed separately. When we were home, however, they would always be with us, together, under our supervision. Affection would be distributed equally between the two, treats would be given at the same time to both. We would walk them together and have them with us while we slept. We kept their behaviors in check, they are both spayed/neutered, however, male dog tried mounting the girl a few times (and still does once in a while!) but she generally let's him know that it is not OK without our intervention.
Fast forward few years, and they eat out of the same bowl, spend all the time together, whether we are home or not, etc. At this point, when one is given a treat or is petted, the other expects to be treated same way so we haven't observed any competition from their end for either food and/or affection.
posted by mooselini at 10:07 AM on July 22, 2011
In the beginning (first month or so) they were separated when we were not home, usually in 2 rooms, and fed separately. When we were home, however, they would always be with us, together, under our supervision. Affection would be distributed equally between the two, treats would be given at the same time to both. We would walk them together and have them with us while we slept. We kept their behaviors in check, they are both spayed/neutered, however, male dog tried mounting the girl a few times (and still does once in a while!) but she generally let's him know that it is not OK without our intervention.
Fast forward few years, and they eat out of the same bowl, spend all the time together, whether we are home or not, etc. At this point, when one is given a treat or is petted, the other expects to be treated same way so we haven't observed any competition from their end for either food and/or affection.
posted by mooselini at 10:07 AM on July 22, 2011
Best answer: Thanks for taking care of him! That makes me happy. They're both super cute - the terrier looks a little like mine.
I would keep them separated during eating, and I would not leave them alone together when you are not able to supervise. It's good that they got along, and over time you will probably be able to trust them alone together, but I wouldn't do that until you've observed them in a variety of situations and know that they are totally okay (if you don't end up keeping him you may not even get to that point, I mean like months down the road).
Watch the toys and bones situations - even if you have enough for both they might decide they each only want whatever the other has.
My experience: I only ever really had a problem when introducing two very dominant dogs to each other - happened twice and with both pairs of dogs they could go along fine but then boom they'd start on each other and neither would back down. Unless the corgi is super insistent on being dominant (and I don't think she is if she let him come in and be around her and even hump a little) then the terrier will probably be okay even if he likes to be in charge all the time. (Unfortunately, my girl terrier will do the humping, so I think it's a dominance thing that might still be around even after he's fixed.)
If the shelter has any ideas, that might be a good resource - they've probably seen and heard about all kinds of dog introduction situations.
posted by mrs. taters at 11:29 AM on July 22, 2011 [1 favorite]
I would keep them separated during eating, and I would not leave them alone together when you are not able to supervise. It's good that they got along, and over time you will probably be able to trust them alone together, but I wouldn't do that until you've observed them in a variety of situations and know that they are totally okay (if you don't end up keeping him you may not even get to that point, I mean like months down the road).
Watch the toys and bones situations - even if you have enough for both they might decide they each only want whatever the other has.
My experience: I only ever really had a problem when introducing two very dominant dogs to each other - happened twice and with both pairs of dogs they could go along fine but then boom they'd start on each other and neither would back down. Unless the corgi is super insistent on being dominant (and I don't think she is if she let him come in and be around her and even hump a little) then the terrier will probably be okay even if he likes to be in charge all the time. (Unfortunately, my girl terrier will do the humping, so I think it's a dominance thing that might still be around even after he's fixed.)
If the shelter has any ideas, that might be a good resource - they've probably seen and heard about all kinds of dog introduction situations.
posted by mrs. taters at 11:29 AM on July 22, 2011 [1 favorite]
Best answer: If you observer them and they exhibit no signs of problems then there's no reason to feed them together. By that I mean in different bowls in close proximity to each other. We feed our two in two metal bowls split by a water bowl. Never had a problem.
You mention that your dog has a kennel and likes it. That's good. I wouldn't leave them alone together. I'm a fan of kennels for all and all in their kennels. Our two are put in their kennels when we leave and released when we return. They both like it and know it's not a punishment. We (my fiance and I) both like it and know they won't destroy anything valuable, eat something harmful, or be bad messy dogs in general.
The tiring out issue is going to be tough, mainly let them go and let the older dog set the limits. If the older dog gets tired and grumpy and wants to be left alone it will let the younger dog know, trust me. And a little nipping and teeth showing is fine, it'll benefit both dogs for them to know how to read the other's mood.
Relax more, worry less, it sounds like you have two good dogs that get along fine. Be (or hopefully 'CONTINUE to be') the alpha figure yourself and you'll have no problems.
posted by RolandOfEld at 1:19 PM on July 22, 2011
You mention that your dog has a kennel and likes it. That's good. I wouldn't leave them alone together. I'm a fan of kennels for all and all in their kennels. Our two are put in their kennels when we leave and released when we return. They both like it and know it's not a punishment. We (my fiance and I) both like it and know they won't destroy anything valuable, eat something harmful, or be bad messy dogs in general.
The tiring out issue is going to be tough, mainly let them go and let the older dog set the limits. If the older dog gets tired and grumpy and wants to be left alone it will let the younger dog know, trust me. And a little nipping and teeth showing is fine, it'll benefit both dogs for them to know how to read the other's mood.
Relax more, worry less, it sounds like you have two good dogs that get along fine. Be (or hopefully 'CONTINUE to be') the alpha figure yourself and you'll have no problems.
posted by RolandOfEld at 1:19 PM on July 22, 2011
*sigh*.... If you observe them and they exhibit no signs of problems then there's no reason NOT to feed them together.
posted by RolandOfEld at 1:19 PM on July 22, 2011
posted by RolandOfEld at 1:19 PM on July 22, 2011
Response by poster: Thanks for all the comments so far! I am hoping that Sunshine will be an "ambassador" and welcome the new guy, and that he will be smart enough to submit to her. Sounds like my hopes are not totally off-base...
posted by radioamy at 8:54 PM on July 22, 2011
posted by radioamy at 8:54 PM on July 22, 2011
Response by poster: Just following up. Everyone's advice was very helpful. Sunshine was not a happy camper for the first two weeks - I couldn't leave them alone together even for a second because she would attack him! However a month out now they are getting along nicely. Still feeding separately and kenneling separately when we are gone, but when we are home they are fine, and sometimes play together! It's really cute when she licks him.
Oh and that whole "probably a temporary foster" attempt? Yeah, well we fell in love with him and he's definitely staying. He and my fiance are now BFF.
posted by radioamy at 4:08 PM on August 21, 2011
Oh and that whole "probably a temporary foster" attempt? Yeah, well we fell in love with him and he's definitely staying. He and my fiance are now BFF.
posted by radioamy at 4:08 PM on August 21, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
Separate them when eating (ideally in separate rooms, but at least feed foster dog in a crate).
When they are starting to bug each other, put foster dog in his crate with a stuffed and frozen Kong or bully stick or other time-consuming chewie (you can give one to Corgi as well). Ideally, separate them BEFORE Corgi has had enough.
Make sure both dogs are on parasite prevention (heartworm and flea and tick), dogs can pick up all kinds of nasties even from just a short time "in the wild" (and heartworm preventative at least is necessary for all dogs all year round in the contiguous US).
Take them for walks together, but also make sure you spend one-on-one time with both.
posted by biscotti at 9:23 AM on July 22, 2011 [2 favorites]