Please help - puppy barking at tortoise we are looking after

[lecce]

We have had our 14 week old puppy for two weeks and she came from a foster home. She has settled in really well and shown no aggression, is very playful and settles well when left alone for an hour or two.

Last night our friends' tortoise arrived and the puppy is barking at him constantly when they are in the same room. I have allowed her to sniff him (he is used to dogs and has a shell to hide in!) and given her treats when she is near him but she continues to bark. She is wagging her tail and sticking her rear in the air, so seems playful, but it is getting annoying.

Neither animal is toilet trained so both will need to spend a fair bit of time in the kitchen and garden. However, I don't think it's warm enough to leave the tortoise outside all the time, as it was last week . Dog will not be safe to go out until Thursday, or I would be tempted to do some day-trips with her while tortoise is her.

Any advice please - he is here until Saturday .

[blueblizz]

Hello. We have a Herman tortoise which is pretty hardy and lives inside but outside in summer. I'm wondering why your tortoise can't be outside? The weather is brilliant tort weather atm! If they didn't leave instructions then can you borrow/make an enclosure and give it time in the garden and keep dog in? Our tort hides a lot under bushes etc so out of sight most of time. Our old dog died 2wks ago but lived happily alongside. If dog excited I'm sure will wear off but check won't attack or causing tort distress. I'd try and keep apart. Good luck.

[Waffling]

Why are you calling it a "tort". Are you exhausted and can't finish the word?

[tabulahrasa]

Not helpful at all - but I'm giggling away at the thought of the poor puppy trying to work out what a tortoise is.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

No help, but from puppy's point of view funny box head and legs pop out I bark head a legs pop back in - what fun repeat again and again.
I have yet to solve this problem with mobile mop and my resident hedgehogs - it's been going on for 3 years.

[Floralnomad]

I'd definitely keep them apart ,someone we know has just bought 3 tortoises and the breeder told him she won't sell to homes with dogs so I assume that they can cause an issue ( stress or damage) . I'm pretty sure my dog would ,given half a chance ,treat a tortoise like a 'shell ' kong ! It doesn't bear thinking about .

[ChickensHaveNoEyebrows]

My dogs would bark at a tortoise. They would think it was the best most awesome toy evah. Does the tortoise have its own cage type thing? Or is it free range?

[ClaimedByMe]

I would imagine you would have to de-sensitise the dog to the tortoise, we have been trying to do this with our rescue dog for nearly a year towards the cats, it should work quickish with a puppy though!