Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Other subjects
Original poster

Any dog people online, need advice pretty urgently?

35 replies

lucy5 · 29/01/2006 17:31

We have two dogs, 1 male aged about 8 and very cantankerous, 1 bitch aged about 2 and very needy. The male moved in with us because he was mistreated by our neighbour and the female is a rescue dog. Anyway to cut along story short, the neighbour found another dog and decided to keep it as her other poor dog had recently died , she didnt treat that one well either. Anyway she has now decided that she doesnt want the dog, i found the original owner and he doesnt really want it either, although at a push will take it back. It is about 2 and male and seemsto be nice natured.

Do you think he will fit in with our 2 exsisting dogs, they are resenrful of him at the moment particularly the male and are bullying him. My neighbour has given me till tomorrow morning to make a decision as shes going to give him back to the original owner, who to be honest doesnt sound great either. What shall I do, I really feel sorry for this dog but dont want to ruin my other dogs happy home.We had a terrible night last night with them all. Sorry this is so long.

OP posts:
shorty3 · 29/01/2006 17:34

Dogs do this in order to decide who is boss between themselves and then who is next down from boss etc. It could pass - depends if it is really bad.

Original poster
lucy5 · 29/01/2006 17:42

Its not too bad but I only have until tommorrow to decide, they are all pretty subdued at the moment, not one of them looking very happy.

OP posts:
shorty3 · 29/01/2006 17:48

I think it really is too early to tell how they will all get on in a couple of weeks time.

My parents used to breed dogs and even siblings would tackle the parent dogs to be top boss!

Would you be able to keep the dog and if it is'nt due to this find it a different home with nice owners.

Original poster
lucy5 · 29/01/2006 20:04

Sorry I lost my internet connection. I cant keep the dog if it cant fit in , it wouldnt be fair on the other two. Ive wracked my brains trying to think of someone to take him. The problem is that I am in Spain and stray dogs are 10 a penny. There is nothing like the rspca, there is a dog shelter run by expats [its where we got our female from
] but it's packed to the rafters, our dog had been in there for over a year and if they are full which they usually are, they just cant take them. I really want to keep this dog but it doesnt look likely.

OP posts:
Original poster
lucy5 · 29/01/2006 20:12

.

OP posts:
ShaysMummy · 29/01/2006 20:19

having had two dogs in past and have two at moment, i would say you need a trial run for a few days. they will decide between themselves if you should keep the third and if it works out it can stay they will also sort out a pecking order.
if you do keep it, once the pecking order has been decided, even if it's new dog at the top, you must not mess with the order.
i have 2 bitches, the underdog, who used to be the top dog, mounts the top dog in a bid to gain control.
sometimes the top dog bullies the underdog and she hides in her basket. vet told me that is ok and i should not scold her for bullying.
vet also advised i should feed top dog first and give treats etc first as this will spare underdog getting bullied later. sorry its long!

ShaysMummy · 29/01/2006 20:22

its a shame you dont have much time. if you had a week say you could find out the 'truth'. if you only have till tomorrow, i dont think that is long enough for them to sort out how they all really feel.

Yummymummy24 · 29/01/2006 20:28

If you really want it i'd persevere for a couple of weeks dogs do tend to sort the pecking order out by fighting. Its very distressing for you to watch i should imagine take them out for big walks together if you can i find that works quite good. Its so upsetting to watch but they will eventually settle down. As long as they aren't tearing each other to bits!!! little bits of cuts to be expected. You could always find a new home after that if it doesn't work out.

Original poster
lucy5 · 30/01/2006 09:09

Ive managed to convince the neighbour to share the dog for now basically I look after him but he sleeps in [I made sure of this] in her house. This will buy me some time to find a home or settle it with my dogs. I am going to walk him with my dogs and slowly introduce him to our house. I hope this turns out well, if my dogs can get used to him, he can move in. unfortunately my neighbour is the lesser of 2 evils as the original owner is even worse.

Apparently The Spanish dont believe that animals have souls, that possibley could explain why so many of them treat animals so badly. Obviously not all but I have seen some terrible things here. It is also important to add that when I arrived I didnt have any pets and didnt particularly have any plans to have one either, I think im turning into Carla lane

OP posts:
satine · 30/01/2006 09:11

The Dog whisperer book is very good at sorting out 'pack' issues amongst dogs - perhaps that might help? I'll try to find it on Amazon for you!

satine · 30/01/2006 09:14

this is the one my parents used

Original poster
lucy5 · 30/01/2006 09:17

That sounds perfect, I would really like to keep this dog. Actually the neighbour named him barry?????????????

OP posts:
Original poster
lucy5 · 30/01/2006 12:29

A couple of hours ago, i went over to walk barry??? and the dog has wrecked my neighbours house. It hasnt done that before, i think weve stressed him with all the comings and goings. I now have him in my house and have had to lock the old dog outside and my other dog isnt very happy. So what shall i do? Do I make the original owner have him back, knowing that hes going to be chained up guarding trucks or do i persist? HELP!!!!!!!!!!!

OP posts:
Original poster
lucy5 · 30/01/2006 12:35

Pleaseanyone, i have yo phone neighbour and tell her that dog wrecked her house and i know understandbly that she will phone original owner straight away. The two dogs have got me pinned to the computer, if i move they move and then theres trouble. The other dog is looking through the patio window and causing all sorts of chaos.

OP posts:
Easy · 30/01/2006 13:02

Can the 2 younger dogs sort it out between themselves, without killing each other. They are both going to want your attention. I suspect they'll get on alright if you can leave them alone (but be in earshot in case a major battle develops, unlikely in dogs of different gender tho')

Is the young male neutered? If not, get him done, that should reduce probs about top-dogness (I know you can't do that till you've decided to keep him tho')

I understand your feelings. I'd want to take him in too. Do you have room for an outside kennel for him?

Original poster
lucy5 · 30/01/2006 13:10

Thanks,the two younger dogs male and female i think could sort it out. The older dog, i just dont know. The new dog I dont think has lived in a house before. I could have a kennel but i would also have to extend the patio wall as he can jump over it. I have just phoned the neighbour and she is not a happy shopper. why did I get involved in the first place?

OP posts:
Easy · 30/01/2006 13:20

but the older dog will find him less of a threat if the new dog is neutered. You may have to do a bit of dancing about letting dogs in-and out of seperate rooms until the op is done, but afterwards the situation should subside a bit.

So it's the 2 younger ones that are in at the moment? Let them have a go at sorting it out alone, in the next half hour, see how it goes.

Does your older dog threaten the newcomer whenever he sees him?

FioFio · 30/01/2006 13:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster
lucy5 · 30/01/2006 13:23

The 2 young dogs are ok and have found diffrent places to sleep. The older dog is still outside and growling through the window, he doesnt want to back down, i think he has short mans syndrome as hes only little. he managed to lay off for a bit yesterday but you could feel the tension in the room.

OP posts:
Original poster
lucy5 · 30/01/2006 13:24

i do feel extremely guilty.

OP posts:
FioFio · 30/01/2006 13:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

FioFio · 30/01/2006 13:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

munz · 30/01/2006 13:25

another thought the older dog will prob be protective over the younger one - I know our two are if a third dog comes to the house the older one (male) has to reinforce to the younger one he's the boss of her, she's not bothered, but he'll also protect her from the third dog - that could be an issue.

tbh i'd walk them with another person off the leads and see how they go at the park, perhaps play ball with the two males - until they sort out the pecking order thou this will always be an issue.

when we got our second dog the first was terribly jelouse of the new pup so we had to give him lots of praise/cuddles etc so he knew he wasn't being pushed out b4 we could tend to the pup, thankfully that didn't last for long!

I don't think I could take on another dog now and upset the balance our two have.

Easy · 30/01/2006 13:27

Lucy go and give your old chap some fuss. He's going to feel jealous cos he's the one being shut outside right now.

Does he get on with Barry out on walks? or do they just hate each other.

Your older dog sees his house as his territory. Barry is taking over his place and his human. Give your old dog loads of fuss. Can you bring him in, but away from Barry?

Original poster
lucy5 · 30/01/2006 13:28

I will bring him in, the cheeky little bugger, he moved himself in with us. Its hard to keep them seperate as our house is very open plan. There is a door on dds room or the bathroom.

OP posts: