New rescue attacked my incumbent dog? What to do?

[Iottie]

Hi,

I will try and keep it brief. We got a new rescue dog 10 days ago. She is very sweet approx 2 years old, comes from a puppy farm where she was used for breeding. My incumbent dog is 4. Both spayed, both beagles.

They generally get along, like to wrestle and the new dog “mothers” her by licking her a lot which she tolerates. My incumbent dog will not share. She doesn’t let the new dog to snuggle with her, nor does she like her cuddle sessions with us to be interrupted by the new dog. New dog really wants to be close with my incumbent dog and tries to lick her and cuddle up with her a lot.

Tonight (about 50 minutes ago) there was a fight over a kong toy. I think it was started by the new dog. Incumbent dog has a small, superficial scrape/cut on paw that’s oozing blood. She is now terrified. She is cowering under my bed and shaking. Partner is yelling at me and is furious with new dog and wants to send her back to the rescue. I really don’t want to do this if it can be avoided.

A few questions:

1. Can dogs who have fought live together?
2. If yes, what is the best way to facilitate this?
3. How to I help my incumbent dog recover from the trauma? I don’t want to turn her into a scared and reactive dog.

Thank you in advance for any help!

PS we do have a trainer starting on Tuesday to train new dog.

All I know in this type of issue is that the dogs should not be sharing toys or food yet as it in inevitable that a fight would happen. When my friend adopted a rescue whilst already owning another dog, they had to feed them in separate rooms for about two weeks and also remove all toys until both dogs were settled.

@Mojitomogul Yes, you are right they should not have been sharing. They generally like to play together so I thought it would be alright but I won’t be doing that again. I am mainly worried about my current dog because she is so distressed by it. New dog seems fine.

Not sure about the rest, but dogs who have fought can definitely still live together- it depends. I have three dogs, two who were bought as puppies, and a rescue. Two dogs one bitch. They have all fought eachother at various points, usually over something stupid like a toy or food, though they've never actually caused eachother damage. I just leap in and shout at them when it happens 😂Sometimes my rescue gets a bit weird about it and I just take them on a walk together and he forgets.

If you’re on Facebook look up the beagle lady. She gives great beagle specific advice.

@curlymacv That is a relief to hear! This is my first rescue dog and I think I have a lot of learning to do.

@outcrops I am on Facebook. I will take a look. Thank you!

Sorry to hear this OP! It sounds and looks very dramatic but they're just dogs being dogs, defining their territories.
Honestly ours (one first dog, one rescue) sounded like the walking deads sometimes, their growling was something else. They are fine now, found their marks. Ultimately you are the boss and they look to you for guidance, remove any contentious items, separate their beds for a while and firm no! with hand gesture anytime there's trouble.

10 days is still very early in this process, you've done such a good thing, give them time to get there. Separating them at this stage would be very traumatic for both of them. Dogs love being with one another, they provide comfort to each other, even when they don't do the cute things like sharing beds, etc. they would miss each other terribly.
I hope First Dog scrape isn't too bad. Lots of cuddles and reassurance for first dog, especially now, but also at all time, she mustn't have any reasons to doubt you and her place in your home. We're just about 3 weeks ahead of you and I've had First Dog sleeping at the end of my bed once or twice to remind him he is special - they sleep downstairs together usually.
Your trainer will have plenty more suggestions, no doubts.
Good luck OP, keep us posted! and xx to First dog.

Hi all. I’ve been at work today but am currently on my way back as apparently there was another fight. This time it seems my incumbent dog might be more badly injured and is limping. Not sure on full details but apparently a heavy chair fell on her trapping her and the new dog started biting her face. They had been kept separate all night and morning until both went into garden together. OH was in tears. Not sure what to do or if this situation is salvageable.

Are both the dogs female? If so then that makes it much less likely that they will ever live together peacefully. I know it's really sad but I would return the new dog. Female dogs fighting is extremely difficult to stop and yes it can be managed with keeping dogs seperately etc but in your situation I'd return the new dog.

Did you not read or get any advice before introducing the new dog? There’s some things like feeding separately, sleeping areas, toys, best way to introduce and how those important first few weeks should go to maximise the dogs getting along that are the absolute basics that you seem not to have done.

You’re going to need to get a professional to work with the dogs imo. I would do everything I could to keep the new dog, she’s had a shit deal in life already, she really did deserve better planning.

Your partner sounds ridiculous. He’s failed to follow advice as much as you have yet he’s yelling at you. Not good for you or the dogs. And now he’s crying because he can’t cope and you r had to come home from work to sort it out for him.

Call a professional to work with the dogs. And follow the advice this time.

Not sure on full details but apparently a heavy chair fell on her trapping her and the new dog started biting her face.

Was this during the fight or did this happen and then the fight ensued?

The odd bit of handbags is to be expected when there's a trigger like a toy or an incident like above where there's a sudden provoking incident, but if dogs are being injured and given new dog is new then honestly I'm not sure I'd persevere with it.

We have multiple female dogs in a house sometimes (my parents house when we have big family occasions as everyone has a girl dog!) and there can be the odd bit of slobber and noise over stuff that sounds scary but is really just handbags, but in your case if your resident dog is being injured then it sounds more serious.

And yes your partner sounds totally OTT. Does he or she have any experience of dogs? Was he/she shouting and yelling when the first incident took place and shouting at the new dog?

@FallingsHowIFeel Hi, yes we did get advice from the rescue and they had introductions before we took the new dog home. They adored each other when first introduced at the rescue and still love to play in the house. Unfortunately, I don’t know what caused this fight. Yesterday it was clear that they both wanted that one toy that had food in it, it was stupid to give it to them but they had been playing nicely all evening.

They have separate beds and bowls etc. I have spoken to the rescue. They have a behaviouralist who will give me a ring to advise tomorrow morning. For now they continue to be kept separate (unless they want to be together).

@Hugasauras It was during the fight. Incumbent dog was pinned down and new dog kept snapping at her face. I got the dates a bit wrong yesterday, it’s actually been two weeks but still new.

I agree about OH. He is useless in these kind of situations and I think he was in shock but has calmed down now. He says he feels bad for both dogs.

Hi OP, I have a beagle too :) I agree with PP to speak to Kellie (The Beagle Lady) on Facebook - she's fantastic and will give you beagle-specific advice.

For now, don't let them go near each other. Keep them separate until you've spoken to the behaviourist - it's not fair on either dog to put them in a situation where another fight could break out. That means separate walks, separate toilet breaks, separate meals and not allowing them to get near each other in the house.

It can take a few days for the tension of a fight to go away - these dogs should never have been put together again so soon after the first fight broke out, even though the source of the fight was removed.

It's normal to an extent for fights to occur while your dogs sort out their hierarchy and while your resident dog gets used to sharing her space, resources and family, but it sounds like everything was a bit rushed and that you didn't give them enough time to acclimatise to each other.

I didn't mean keeping two female dogs will never work. I meant that two female dogs in the household that are fighting to the point of injury is very very difficult to overcome.

I think I’d be sending the dog back pronto , it’s not fair for your dog to be frightened in her own home . They may in time rub along ok together but it will be risky to ever go out and leave them together etc which will be a nuisance .

It would be worth phoning beagle welfare. Not to rehome, but because they have a beagle experienced behaviourist who can give advice.

Another vote for send the new one back, I’m afraid - if you’re already getting proper fights, it will probably get worse and it’s no way to live, for the dogs or the humans.

New one will probably be a lovely dog in the right home, but it sounds like she will be better rehomed on her own or with a male companion.

Fighting bitches is no fun for anyone.

Oh for goodness' sake (not at you OP, just the last few posts) they are dogs. You tell them what to do, you lay the law.

Not beagles, just one treasured spoilt bitch and a baby boy puppy. The first time they fought, I was in tears too. I then read up a lot about bringing a new dog into a home with an established dog and realised lots of the ‘fighting’ was her teaching him his place. Rocky start for sure, and still not always good even now two years on.

They are either best friends when she lets him lick her and groom her, or he is being a dick and blocking her way somewhere. They settle down together near one another but there is no snuggling.

I was going to say that that is just dogs defining the pecking order and that it would stop soon but… I would send the new dog back if he was pining my old dog down and biting them.

I got a second dog to keep company to my slightly older one. Old dog was a beta dog while new one was a proper alpha. She was smaller and never pinned him down or do anything worse than wanting to go always first for everything but it did limit the enjoyment my old dog had for years and years to come. In a nutshell my beta dog ended up not only eating last or having no access to a bed but also paid for the transgression of misbehaving new one (no longer allowed, on my bed, upstairs, without a leash, etc as the new dog would kick a fuss and bite him if I tried to address the balance…)

I would send the other dog back before you get too attached. She needs a home where she is the only dog.

@Iottie How are you getting on with your beagles? Have you had some help and has the situation improved?

When we had 2 ddog she had 'real' bones and a Kong... New way of things with a plus 1((plus 3 in our case)..
Hope things have improved op.
New rules needed ime.

Hi op it is always a shock when something like this happens but your oh sounds like he made matters worse. Ranting will scare animals.

I took on a foster dog who bit one of my 2 resident dogs a few days in. It's not good but it's also a form of communication. Resident dog is a gob shite and is lucky not to have had more attacks but obviously it was awful and I realised I have to supervise better. A month on and all is fine.

I wouldn't discard a dog in these circumstances, it was behaving like a new dog. But I would reduce chances of a recurrence.

Hope you get sorted

Hi,

I’m pleased to say there have been no problems since! I’m hoping whatever caused the disagreements is now out of their systems. Incumbent dog is much happier and more tolerant of the new dog. They love to play with each other :)

@WehIstMir