Introducing a neutered male to an intact one

[Woahbodyforrrrm]

Hi all, I’m hoping to get some advice. I have a 7yr old male bulldog who’s neutered. We’ve been asked to take in a 6 month old (bulldog) boy due to a relationship breakdown, he is intact. The boys were introduced today outside near our house but quite quickly my dog started to growl and at times acted aggressively. I took him away as soon as he would start to growl before trying again. This happened about three times so we stopped as I don’t want the puppy to be frightened or my dog to be anxious which he was showing signs of.

The puppy has lived with 2 female dogs happily and though my dog lives alone, he spends time regularly with some other dogs but they’re all female.

I’m just wondering how to proceed with this. I need to make it work for both of them.
Has anyone ever experienced this and made it work?

You don't. Your dog is telling you he's unhappy - please respect that.

So does this mean even a slow introduction will result in failure?

I might be wrong in pinning it on them being neutered/intact, it may be him being grumpy with a puppy and 'putting it in its place' as it were, which I know can happen. I'm just not sure how I'd work out which it was!

I wouldn’t take it either.

Puppies need stable adults to teach them. A correction occasionally is fine, a male who doesn’t want it around can cause huge stress for both. At 7yo breed wise he is old and it sounds like he can’t be bothered regardless.

Yes i agree.
Most bull breeds aren’t know for being fantastic with other dogs. A friend of mine has always had them and has never really been able to have friends come round and bring their dogs as he gets very stressed and shows signs of agression.
I think it would be insanely stressful for your adult dog and potentially result in some behaviour issues with the puppy

I mean I wouldn't put my adult dog in a situation where he clearly isn't happy.

I guess I'm just not sure why you want to introduce this puppy into your home when an introduction on neutral territory led to multiple instances of your dog growling and becoming aggressive.

Resident dogs have to come first.

You can try something known as parallel walking to introduce eachother in a way that dogs find least stressful and do it over a few days.

There's videos on YouTube that help.

Also, if the dogs do end up living at yours together, I'd recommend hand feeding a few meals to introduce the concept that they are not to compete for food and that any food comes from you.

Even if they are introduced and get on well, this might change as the pup ages.

Crate train the dogs, feed separately, walk separately, keep high value things like toys and chews away from everyday use to really make sure there is nothing they can squabble about.

Hi, I have no experience with bulldogs but have successfully introduced rescue dogs numerous times to my current pack. In my experience there is always initial growling that has sometimes turned to aggression… it is scary & at this point I always think I’ve made a mistake.

After a few on lead walks together (luckily we have a field for this) & it takes as long as it takes the dogs eventually calm down. At this point I also hold the puppy up & let the older dogs sniff its bum.

Then in the house you might need to separate them for a few days, if you can let them see each other but no actual contact it helps. Continue taking them for walks together & then separate them again.

I then build up to everyone sitting in the same room together & use treats to reward them being calm with the new dog in the room. If anything escalates I stand up immediately & distract everyone normally shooing them all into the kitchen to get a treat. After a couple of days of this things are normally fine!

it does take time & work & confidence (even if you have to fake it, remember you are the boss) but I have always managed to settle them in the end.

Thanks all for coming back to me.

I would just like to say that English bulldogs are actually very sociable dogs, that's not to say this will work out should we attempt for them to meet again (just to stress I am not staying we will) but bulldogs thrive from having a friend in the home. My mums dog is at ours all time (a bossy little yorkie) and they're as good as gold.

I follow the Edward Foundation who are a charity who specifically rehome bulldogs of all ages so it can be done. I have asked them for advice as well as a dog behaviourist who have both said it is possible but won't happen overnight, even with early signs that would make you think it can't.

I have lots of thinking to do.

Thanks again @BuboOwl for your experienced advice and @ToBeOrNotToBee for the helpful link!

Good luck @Woahbodyforrrrm :)