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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

tips to help dogs get on

21 replies

IggySlave · 23/10/2023 12:43

we have an italian greyhound and he is 2. my gran has a german spitz, she is 5 and a rescue. i think she was just locked in a bathroom for the fisrt couple of years of her life.

the GS does not like any other dog, doesnt ever attack but very clearly doesnt enjoy being around other dogs. when she is with my IG, he constanatly tries to play with her which results in her barking 'back off' to him, which only seems to excite him. if one barks its sets the other off and its hell.

me and my gran are going away for a week next year and my DH is looking after both dogs.

we had my grand dog yesterday for the afternoon and it was chaos. what can we do to get them used to each other?

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Lastqueenofscotland2 · 23/10/2023 12:58

Probably not what you want to hear. But if they really hate each other I wouldn’t have them together for a week and look for other options for the GS.
It will be SO stressful for both dogs, and your DH, the risk of a really nasty fight is enormous.

IggySlave · 23/10/2023 13:07

hmmm...im inclined to agree but i cant see her coping in any other situation either. its a tough one as we have recently lost my grandad and this is the first time my gran will have been away in years so should be really special.

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Wolfiefan · 23/10/2023 13:14

If you can’t separate them then don’t do this. If a dog has got to 5 and doesn’t like other dogs then it won’t change now.

Maddy70 · 23/10/2023 13:15

Let them get on with it. They will scrap and sort out their pecking order. Try not to intervene

Sarvanga38 · 23/10/2023 13:17

Baby gates and let the GS have her peace. With careful management (assuming that will happen!), you’ll probably actually find that over a week the novelty will wear off and future meets will be easier.

IggySlave · 23/10/2023 13:19

we could keep them separate at my house for the week. do you think its worth having a few practice nights before hand?

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YourNameGoesHere · 23/10/2023 13:19

Maddy70 · 23/10/2023 13:15

Let them get on with it. They will scrap and sort out their pecking order. Try not to intervene

What the fuck. No absolutely don't do this, are you offering to pay for that vet bills that will follow this ridiculous advice... Hmm

Honestly OP it sounds like a recipe for disaster and totally unfair on either dog to put them into this situation. Unfortunately your gran needs to find another option for someone to look after her dog.

IggySlave · 23/10/2023 13:20

i would definitely not let them scrap it out :D

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PrincessHoneysuckle · 23/10/2023 13:28

I don't know if you can.
My dog was 5 when we got our bitch and he hated her at first then it was disdain then slight tolerance.
I wouldn't say they ever got on tbh.
He passed a couple of weeks ago so it's just her now.

IggySlave · 23/10/2023 13:38

i will have to have a think, its just a shame my gran wouldn't trust anyone else to have her...but if she wants to go away, she might have to.

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Letsnotargue · 23/10/2023 13:50

Can you take the dogs on walks together? Lots of praise and treats for them when they get on or ignore each other. They will both have other exciting walk things to focus on and the other dog will become less of a thing.

You should have two people and may need to walk them a small distance apart until they get used to each other being there.

My last dog was very dog reactive when we adopted him and he would have lost his shit if he was in a house with another dog. Joint walks really helped him get used to their presence.

IggySlave · 23/10/2023 14:00

@Letsnotargue they are fine on walks, completely ignore each other and are happy sniffing. its just indoors they do this. its like they're both on drugs, barking their heads off at each other!

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OrlandointheWilderness · 23/10/2023 14:01

My older spaniel and my DPs lab are like this. My old boy lives with my parents now but we've just had him to stay for a week. Definitely not easy. Very very careful policing, including crating one at particularly exciting times (people coming in the house/mealtimes). Keeping them very calm and separate. Feeding one completely out of the way of the other.

It is tricky. We had a few scraps and a bit of blood, but they are both alive!

ToBeOrNotToBee · 23/10/2023 14:05

Parallel walks.
Basically introduces dogs somewhere neutral.
Initially walk both dogs far away from each other at first In the same direction. You want them far enough away so that they know each other are there but feel safe enough with the distance and won't react.
Then slowly decrease the distance. The reactive dog will come to realise the other dog isn't a threat.
I've done this successfully with dog aggressive dogs in the past. Works a treat

In the house, no treats, no toys. Each gets their own space.

Parallel Walks With a Reactive Dog

Parallel walks are a great late-stage exercise for reactive dogs who have grown more experienced and desensitized to seeing other dogs close by. Once your do...

https://youtu.be/rtLopmhFSLM?si=tGkuvkyvhYS9cAMp

tabulahrasa · 23/10/2023 14:06

The issue isn’t the GS not liking dogs though, it’s that she’s not wanting to play and the IG is harassing her.

I’d be working on having her round and getting the IG to be around her inside without trying to play with her.

schloss · 23/10/2023 14:09

As @Letsnotargue has said, you need to start on neutral territory, going for a walk together is a good start. No matter which house you are in, one of the dogs is on home ground - when the GS comes to your home they are on the back foot - the behaviour your describe is basic dog behaviour for go away and leave me alone, unfortunately the Italian Greyhound is not reading the signals, especially at it is their home.

I would walk them together with at least two people, do not praise or be negative with either dog when they are together on the walk, almost ignore them, as it doesn't matter what you say they will see that a behaviour being praised UNLESS they are very good with each other, even for a nano second of a time, then you can praise.

In the house, neither dog is big so you could use play pens to keep the dogs apart but see each other, size wise it is unlikely they will jump over them. Just make sure they are not flimsy and may fall on either dog especially the GS, if it has been confined for its earlier life.

Over time they will tolerate each other but it is not going to happen in time for the week they will be together so walk them together and allow them their own space when in a house (if you are in the home of the GS, then the IG would be in the puppy pen). You may fins especially with the GS if it has somewhere safe away from the IG but knows it is there, it may be enough to get through the week.

My concern would be, is your husband going to be watching the two dogs enough to ensure there are no problems?

The poster who said let them sort it out, there is some truth in it, eventually dogs will sort it out but not allowing them to fight.

IggySlave · 23/10/2023 14:32

they walk fine together, my IG doesn't listen to her at all, i completely agree and its the same in either house, hes relentless.

my IG needs rewarding when he does ignore her but its too chaotic to ever get to that. we need to somehow restore order.

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IggySlave · 23/10/2023 14:34

@schloss thank you thats helpful. pens are a good idea.

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margotrose · 23/10/2023 14:47

The IG is the problem here, not the Spitz, because it won't back off when clearly being told "no".

I don't think it's fair on the Spitz to make it share a home with a dog that won't back off. Your gran will need to find another carer for her dog.

tabulahrasa · 23/10/2023 17:23

IggySlave · 23/10/2023 14:32

they walk fine together, my IG doesn't listen to her at all, i completely agree and its the same in either house, hes relentless.

my IG needs rewarding when he does ignore her but its too chaotic to ever get to that. we need to somehow restore order.

I’d have her round regularly and put him on a lead to start with - that way he can’t practise the unwanted behaviour and you’re right there to capture every time he does ignore her.

But with a year to play with before it’s urgent, you could do a couple of one to ones with a trainer and see what they recommend.

IggySlave · 24/10/2023 13:25

Thanks, I think we will try increase visits and stay on leads, rewarding the good behaviour.

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