NEED ADVICE ASAP PLEASE!

    • Bronze

    NEED ADVICE ASAP PLEASE!

    Okay so here is the issue i have right now an akita(male) named shogun just about 2 years old recently neutered (had him since puppyhood purchased from reputable breeder) , toy sheltie female sansa 2.5 spayed , rescue male pomerian/american eskimo mix?named grimm 4 years old neutered and another rescue mostly golden or lab? maybe aulstralian sheperard mix female siggy 3-5 years spayed everybody gets along....BUT now my bf dogs may have to move in(they have been at his moms who is retiring and selling her home) he has a husky 3.5 years neutered and a doberman about a year NOT neutered. So far no issues with the husky(hes been on trial a week) he follows my akita around licking his mouth and play bowing but if he gets to be to much my akita growls and hell back off go play with my golden/ austrialian shep mix siggy or one of the others...the doberman is another story my akita has put him on his back three times no blood but im worried? Any advice? I live with my parents on 5 aceres of land with good amount of space. Dont want to tell my bf his dogs cant move in . Currently my bf has no place else to go. Training techniques or anything really is there a way to get them to get along...the more i push the worse it gets.
    • Gold Top Dog

    I would keep them separated.  Look up the term "crate and rotate".

    ' It's not fun but it can make it possible to keep two dogs from fighting and still live in the same house.  

    I'm not sure what you mean when you say the more you push the worse it gets but if you mean you're punishing for showing aggression, I'd stop.  If you can, read some of what Patricia McConnell, Jean Donaldson and Sophia Yin have to say about dealing with dog-dog aggression.  

    This article might help you.  

    avsabonline.org/.../dominance_statement.pdf  

    • Bronze

    push - meaning try and get them to tolerate each other in same room

    • Bronze

    i have tried giving them treats for being in same room...my akita will block him from entering any room he is residing in and force him to go elsewhere

    • Gold Top Dog

    As Jackie said crate and rotate. It may be a pain but it also might be the only safe way. I do hope that with the dogs you have now that you don't leave all of them loose when no one is home. Even if you think they all get along, things can easily escalate and with no one there to take care of it, some bad things can happen. I've heard too many stories of how they all got along okay and so the dogs were left out together, only to have the people come home to a horrible tragedy. They find blood everywhere and find one of their dogs has been killed.

    • Gold Top Dog

    Some dogs don't tolerate each other.  It's not always possible to get them to like each other.  Does sound like crate and rotate is the safest option. Ditto what nymaureen said.  Don't take chances even if things seem to be going ok.  One dog should be crated securely while the other is loose.  Out of sight of each other is best. Then the loose dog takes a turn in the crate.  That way they both get to interact with everyone without the tension and the threatening behavior.  Obedience training a few times a day wouldn't hurt either.  

    Counter conditioning and desensitization takes time.   Some dogs respond in a few weeks with consistent CC and DS and other dogs may take many months to see progress.  Check out the websites of the behaviorists I mentioned in my first post.  I think it will help to get a feel for the counter conditioning and desensitization to see some videos.  

    • Moderators
    • Gold Top Dog

    Hi

    I have fostered dogs for the last 15 years I've found the best way to introduce dogs is walk them together as much as you can with no interaction, little by little close the gap and see how they react, the more they are around each other the more comfortable the will feel. Slow and steady is the way to go. When you feel you get to a point where they can be off leash take them to a place that is open and neutral. Always one at a time, slowly add dogs as you feel comfortable, keep the meetings short and increase the time little by little. Can you neuter the one dog that is not fixed, that may help in the long run. I have always had good success with this method of walking them together. I hope things work out please keep us posted.

    • Gold Top Dog

    I think they're well past the introduction walk stage at this point.

    • Moderators
    • Gold Top Dog

    Walking dogs together never hurts to help them bond, and when they are focusing on other things and having a positive experience is never a bad thing.

    • Gold Top Dog

    I think it's better to err on the side of safety when giving advice to someone on the internet.  Especially when dealing with dog aggression. If we were there and could see how the dogs interact it might be different. It could be nothing more than posturing and bluff but without knowing, better safe than sorry.  JMHO  

    • Bronze

    i agree i will be trying crate and rotate....with my own dogs i usually take two to work with me since i work at a doggie daycare and leave my other two at home switching it up as i go(i only bring my akita on a slow day placing him with a certain tempermant level of dogs because since he hit one he cant handle large groups 30-50 dogs at once).I have considered trying to take the dobie to work with me but since he is not yet neutered im not really suppose too...that and his bad habbit of hummping(sometimes peeing on everything) not a great option.Does anyone think neutering him sooner rather than later might help thing?

    • Bronze

    Dobie is not neutered because my bf thinks that neutering too early could cause him health problem but i kinda would rather neuter sooner rather than later...i could try walking but my akita while he hasnt attacked has made it clear he wants the dobie no where near him .so that might be difficult....maddy is also a terror on a leash barks at everyone/ anything/ pulls badly...my plan right now is to have Tiberus (husky) and  Maddy aka Made eye moony Dobie in my dads loft space over the garage(its insulated heat/ace...has two windows )used to be an office but now a large empty room(ill have to move some stuff around) just with some toys if im not home or they are on rotation with my akita. Thanks for all the advice its most appreciated ! will keep posted

    • Bronze

    Also Maddy is not aggresive just a goofy , playful, crazy mess that im trying to get my bf to take to training classes