I don't know if this will be a problem or not (jewlieee)

Here's what I think. Many dogs have a territorial feeling about their house. Other dogs can be seen as intruders. So really, it's perfectly natural for a dog to be uncomfortable with another dog (and unknown dog) in his den. Molly and Spirit are in Neiko's pack so of course they're allowed in the den.

When you introduce them outside, it's important for you (and any other people) to be natural, calm and just having a pleasant conversation without obviously observing the dogs. I mean, you're going to be watching them, but try not to be too obvious about it. Then take them for a walk together. Ideally, they'd end up walking side by side.

Then, upon arrival back at the house, watch yourself that you remain calm and don't get anxious about it. And walk right in the house. Expect everything to be calm.

I would have to know the dog (and you and your relationship and history) to say whether I'd correct him for being growly and pushy, but I probably would with my dogs. Once I have brought a dog or a person into the house, I expect my dogs to take their cues from me as to whether this dog is a threat or not. My dogs don't get to decide who comes in the house. But that's the relationship we have. And they're comfortable with it.

So, it depends on what your relationship is. If Neiko is used to making decisions like this, it could backfire. Suppressing his growl might encourage him to go for the bite without warning. And every situation is different. But try the walk first and see if that makes a difference.

Do you have stranger dogs coming in your house a lot?  

Well I feel like you in that my dogs should take their cues from me when other dogs come to the house. I want my dogs to be welcoming - they can be territorial at first, that's only natural but once everyone is inside for a while I expect the posturing to stop.  (Neiko postured and was growly to the latest dog alllllll weekend.)

How old is he, Jewl? And I would have the regular questions. Is he on NILIF? Is he socialized? How is he in public with other dogs?

I realize now, he's the Aussie, is that right? I was thinking he was the Sibe. Neiko is still pretty young I think. I would definitely step in at this point and let him know that YOU will make these decisions.

Here's what I would do. Not saying you should, and I hope you get a variety of responses and several ideas, but here's how it would look in my household. Once the dogs were inside and relaxed, when the growling started, I would calmly stand between the dogs facing Neiko arms crossed, get his attention and tell him, calmly, "No". I would give him the message that this other dog is mine and I am protecting it. He's not to mess with it in that frame of mind. Whenever I saw Neiko taking the "attitude", I would "chhtt" him out of it. And I would follow through until he stopped with the 'tude. Then I would do something fun with both of them.

I would probably try different things until I "read" that Neiko was getting the message and not in resistance to what I was doing.

I would also refrain from giving Neiko attention for a while before the new dog arrived, then make sure to give him plenty once the strange dog was there. The message: New dogs in the house gets me good stuff.  

 He's still young but I can see his adulthood personality taking shape. He's acting less and less the pup and more and more like an adult male dog (neutered of course). That is why I want to nip this in the bud before it gets out of control. Now is the make or break time, I think.

 He's going on 11 months old. I practice NILIF and he's extremely well socialized. He's fine at the dog park and pretty much all he wants to do is run and play. He's not possessive over toys or sticks at the park or anything like that. In fact, he's very non-confrontational at the park. If another dog growls like they mean it (not just in play) Neiko will back off and find another dog to play with.

I think he would have been good with this other dog at our house had the other dog wanted to play. But the other dog is a bit timid - not used to being around other dogs, so this other dog just kind of hid in the guest bedroom the entire time.

Neiko is an attention hog though. If I pet other dogs he tries to push in. I ignore him when he does this and he gets a confused look on his face. 

What if he is confined when the other dog first comes to the house? Like, walk them together, then put Neiko in a crate or another room or something for a few minutes while the other dog sniffs his scent all over the place, and then see how they interact?

I know dog-dog interactions are totally different, but it helps me tremendously with Rascal to confine him for a brief while when new people (read: "intruders";) come over to the house. Then he gets a few minutes in his crate seeing the people aren't a threat and he settles down pretty nicely. 

FourIsCompany

I would also refrain from giving Neiko attention for a while before the new dog arrived, then make sure to give him plenty once the strange dog was there. The message: New dogs in the house gets me good stuff.

I think that's a great idea. Why does a dog defend territory? We all know a territory contains resources. If Neiko begins to understand that his resources are not diminished by the arrival of a stranger dog, he may not need to defend against him. But I also concede that he may be thinking that he needs to herd new visitors. It may not be as much a defense as it is now a herding pen. From what I understand, cattle dogs can be hard to "turn off."

californiaglock

should dogs be introduced on neutral ground

Yes, but I doubt you need to go all the way to the dog park. For most dogs, outside off the property (on the street, around the block or in our case, at the end of the lane) is good enough. If the "home-court" dog is accustomed to walking around the block, and might consider it "his" block, you may want to go a little further away.

The dog park isn't a bad idea, but if other dogs are there, it may be confusing, depending on the dogs' reaction to each other. Ideally, they could meet at an off leash area and get to know each other and play together. But the walk is critical (in my opinion) as it is a bonding exercise for the dogs. So if you go to a dog park, make sure to get in a walk afterward. We've done 15 minutes and it worked great. Just enough to let them get the feel of the other dog and the nice conversation and energy and kind of stop focusing on each other.

Just make sure to watch your energy when introducing the dogs. It's a fine balance between letting them at each other quickly and being prepared to separate them should you need to. It's scary to have a loose leash, but it's necessary to let them get to each other so they can smell. If all dogs are used to meeting other dogs, there shouldn't be a problem at all with your Thanksgiving thing.

ron2

FourIsCompany

I would also refrain from giving Neiko attention for a while before the new dog arrived, then make sure to give him plenty once the strange dog was there. The message: New dogs in the house gets me good stuff.

 

I think that's a great idea. Why does a dog defend territory? We all know a territory contains resources. If Neiko begins to understand that his resources are not diminished by the arrival of a stranger dog, he may not need to defend against him. But I also concede that he may be thinking that he needs to herd new visitors. It may not be as much a defense as it is now a herding pen. From what I understand, cattle dogs can be hard to "turn off."

Some herders are guarders no matter if it's inside the house, outside, or in my case...any vehicles they ride in.....growling or being snappy is one way to detect resource guarding, but the continued posturing is entering a new field, and could be seen as Neiko letting the visitor know where his place is.....

this is sort of related........Bugsy is just plain too happy when dogs come to the house or just to play in the yard.  I don't care in the yard but it is insane in the house.  I am in a mild panic as some friends are coming through to stay a night or two with their 90lb lab.  I am seriously considering moving everything out of the middle of my rooms.  200lbs of excited dog is disconcerting.  Like Neiko Bugsy doesn't 'get over it', this will last as long as the other dog and people are here.

Any training suggestions I can try to work on in the next month? 

kpwlee

Any training suggestions I can try to work on in the next month?

I would work on "outside" and "settle". I do these with my dogs (without the commands, but that's my method) for our dinner hour. We have 280 lbs of dog who got in a habit of making our dinnertime their playtime. We eat in the living room and they decided to play between us and the TV. So we just gated them into the kitchen during dinner for a long time.

The other night I was thrilled to hear my husband say that we should be able to allow them in the living room and insist that they either settle down or play outside.(They have a doggie door) The only reason I hadn't done the work before is that I didn't want to interrupt DH's dinner to deal with the dogs. So I said if he was willing to get through the initial interruptions for a week or so (which is what I thought it would take) that I was willing to do the work to "guide" them.

So Sunday night was our first evening that they were free in the LR during dinner. And we'll not have to gate them again because they responded that night - and each night since then, they've needed a reminder (B'asia), but they've been nearly perfect. If I had known it was going to be this easy, I would have done it long ago!

You might share your concern with your friends, too, so they can work on those commands with their dog.

And I'd say make sure they both get PLENTY of exercise while they're visiting and have some frozen kongs and other bone-type chew treats to keep them "down" at your convenience.  

kpwlee

this is sort of related........Bugsy is just plain too happy when dogs come to the house or just to play in the yard.  I don't care in the yard but it is insane in the house.  I am in a mild panic as some friends are coming through to stay a night or two with their 90lb lab.  I am seriously considering moving everything out of the middle of my rooms.  200lbs of excited dog is disconcerting.  Like Neiko Bugsy doesn't 'get over it', this will last as long as the other dog and people are here.

Any training suggestions I can try to work on in the next month? 

We had that issue with our youngest dog.  Lead (quite short).  Dog calms down, lead comes off.  Dog misbehaves, lead straight back on immediately.  Same would have to apply for other dog too, if the other dog "misbehaved"

Jewlieee

 Neiko is getting territorial about other dogs coming in to his house. He is fine with Molly and Spirit - 2 dogs he's known since he was a baby. He loves it when they come over, but it seems when dogs he doesn't know comes over he just hates it. He gets growly, dominant and pushy. Should I be concerned? I introduce the dogs outside first but that doesn't seem to matter. Once inside, that's his house. Period. Should I correct him for being growly and pushy or let them work it out?

I never bring strange dogs into my dogs' territory to meet - I always conduct meet & greets on neutral territory.  If Neiko is only well socialized to the two dogs he knows since puppyhood, it is unlikely he would nicely tolerate other dogs coming in to his house.  This is why I always suggest that people expose their dogs to play groups, day care, group boarding, classes, etc. from puppyhood through adulthood.  It's the dogs that go to puppy class, then never meet other off leash dogs again, save one or two companions, that are the most likely not to be very social as adult dogs.  I would not correct Neiko - this is not his fault, it's yours (sorry, no offense intended).   One thing you can do to try to ameliorate this is to see if he does well at a small group class with off leash dogs that he doesn't know.  Regular obedience trainers or obedience clubs don't normally have this, so you would have to seek out a trainer that does - many positive trainers do it, but you need to check.  That way, you can tell if he would be more likely to accept a dog that he doesn't know at all, never mind in his home.
 

I agree with Carla.  That is how I would handle it also. 

Dawn