[ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: Need advice on introducing adult males!!!!
- From: Pinehillgsds@xxxxxxx
- To: cheryllclay@xxxxxxxxx, showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 28 Aug 2008 07:48:59 EDT
Hi Cheryl,
First, (since you're asking, lol) I have a real problem with the following
statement you post about the 5 year old:
"When he was just a year old he walked up to a guest that went to pet the cat
and watched him for a minute and then nipped his hand. This is how we learned
he had this problem. Now if you came up and touched him he would let you for
about half a minute and then nip at you, not attack."
and...
"Heâ??s my very special and most favorite dog Iâ??ve ever owned. So I admit he
is super spoiled
and is extremely devoted to his mommy."
"Nips" aren't "OK" and spoiling this boy IS the problem.
I have a very special spot for our "oldsters" and for those of us who live
in multi-dog households I don't for a for a minute allow one of mine to be
bothered, challenged, etc., by an impudent youngster. There will come a time
with a dog who is aging that they DON'T go out and play w/ the youngsters
here.
(I do expect all of the dogs to behave amicably in the house). But, IMO the
oldsters have earned their peace and shouldn't have to constantly be on
guard re their position in the "pack".
There are even times when a younger dog or dogs will try to kill an oldster
(or a dog who is sick). No matter how we humanize the dogs, they are at the
end of the day still dogs and pack rules rule. Don't believe me? Read the
last chapter of Lad Of Sunnybank. Or talk to anyone who has multi dog
households for more than just a minute. I just got my oil changed and the
mechanic
was devastated w/ what he just wet through. He cam home to a blood bath last
week. He and his wife rescue/foster greyhounds. One apparently had a
seizure while they were at work and the other two killed it. Normally, very
sweet,
very passive dogs. "Normal" (although awful to us) pack behavior.
Soooooooo.......this is a long way for me to say I wouldn't even try to get
your boys together. (Your 10 year old doesn't deserve this!) If I did, I
ESPECIALLY wouldn't muzzle the older one.
I don't have any really good suggestions for what you'll do to insure the
dogs don't get together once your toddler stops toddling and starts running.
Maybe put up a pen outside so there is more than a door between the dogs?
And the 5 year old? Get into some serious, competitive obedience classes w/
people who have tons of experience. I don't care how much you
lllluuuuuvvvvv him, he needs some serious religion!
Good luck,
Kathy, member GSDCA, DVGSDC
Celebrating generations of Dual Titled TC'd Champions
visit www.geocities.com/pinehillgsds
In a message dated 8/27/2008 9:58:04 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
cheryllclay@xxxxxxxxx writes:
Hi List,
I need
advice from those that have experience acclimating adult male GSDâ??s to one
another. I have a 5 year old and a 10 year old that I have not been able to
have together due to the younger ones aggression. They are both neutered. I
will tell you a bit about each and my plan for dealing with this and would
love
to hear the advice of others. My fear is going about this the wrong way and
never being able to get these dogs to be together.
First, the
5 year old. He is a Dallas son, in case any of you have one
that sounds like my boy. I hear they can be pretty protective and I didn't
do my part while he was a pup. Heâ??s my very
special and most favorite dog Iâ??ve ever owned. So I admit he is super spoiled
and is extremely devoted to his mommy. If he knew you as a puppy you are
welcome to come over anytime and he will give you tons of love. But if he
didnâ??t
you wonâ??t get in the house without a serious problem. We have tried to work
with him when having new people over by bringing him out with strangers on a
leash and he doesnâ??t go for them, growl or bark at all. He actually shakes
all
over and tries to crawl onto my lap. Off lead I am not sure what he would do.
He might realize he is leashed and canâ??t do what he wants so he doesnâ??t
try.
When he was just a year old he walked up to a guest that went to pet the cat
and watched him for a minute and then nipped his hand. This is how we learned
he had this problem. Now if you came up and touched him he would let you for
about half a minute and then nip at you, not attack. Now away from me and
away
from home anyone can do anything they wish to him and he loves anyoneâ??s
attention. I leave him at the groomers 1-2 times a month and they rave about
how good he is. He licks their faces while they work on him. Once heâ??s been
around a new person away from the house/without me and gets to know them
for a minute I can then come into the room and he is still great with them. I
assume these behavior changes are based on whether or not he feels his home
or
family is being threatened. It would be nice to hear how others read this
behavior as well.
He will
accept any puppy or small adult immediately, of either gender. He will also
accept adult females immediately, but not adult males. If the male grew up
with
him from a pup he is fine with that dog as an adult. I tried to work with him
and another grown male a couple years ago. On leashes, we brought the new
male
into the room and my male tried to get on my lap and started to shake. The
other male got close to me and my male kept turning his head away to avoid
him,
but as the other male got closer my male snapped out of the shaking and went
for him, ready for a full blown attack.
Now the 10
year old. He will accept any dog, period, but if that other dog tries to
intimidate him too much he will put them on the ground. Not so much an
attack, just a little reality check without hurting them. Other dogs I have
owned just submit right away so heâ??s never been in a fight. He only does this
to dogs that try to dominate him, he isnâ??t a bully. I know my 5 year old
isnâ??
t
going to submit like the others did, so there would be a fight.
Given the
way my 5 year old will accept new people away from home and away from myself
and then be ok with them being around me, makes me think there is a way to
get
these dogs to accept one another. They both have bonded and lived happily
with other males,
but both were always the dominate male in those relationships.
My â??planâ??
for getting them used to one other is to get them used to basket muzzles, and
with the help of someone else, introduce them somewhere neither has been
before. Iâ??m thinking they will do better since they wonâ??t have a reason to
act territorial.
Unfortunately I will have to be there for the intro because there isn't a
second person I know
(trust) that wants to help me put two 85 pound dogs together that want to
fight. Go
figure! I think it would go better if I weren't there though.
Iâ??m hoping
that after doing this over and over my younger dog will learn the other dog
is
not a threat and start to accept him. Iâ??m thinking the first time I should
just
let them see one another but not bring them towards each other. Then take
baby
steps each time depending on their behavior.
I would
like to know what ideas others have or if you all think I am crazy to even
try.
I have a two year old son and I am tired of living in fear that he will be
the one
that lets them into the same room even though we keep two doors closed
between
them at all times and watch our son most every minute heâ??s awake. I donâ??t
want
to be naive and think one of us couldnâ??t forget or turn our back too long. I
am
also tired of having to keep one or the other isolated from the family half
time. As the older one gets older I just want to spend as much time with him
as I can and not have him in a bedroom, outside or the garage half of the
day.
Thanks for
taking the time to read my email and I look forward to hearing your
suggestions.
Cheryl
===========================================================================POST
is Copyrighted 2007. All material remains the property of the original
author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any
kind are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the
Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY
MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS
PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY
FORBIDDEN,
AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE PROSECUTED.
For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxxx
VISIT OUR WEBSITE - www.showgsd.org
===========================================================================
**************It's only a deal if it's where you want to go. Find your travel
deal here.
(http://information.travel.aol.com/deals?ncid=aoltrv00050000000047)
============================================================================
POST is Copyrighted 2007. All material remains the property of the original
author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind
are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the
Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY
MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS
PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY
FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE
PROSECUTED.
For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxxx
VISIT OUR WEBSITE - www.showgsd.org
============================================================================
Other related posts:
