New Bully Neighbor

[Bailey08]

I'm not trying to borrow trouble, but I am trying to be thoughtful about a new situation and would appreciate the advice of the Chaz experts.

We are moving into a new duplex. I met the new neighbors today, and they are very nice. They have a lovely male bully; he was sweet as pie when I met him (I have a serious soft spot for bullies!). I assume he is a rescue.

How should I think about him sharing a space with Bailey? I'll of course speak with his owner before they'd meet face to face and ask her if he is okay with other dogs. However, I am also going to assume (a) that his owner may or may not be savvy when it comes to potential DA/DR issues in bully breeds and (b) that he could change his mind at any time about liking my (male) dog.

Bailey is, of course, my first priority. That said, I would like to have a good relationship with my new neighbors and I don't want to make them feel defensive or anything. I want to be thoughtful and cautious but not over the top.

So, bully experts, assuming I am told that he is dog friendly (if he is not, of course, we'll just keep them separated), how should I proceed? Allow them to interact but watch closely? I do not have any personal experience with DA, nor have I ever even witnessed a real dog fight.

Bailey, for what it's worth, is good with other dogs and has been very, very well socialized. That said, he can get a little snarky with rude dogs (he'll never escalate, but he will emit a "back off" growl).

Thoughts?

 

[Grab]

Do you share a fenced yard? Not sure otherwise why they'd need hang out?

 

[Bailey08]

They won't. Yes, there is a shared fenced yard, but it wouldn't be necessary for them to be there at the same time.

And, certainly, they don't have to be friends.

Does that suggest you think that the best approach would be to keep them separated?

 

[Grab]

Not at all. I just don't think that, even when I lived in an apartment that had a common front yard, that I ever had my dog hang out with the neighbor dog. Just not something I thought to do, I guess. In fact, many mornings both of our dogs would sit on their respective front porches watching the world go by

 

[LilahRoot]

They won't. Yes, there is a shared fenced yard, but it wouldn't be necessary for them to be there at the same time.

And, certainly, they don't have to be friends.

Does that suggest you think that the best approach would be to keep them separated?

That would be what I would do.

 

[SisMorphine]

Until you really KNOW your neighbors and their dog, it might be easier just to say "my dog isn't always nice with others" and go from there.

 

[~Tucker&Me~]

Why not suggest going for a walk together and allowing them to see each other on the walk?

I TOTALLY understand you not wanting to come across as over the top and wanting to have a good relationship with them. You could suggest letting the dogs meet during a walk (not even necessarily sniff one another, just walk on leash together), where you are more likely to have success. If that works, you could then allow them a chance to have a good sniff and maybe they will even play. Who knows, your neighbor could turn out to be a great walking buddy

I think the trick is being able to read body language and supervision. I would never let them interact without you watching over, but I think there is a good chance you could meet a great playdate buddy for Bailey and maybe even pick up a dog walking partner

Good luck and let us know how it goes!

 

[Renee750il]

I think the leashed walk idea is superb

You never know how dogs are going to react to each other. Sometimes the most affable ones meet another dog that, for some unknowable doggy-reason, they just plain old do not like at all. Kind of like we do

 

[ACooper]

I was going to say basically the same thing Renee said.

Phoebe has always gotten along with every dog she's ever met in the last 11 years, but I still know that there might be that ONE DOG someday that she just. doesn't. like. from the moment their eyes meet.........it's life, and I've felt that way about people from time to time, haha

 

[Tankstar]

Id just ask them if he is friendly, and approach as I would any other dog, be it bully, poodle, chow ect. Would you really be making this thread if the dog next door was a greyhound? Sorry maybe I just dont get it...

Blaze and I meet all the neighboorhood dogs, and regularly hang out at their houses for play dates. So I think its great when you meet neighboors with good friendly dogs to hang otu with. Always some one to walk with and always some one for Blaze to play with

 

[darkchild16]

Just ask. I know personally as a APBT owner I LOVE when people ask and not assume. Heck as a dog owner period. Let them get to know eachother and take it from there. Bullys do IME have a VERY different way of play then other dogs as well so I would make sure Bailey gets that BEFORE letting them play. I have seen other dogs not get it and it started a fight. They are usually very rough and tumble in play. Tytus and Walker used to actually look like they were fighting when they were playing. We actually got ACO called on us once saying they were. There is never blood or puncture wounds but there is growling, snarking and some pretty nasty looking bites going on.

 

[Miakoda]

Until you really KNOW your neighbors and their dog, it might be easier just to say "my dog isn't always nice with others" and go from there.

I agree.

I've got some close friends who also own APBTs. At most, we will go for walks...one person with one dog. But I still don't let my dogs off-leash with other people's dogs (and this includes my friends...whom I've known for 10+ years and know their dogs).

And a REAL dog fight is, well, terrifying if you have never witnessed one. And then you have to break it up. Basically, it could become one giant clusterfluck. (sorry, that's the only word I could think of that accurately describes things)

However, do be social and try and educate.

 

[Bailey08]

Thank you so much, everyone, for weighing in. I truly appreciate it.

Tankstar, I don't profess to be a bully expert, but yes, I do think that it is different than doing intros with a greyhound (or a lab), because of the greater propensity for dog aggression in the breed (and the possibility that it can arise later). (Neighbor dog is also intact fwiw.) I want to be particularly careful because I am inexperienced with DA and dog fighting. In a fight with most any dog, B would probably lose, lol.

I am generally careful with Bailey meeting dogs in public; I always ask first if their dog is okay with other dogs. From what I've seen, he doesn't love really, really physical play, but he handles himself well. He goes to daycare every day, so he's experienced plenty of play styles. Our neighbors last year had a little pittie girl, and he and Gracie adored each other. It was super cute. She was a rescue, and shy and unsure at first, so he really taught her how to play.

Anyway, thanks again, and sorry for the long rambling post. I saw the dog again this morning, and he is such a sweet boy. I think he and I will be friends even if he and B aren't.

 

[Bailey08]

Update (as I'm sure you are all waiting with bated breath (and I needed an unpacking break!)): I did ask the dog's owner how he was with other dogs. She seems pretty breed savvy -- yay! She said that it depended on the dog, but she usually keeps him away from unknown dogs because of his breed. He's usually okay with neutered males (of which Bailey is one) but not generally with other intact males.

So, it seems like she'll be amenable a similar approach to the one most of you suggested -- slow introductions, on leash, perhaps on a walk, etc.

Thanks again for the advice.

 

[Renee750il]

Ask her if we can have pics? Maybe for the Bully Smiles thread

 

[ihartgonzo]

Id just ask them if he is friendly, and approach as I would any other dog, be it bully, poodle, chow ect. Would you really be making this thread if the dog next door was a greyhound? Sorry maybe I just dont get it...

Greyhounds have not been bred for centuries to fight other dogs.... :/

I would REALLY get a feel for the other dog, maybe see his reaction on leash to other dogs, and get to know your neighbor before trusting his judgement. My last neighbors had two massive American Bulldogs that his 12 year-old son would walk on 30 foot flexis! And the locking mechanism was never ever utilized. Oy vey. They lived above us and they'd let them barrel down the stairs unchecked on their flexis every day. I triple checked before taking my dogs out for a walk. They were always saying "ooohh, they really want to play with your dogs!" and "they are super friendly! the grunting/snorting noises are just them being silly!" Well, both dogs happened to come into my work (a pet hotel) and the female attacked another dog. They also attacked each other. And another neighbor's Boxer outside of my window at 6 AM! Try waking up to that horrifying, weird, rabid monkey-sounding commotion.

Anyway, my advice is to proceed with caution. A lot of people are biased about their dogs and blindly believe that they are harmless. I would be cautious about ANY dog that you don't know, but of course, powerful dogs that could easily hurt yours deserve the most caution. There are a lot of amazing Bully people out there, and there are also a lot of super ignorant owners out there, who just don't know or respect the breed for what it is. Only do what you feel safe and comfortable with. The leashed parallel walk is really good advice.

 

[Renee750il]

Id just ask them if he is friendly, and approach as I would any other dog, be it bully, poodle, chow ect. Would you really be making this thread if the dog next door was a greyhound? Sorry maybe I just dont get it...

No, you can't make even the slightest assumption that a Bully breed -- or, say, a Bull Mastiff, Tosa, Presa, most of the Terriers and other breeds for whom DA is a part of their breed profile -- is going to be dependably friendly with another dog, or, more importantly, that the owner is cognizant of the potential for fighting that is always there. Too many Bully breed owners who do have friendly dogs forget that the switch may or may not be permanently in the off position.

Part of talking to the owner is to find out what kind of owner the person is, just as much as finding out about their dog

 

[Jules]

No, you can't make even the slightest assumption that a Bully breed -- or, say, a Bull Mastiff, Tosa, Presa, most of the Terriers and other breeds for whom DA is a part of their breed profile -- is going to be dependably friendly with another dog, or, more importantly, that the owner is cognizant of the potential for fighting that is always there. Too many Bully breed owners who do have friendly dogs forget that the switch may or may not be permanently in the off position.

Part of talking to the owner is to find out what kind of owner the person is, just as much as finding out about their dog

:hail:

I learned that lesson, too, when T-Bone suddenly decided she does not like other bitches and almost shredded a female puppy in pieces. Ever since then, other females are an absolute no.

Then again, I can't blame her. I don't do too well with bitches either *shrug*