Thoughts, introducing new adult dog into household?

lancerandrara

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#1
I'm excited to scream that I WILL BE ADOPTING A GSD or GSD mix (of some kind! I really don't mind mixes at all) IN A COUPLE MONTHS!

It is all planned out. Huzzah.

The future adoptee dog will be living with me in my condo, BUT... I'd still like to introduce him to Lancer and Rara, in case my parents need to temporarily care for him for whatever reason. I see no problem with Rara, but Lancer is fearful of stranger dogs in public (reactive when they try to play with him, but never actually acted out). Lancer does have dog friends who visit sometimes, but they're dogs that he's met before having his dog-trauma experiences, so he's all happy and dandy. I've never brought a new dog he doesn't know after the experiences into our home yet, where he's much more comfortable.

I will look for to adopt a dog who is polite and happy with other dogs!

I have plans about how I would go about introducing them, but I'd still like to hear any tips, thoughts, personal experiences you guys have!


ETA: I guess I'll mention that I think it would be a good idea to have the dog meet up and become friends with Rara and my parents first BEFORE bringing him in to meet Lancer. Therefore, when Lancer meets the new dog for the first time, my parents and Rara are already all familiar with him. I'd focus on taking turns playing ball with the new dog and Lancer (since Lancer is obsessed with tennis balls, but not possessive at all). And wing it the rest of the way according to my ~dog-savvy abilities~ lol. But that's all I got for now.

uhhh adding again, Lancer is not really scared of little dogs... But unfortunately, I will be adopting a dog larger than him, SO... HMM
 
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BostonBanker

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#4
How reactive is he? Can he leash walk near other dogs without reacting? If so, that's what I'd do. You have a great situation where you don't need to rush the intros since they are living apart. I'd just start leash walking them at the same time (one person per dog). You can start them on opposite sides of the street or whatever they need to be non-reactive. Gradually walk them closer together until you can walk them side by side. I wouldn't try to really let them greet or interact until they could quietly walk together.

I know for my reactive dog, movement and not being in "her" space are two of the biggest keys for introductions. She actually does better off-leash, as in hiking together in the woods, but if I am worried about how the other dog will react, both leashed is safer.

Of course, as I re-read your post, you say he's more comfortable at home. So this advice may actually be useless. But alas, there it is anyway.
 

milos_mommy

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#5
BB's suggestion of walking them closer and closer together until they're calm is pretty standard for introducing dogs/reactive dogs.

If he's really uncomfortable on a leash, what I will sometimes do is bring the more reactive dog into a fenced area (which is usually a local tennis court) so they're loose, and have the other dog outside the area leashed walking up and down the fence while the dog inside is being redirected/rewarded. But that's for pretty extreme leash reactivity/aggression cases.

I'd also introduce him separately from Rara, the only exception being if Lancer has both separation anxiety from her and is completely unlikely to be protective of her/resource guard her, but usually those two things go somewhat hand in hand.
 

lancerandrara

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#6
Lancer is reactive depending on who he is with. He feels very safe with me and my dad, but becomes a big nervous reactive ball with only my mom. And yeah, he is more comfortable inside our home, but your idea is a good one! I'm thinking that seeing the dog far off on the sidewalk first will give him a negative disposition to start... he's linked "dogs on the sidewalk" to negative experiences, so perhaps meeting in our house would be better. I can't be sure though, so I might test it out for a few seconds to get a feel.

The fenced area/tennis court thing sounds like a plan! I'd like to be very careful with Lancer, so let's assume that he's an extreme case... because any one experience over threshold can potentially put him back multiple squares. :s He's a very sensitive dog who doesn't forget easily.

And no, Lancer doesn't feel protective of Rara and has no SA to do with her :thumbup:

Thanks you two!
 

milos_mommy

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#7
I would definitely suggest having the first meeting or two (or three) without your mom present, if Lancer is nervous around her/protective of her.
 

lancerandrara

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#8
I would definitely suggest having the first meeting or two (or three) without your mom present, if Lancer is nervous around her/protective of her.
Will do! He's not protective of her, but more like... he himself basically needs protection, and he was with only my mom both times when other dogs attacked/frightened him as a puppy. So he doesn't feel secure with her. But if either I or my dad are present (whether or not my mom is also present), then he feels "safe" and is totally chill.
 

DJEtzel

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#9
I'd intro Rara and new dog however you felt comfortable with Lancer not around the general area to get worked up at all. Then put new dog in your yard with a long line and you on the other end, and have your dad let Rara out, followed by Lancer. She'll be like no big deal with the dog, you can keep the newbie moving, Lancer will feel comfortable at home. No stops and stares or sniffs, just some moving dogs for a long while until you know that Lancer is comfortable or he wants to come check out new dog, then keep it very brief.

I wouldn't do the ball thing, just because it's going to increase the energy a lot and leave more room for failure. I keep greetings and intro walks/time in the yard AS CALM AS HUMANELY POSSIBLE. Especially with a reactive or aggressive in the pack.

I integrated very reactive GSD bitch this weekend to a pack of five at my home and took video of the first moments - it was set up very similarly with the reactive dog on a long line since she was new and I needed to direct her to keep everyone else comfortable - just like you would need in this situation. If you're interested in checking out the footage, feel free to PM me and I can link you to the unlisted clip on youtube.

Good luck! Can't wait to see another GSD around. ;)
 

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