Settling in new dog

chou-chou

So we've had dog 1 (ex racing greyhound) for about 18 months and his new big brother (ex racer as well but with a much longer career) came to live with us 2 weeks ago. dog 1 is 3 years old, dog 2 is 5 and bigger physically. They have got on really well and we've been quite cautious (followed lots of good practice online and from books) and but they're now at the stage where we're happily leaving them alone together when we're in the house although still separated when we go out.

dog 1 is really happy around dog 2 most of the time but occasionally will have a good old bark at him for seemingly no reason. Sometimes barking is accompanied by a waggy tail looking like 'come and play with me' and sometimes it's a bit more grumpy with some growling especially if dog 1 is on his bed at the time (eg dog 2 might walk past in the same way as he's been doing quite happily all day but dog 1 will decide to take offence this time).

We've just been leaving them to it and not telling dog 1 off as we want them to work out their pecking order between themselves. Dog 2 seems completely oblivious to it and just carries on doing what he was doing before he got barked at. There's no other signs of agression with the barking (bared teeth, etc) and often docg 1 will have a bark and then jump up and look surprised as if he wonders who made all that noise!!

Can anyone offer any advice - are we doing the right thing letting them get on with it? We're not sure who is going to be top out of the two of them so we can't help out by reinforcing behavu=iours from one or the other.

Thanks!!

Person_one

I think you're ok. They both speak dog, and you'd definitely know about it if there were real problems.

I have two dogs who've lived together for 6 years (only with me for 18 months though) and they still have the occasional little scrap or massive play fight. They know how to do it without actually hurting each other and they're the best of friends again seconds later!

What you're describing doesn't sound concerning to me and I think you're doing the right thing by letting them get on with it. I'm not a behaviourist though!

moomin5

I'd only worry and step in if it seems to get out of hand, will probably settle down soon though as its taken mine a couple of weeks to accept each other fully.

Reminds me of my greyhounds, i've a grumpy boy that likes his own space when resting and takes offence to disturbance, like sitting too close or wandering around nearby sometimes, which is fair enough. My girl sometimes barks at the boy when she wants to go outside, i've no idea why and he just ignores her. He's sometimes cheeky and will playbow and bark, but he's trying to get her to move normally so he can steal the bed she's on rather than play with her. Its good fun with 2:D

chou-chou

Thanks for the replies guys - it's good to know that it's fairly normal behaviour. Will just let them sort it out over time then.

x

Katiehound

My one comment is about beds!
My two hounds (not greyhounds) get on brilliantly, play fight, curl up together etc. He's 14 & she's 5. The one exception is where beds in the dark (or at night)are concerned. When she is asleep and he barges in (as I think he did last week when room was in darkness and I was in another part of the house,) there were noises which were certainly NOT play fighting. I think she probably went to bite him. The old adage "let sleeping dogs lie" springs to mind!
I would just try to keep the new boy away from No1's bed if possible because that is one possible hot spot.