Introducing 2 dogs to puppy

stokechick16

Hope someone can help, please, lol!

Anyway. We have a boy and a girl, our girl as just turned 6 this month, boy will be 6 in october. Also my dogs are staffordshire bull terriers and so is the puppy

When my girl was one, she had pups (not planned!) - caused alot of heartache when we got rid of them. Aunty had a girl off us, and her girl had puppies just over 3 weeks ago

We took both my dogs up on sunday. Our girl was sniffing at them, i think she may of licked one (mum thinks maternal instinct because she had puppies before) and our boy was not bothered at all.

All in all, it went fine. We have fallen in love with one of them, a boy, we have called him carlin. But the thing is my mum is having second thoughts incase they dont get on.

Is there any way we can introduce them in a good way? We would love the puppy. On saturday my aunty said she is going to bring the pup up for half an hour, just to see how they get on.

When my girl had pups, when the pups were walking and playful our dog would try play with them - he would knock them over, not on purpose of course! But he has not bothered with them at all. Im not sure if thats a good or bad sign.

Both my dogs get on fine with there daughter. Well our boy and there daughter would always play together until she got pregnant. Our girl doesnt bother- shes really lazy.

I really want to have carlin. Hes gorgeous, but of course i want my dogs.

Any advice, tips etc would be greatful

thank you very much xx

lv1109

I have 3 staffordshire bull terriers. 2 boys and 1 girl. The 2 boys are father and son and they fight. When I say fight, I mean fight. I have to separate them when I am out of the house because of the damage they have done to each other in the past. My life is like a military regime but I do it because I love them all to pieces. When I am there, on the whole they get on well but there are hairy moments. I would not recommend getting the puppy because of the problems I have had in the past. I have to admit, if I knew then what I know now then I would never have more than 1 SBT. Admittedly my case may be in the minority but I know how difficult and heart renching it is when they do have a bust up. Prevention is better than cure in this case and my whole life is all about making sure my dogs get on and don't have an opportunity to fight with each other. I hope this all makes sense and helps you with your decision.

orlao

While I understand what Iv1109 is saying I think you could probably introduce the pup relatively easily.

Is your dog now castrated? Is he ok with dogs when you're out? If he is that should make it easier but you have to remember that home is different terriotory(sp!) and some dogs are aggressive to other dogs at home even though they play in the park quite happily....the difference with staffies is that their jaws are so powerful....other breeds can have a spat and there isn't a mark on them but when SBT bites there will be damage. In saying that very few dogs will really go for a puppy, just give out to them.....

With my last pup I used a dog crate so he couldn't annoy the little dogs ( I have 2 JRTs and a rottie) when I wasn't around to supervise plus it saved my house from huge amounts of damage. That was really helpful as far as introductions were concerned. I also kept control of all the toys as one of my terriers is possesive of her teddies and would get very stressed if he pinched one.I have always maintained a rank among my dogs as far as food and attention is concerned ( long before anyone heard of C Milan BTW) the eldest dog gets fed, fussed and lead on,then the 2nd terrier and finally the rott as he tends to push the other dogs out of the way if he can....

IMO you could do it but 3 dogs are hard work and the older dogs might need protecting from a boisterous puppy or you could think of getting another girl if you think two boys might be a problem? assuming your girl would be ok with that?

HTH

lv1109

My problem wasn't when my puppy was a puppy. Way back in those days things were great!! My older dogs greeted him happily, even though they are not friendly with dogs in the park. The problems started when the puppy got older and wanted to be top of the rank but my older dog was already there. A behaviourist has also confirmed that the older dog is clearly the more dominant. Unfortunately the younger dog is stronger and quicker than the older one so when they do fight he always comes out on top.

They have fought over all sorts of things and basically now I am a bit like a policeman in my house! No toys left laying around, dinners eaten at separate corners of the kitchen, etc. As I said before I try harder to prevent the fights because as orlao said SBT jaws are incredibly strong and a 30 second tussle can cause lots of damage.

I also know someone though who has more than 1 SBT with no problems whatsoever, I sometimes wonder where I went so wrong! Hey ho, I love them all to pieces so I work my hardest to try to prevent any fights happening.

I only wish they could understand English because then I could explain that fighting brings no good.....I wish! LOL!

My vets are very helpful although I do end up wondering what they must think of me. Touch wood, they don't fight often. Most recently in the first week of April but prior to that it was March 2007. I just thank my lucky stars that they are not fighting every week.

Anyway sorry I have strayed off topic chatting on about my situation! Will finish there but Stokechick, please bear in mind what myself and Orlao have said about SBT bites and the damage they can do.

lv xx

Ani-Mate_67

Iv1109 - I obviously haven't met you or your dogs so please don't be offended by what I'm about to say but if your adult Staffs weren't good with other dogs and then you had problems with fights once the puppy got older then it is a socialising problem. All the Bull breeds were bred for centuries to hate dogs and be fine with humans. We made them that way - it isn't their fault. It does mean, however, that we need to put more effort in to making them dog friendly than we would with something more passive like a retriever. You need, from the earliest age, to really go overboard with socialising them with other dogs. They need to have lots of 'happy' experiences with other dogs of all differents makes, sizes, ages and sexes. You really need to control things - they must be happy experiences - this proofs them against any dodgy experiences later on (and all dogs will have dodgy experiences at some point in their life). Also, they need to play as pups with other dogs in order to learn bite inhibition. When dogs play they bite each other BUT they should never hurt each other or draw blood. This is what play teaches them - if they bite their play mate too hard then the game stops. They soon learn to be gentle - dogs can control their mouths as well as we can control our hands. The trouble with Bull breeds is that they have a high tolerance of pain so if your pup only ever played with his own kind he wouldn't have learned to control his bites. My neighbours have 3 SBTs (1 male and 2 females) that play fight most days but don't draw blood as they know how to control their jaws. I don't think there is any way of teaching this to an adult dog though.

Stokechick - if your adult dogs are fine with others then I can't see a problem with getting a pup but do get a crate so that the adults can have some peace from junior and do take him to puppy socialising classes (one where they get to play with other pups). Don't take him to breed specific puppy classes as he won't learn that not all dogs are as tough as he is. Also if you take him to decent puppy classes the trainer will be able to advise you about any problems that arise with the three dogs and tell you whether or not you need to intevene or just leave things to sort themselves out.

stokechick16

Thank you for all your replies.

Both of my dogs have been done since my dog had puppies nearly 5 years ago. We could never go through that again, so much hard work and heartache when they were re homed.

We had such a bad time, my girl at to have a caeserian and she would not take to the puppies at first. But over all she was a great mum. Then we had her spade and our boy done.

When the pups were abit older about 4/5 weeks i think it was. My boy dog would try play with them and look after them - but alls he was doing was knocking them over (not in a mean way!).

On sunday when we took them up - our boy was not bothered - he didnt even go near them. But our girl was having a sniff and being quite motherly.

Both my dogs are ok with other dogs of who we know anyhow. Hes just abit crazy to be honest - he sits in the window like hes a cat!

Also - before my auntys girl had pups, she would come round now and again, and my boy dog would play with her everytime - he loved seeing her. But by time they had gone home he was knackered LOL. My girl on t he other hand, didnt bother with her daughter now.

When we had our girl at about 7 weeks old. We had her in july/august and had our boy (charlie) few days before christmas day, he was born in october. They clicked really well and straight away - they get on so well it is so cute. But she does sometimes have enough of him. Like he gets very jealous - if we fuss her, he has to trample on her and come infront.

On saturday all being well when the pups will be 4 weeks then my aunty is bringing the boy down, we have called him carlin.

And my mum said she is going to get some ready break as the pups started solids yesterday which is a good sign for them .Anyway - she is going to get a big bowl and put some ready break in (not to hot because of the puppy) and see how t hey get on. We are going to keep an eye on all 3 of them. Our girl is so lazy though - she is in best most of the day LOL. Only comes down when someone is here, or my dad is home or she wants food or hears a noise e.g. crisp packet.

He is only 4 weeks old yet though. And puppies go around 6-7 weeks if i am right. So if we get them interact for a few hours in total before he is 6-7 weeks see how we get on then.

Thanks for your replies.

x

stokechick16

Also iv i am sorry to hear about your dogs. It sounds terrible! But it would be hard to part with one of them im sure. The reason we are worried is because our old neighbour once had this problem.

She come home and her dogs were ripped to shreads!

But she had 2 girl staffys, and she had a boy rotwiler (cant spell it sorry)

lv1109

Thanks for your comments Ani-Mate. I have to say I have learned so much from having my dogs - and have learned from the mistakes I have made. When my youngest was a puppy unfortunately I didn't realise about socialising, I think I was a bit ignorant and thought everything would just slot together, so he didn't get socialised with other breeds of puppy. When I play with him sometimes he hurts me so I understand why the older dog doesn't really want to play with him!

I have had a behaviourist round before but she gave no indication as to whether they could at least be trained to be social. Does anyone have any idea whether this is an avenue to investigate? Or is it too late?

I didn't want to be a bearer of bad news to you stokechick, just wanted to warn of possible problems. I know of people with more than one staff who have no probs but also of people with more than one who have had problems.

But like you said stokechick, it would be impossible to part with any of them so I just do the best that I can. Sounds like your dogs would be ok with a puppy though, so all the best for that!

lv xx

stokechick16

Thank you very much.

My mum said IF we have the puppy (carlin). Then we are not to leave any of them out. And because my dogs sleep with us LOL if carlin comes then he will sleep with me, or in a bed for the moment. My mum said the dogs will have come in my room aswell (if they want to).


If everything goes wel saturday, i will ask my aunty bring carlin up about twice a week for an hour or so so they can get abit used to eachother.

All the best with your dogs xxx

lv1109

Ooooh despite my problem [strike]children[/strike]dogs I feel really excited for you! :j

Puppies are just great and lovely and cute and oh I'll shut up now!

Good luck for the weekend!

lv xx