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Post by Willow on Jan 16, 2005 11:35:22 GMT -5
Richard, just one word of "caution" if I may be so bold. I hesitate to give you advise, because you are on top of things etc., but I found out the hard way and it was just due to "dumb luck" as they say that I wasn't injured, and at the risk of upsetting you, I feel I have to give you a "heads up" on one thing. Kera and Pup always accepted the foster dogs with nothing more than a grumble, (from Kera) and Pup would just ignore them after a thorough sniff. Because Buddy is a very sweet and gentle boy, I "assumed" he would be like Pup when I brought BJ into the house, but he wasn't. I had the leash on BJ to prevent him from marking in the house and sat in my chair. Kera and Buddy came over as they often do and there is never a problem of "resource guarding" (jealousy), between the two of them. I was talking and petting all three of them when suddenly Buddy attacked BJ! When I jumped up yelling, "HEY", Buddy backed down, but my husband was furious at me and said, which is true, I should have known better than to allow all three dogs around me at the same time like that, with BJ being the "intruder" so to speak. What I am getting at, is your having Rocky on one side of you on the couch and Nicki on the other. If Rocky decides he was "there first", or Nicki decides she doesn't want to share you, you could be in the middle of a GSD fight, and it could potentially be very dangerous, and I don't think it matters if one is male the other female. JMO
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Post by sibemom on Jan 16, 2005 11:52:55 GMT -5
That is a great point Loey, and I know what you mean. Willow and Blade got into it once because of Matt, and this was after her being here for several months. Matt was cuddeling with Blade on the floor, and Willow tried to push her way into the PILE and Blade went INSANE on her. If I would not have been there Matt could have gotten hurt, but from that day on I never let more than one dog play with him at a time. So yes it does happen and sometimes with out warning. Yes Richard another heads up and somethig to watch for
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Post by Richard on Jan 16, 2005 12:28:36 GMT -5
Thank you ladies...that is very helpful.....the GSD on each side was "he was there first" and she came up second situation. While it was nice and cozy, I knew this was just a fluke but it is worth keeping an eye on. One of the things we talked about (pre planning for Nicki) was to make sure our daughter knows what is going on between them....we talked about situational awareness and watching body language of the two dogs. Rocky has never shared his toys and we told Meredith don't grab his toy and give it to Nicki (she has a couple of her own toys to play with that Rocky doens't seem too interested in). As well, Nicki isn't interested in his stuffed bear and snake (that he loves to knudge on - that is a whole different thread to explain that one!!) so that is a good thing. And from the moment Nicki and Rocky met, it's been made clear that he is the "top dog" in the house. We've almost gone overboard to let him know he's still #1 sheppy in the house...he got fed yesterday first, he gets acknowledged, petted first ect ect....we've still had some grumbling from him but honestly, it's a heckuva lot better than we could of imagined. With Nicki, there was no pacing, whining or refusal to eat and we thought she'd be more outta shape than him over this. Maybe it is " dumb luck" on how these two have come together under one roof, as you say Loey, but yours and Ann's points are noted. We'll continue to keep close watch on them. With the crate too, it's an added benefit cuz Nicki can go in and chill if she wants and Rocky can just sniff around and move on. One other point I think is worth noting...if we'd been in the other place, where Rocky had his smells and "his" spots everywhere, this could of been a bit different. Being in the new place, he's still adapting to everything and there is no real "Rocky" spot as yet...a lot of possibles, but nothing worth getting upset over if Nicki goes near while she checks out the place. This is fun but it's a lot of work too....but seeing those two side by side peacefully is worth it.... -Richard ps...I came out into the hallway from the office this morning and this is what I saw....
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Post by sibemom on Jan 16, 2005 12:40:49 GMT -5
Yes you are right about that too Richard. Your home is like neutral territory in a sense because Rocky has only been there a short time and has not really established him self yet so now bringing in Nicki, I think they will both take ownership together. Usually one will be the more dominant of the two but then again not always. You know what to do and what to watch for so no worries from this end
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Post by Rowan on Jan 16, 2005 13:55:02 GMT -5
Love the pictures """ THANKS""" they are both beautiful and really look excellent together. The only other dog I brought in was a bitch for breeding she was 19months old and being intact female and older I took things slow concerning my other females. After 3wks of feeling out the reactions of having the new female (chesca) being my helper around me and the other dogs, I felt good about them meeting, one female at a time. She did well and all went well, chesca actually hates them lol... but she has been around long enough now that she will mind me and mind her own business. This is the sole reason why I do not allow my dogs to express individual status, I will not, help create a situation where they are given power over the others because given that power they tend to feel they should express it at any given time because it is their right to enforce it. I retain my rights as the only word of what happens here and if there is something to be corrected in this house hold I will handle it, not the dogs on each other. I treat everyone the same and juggle who goes first around and often to insure I do not build anyone one dog up above the others. Richard I know you will be fine , just wanted to add a different veiw point . Having 12 intact and some combinations could of developed lethal if allowed to if it wasn't nicked in the butt of strict defining of their postions under me.
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Post by Willow on Jan 16, 2005 15:51:23 GMT -5
Rowen, I do the same thing.
Although now days it is said to be important to treat the more dominant dog as higher in status than the other(s), I don't, and never have agreed with that. Sometimes I feed Kera first, some times Buddy etc. I do not treat Kera as being higher in status than Buddy just because she was here first, or is more dominant, and I don't treat Buddy as higher in status because he is a male etc., and when a foster dog comes into the hh I did not treat the other dogs as higher in status than the foster, or visa versa.
In fact, I will do the opposite and "knock the more dominant down a peg or two", (figurativly speaking, of course) by purposly feeding him etc. after the other dog(s), as I believe this shows them you are Alpha and are in control, and that he is no higher in status than the other dog(s).
For awhile I always fed Kera first etc., because she seems to be the more dominant, but when I quit doing that and started "mixing it up" as you said, I can't believe how much more "relaxed" and "mellow" she has become.
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Post by Laura on Jan 16, 2005 15:54:48 GMT -5
Richard, congrats, she's beautiful ! I know how much you wanted another, it sounds like she's the perfect fit for you and Marian!
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Post by kastelling on Jan 17, 2005 14:02:19 GMT -5
on a side note- I adopted one of our dogs from a shelter at 8 weeks and about 7 months later found out that her sister had been returned to the shelter- so I went and adopted her too- and the two have been inseperable since- I have wondered if maybe it has due to having similar temperaments- except that they don't- one is very sweet, laid back, lazy, and takes alot of repitition to learn, the other is hyper, very intelligent, very emotional, borderline nuerotic- but they LOVE each other! And richard- it is the nicest feeling to see them together, knowing that one was raised by someone else (in my dog's case- by a very neglectful owner) - and knowing that she is now "home". Congratulations! pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/kastelling/detail?.dir=1ff4&.dnm=7333.jpg&.src=phpg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/kastelling/detail?.dir=1ff4&.dnm=d389.jpg&.src=ph
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Post by Willow on Jan 17, 2005 15:29:44 GMT -5
Awwwwww.....sweet! Beautiful dogs, too!
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Post by Richard on Jan 17, 2005 16:31:45 GMT -5
Those are two beautiful girls...indeed, that was a lovely thing to do and I'm sure both of them to appreciated being with each other....yeah, there is differences in personality but they seem to find common ground, whether it be barking at the door, curling up near each other in the office or just being within eyesite of each other...it is fun watching them interact.
Thanks for posting that...those are the kind of storys you like to read...
-Richard
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Post by Brooke on Jan 17, 2005 20:47:07 GMT -5
That is a great story!! It's so great to see people with such big hearts and wonderful new happy pets.
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Post by Richard on Jan 18, 2005 17:04:14 GMT -5
I retain my rights as the only word of what happens here and if there is something to be corrected in this house hold I will handle it, not the dogs on each other. I treat everyone the same and juggle who goes first around and often to insure I do not build anyone one dog up above the others. Thanks Rowan....you and Loey hit the nail on the head...if I could sum up how we're handling Nicki with Rocky, the paragraph above could sum it up nicely. I guess the variance is that Rocky was here first and we're working it in as best a balanced fashion as we can...so far, he's handled things very well...we just keep the regular routine going from the start of the day to the finish...we've just added another GSD to the pack...business as usual! Ann also had a good point too (you learn so much around this place!) that as Nicki gets more used to her new home, more of her personality will start to emerge. As each day passes, we see her a bit more comfortable and used to the routine. I'm on midnights this week so, while Rocky is used to me zzzzzzz all day (and spends part of the day at my feet on the bed being the security conscious Sheppy you know - he only does this when I'm on nights) he also spends part of it lying and watching out the window...Nicki was in her crate for part of the day (it's still in our room - the door was open) but I knew she was sorta pacing wondering what the heck is going on - why is he sleeping all day? I think the other thing worth noting is that both of them are very responsive as to how things are around here. I think Rocky is starting to figure out that his Sister isn't going anywhere....they are spending more time curled up near each other and he doesn't seem to mind the occasional lick to his nose from Nicki as she passes... -Richard
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Post by Nicole on Jan 18, 2005 17:28:41 GMT -5
and he doesn't seem to mind the occasional lick to his nose from Nicki as she passes... -Richard Awwwwwwwwwwwwwww Richard I am so jealous. Maybe this summer we will get Sunny a sister. ;D I really feel like he likes being an only dog though. That after about 10 minutes he will say Ok when is she leaving!! We will see. Those pictures are so cute!! And Kastelling, that is such a great story. Your dogs are beautiful.
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Post by kastelling on Jan 18, 2005 18:13:40 GMT -5
they are spending more time curled up near each other and he doesn't seem to mind the occasional lick to his nose from Nicki as she passes... I gotta second this- AAWWWW!!
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