 New dog personality trumps rules...
I brought 4.5#, 16 month old Max home to my 9# 2 year old Marley. Marley is such a caretaker -- co-dependent really... and raced back and forth making sure everybody was still 'happy'.
Max, who seemed very timid, who shinnied up my leg when put down outside, turned into the demon seed! He totally rules the house. Do you remember the crane moves in Karate kid? Max attacks Marley, twirling in the air; jabbing Marley with his little stub tail; pinning Marley to the ground; sending Marley (twice his size) to my lap or out the pet door to escape. Max can race the length of the house to grap a tiny treat being held out to Marley. He must always go out the door first; only wants the toy that Marley has; only wants the plate of food that Marley has... you get the idea.
I don't think any thread or rules can completely prepare you for the reality of the meeting. Let them meet and evaluate each other, and then prepare your game plan.
Having said that, I believe with enough love and supervised togetherness, any two dogs can learn to live together. |