Introducing New Dog
 

Hi, I have a 4 lb. yorkie, Skittles, who wasn't trained or socialized properly as a puppy. We are now considering adding a boxer to the family. A friend of mine fosters dog and recently got a boxer liter, and I fell in love with one of the puppies. I've worked with boxers before and I know that socialized and trained correctly they are amazing dogs, especially around other animals. The problem is our 4 year old yorkie is aggressive towards other animals. Thankfully all our other pets live in cages. She doesn't lung at other dogs or anything, just barks and growls. She will nip, however, if they invade her space. Not that she will cause damage, but the puppy will not understand body language and would be bit. This could lead to him biting her, which would be a lot more serious. She is such an energetic dog (I say this as she leaps from couch to couch) and loves playing, but we are not always available to play. This dog is meant to be an ESA(Emotional Support Animal), but most of the time I would spend playing and training anyhow. I just want her to be able to get along and be able to play with other dogs. this problem also limits us on activities to do with her. I would love to enter her in agility and take her everywhere I can, but she just isn't ok with other dogs around. Please Help!

that sounds like it is going to be a very challenging situation for all involved. are you looking for advice here or just sharing?

Looking for advice

Have you tried a basic obedience class. Socializing and behavior are a major part of the training and the instructor will help you teach it to your pup.

Sounds like it would be a tough job for you. Good luck! :animal36:animal-pa

We have not tried obedience classes, however she does not need a training class. She knows plenty of tricks, it's just her aggression towards other dogs. We are now considering a retired greyhound so I guess I'll just have to work with her.

The obedience class is about socialization with other dogs. If that is her problem the solution is to set up situations in a controlled environment to socialize her.

I continually socialize my dogs as an eight week class once done is simply not enough. I go to farmers markets - garden stores - and just today my gal ignored her obedience command to pull towards another dog. She is 90 lbs or so and I could not stop her. NOT GOOD The Golden thankfully was okay with it but a tad overwhelmed. She is friendly and not aggressive but this was Bad Behaviour!

But we will work on it again this wkend. Training never ever stops!

She is continually trained and I socialize her as much as possible, but it is really hard because
1) She is 4 lbs. and if she makes an aggressive move towards another dog and that dog is aggressive back, she could potentially get hurt.
2) She is so tiny and the only dogs I know that will make no aggressive move towards her are either huge and small. The huge ones intimidate her and scare her and the small ones make her even more aggressive and possessive.

usually training with this type of dog is to gain confidence. not learn tricks, hope this helps.

She's got plenty of confidence lol. Thank you though! I will let you all know how it goes!

Interesting! Good luck :)

Does she follow "come" when called every time indoors/outdoors and "leave it" in outdoor/distracted environments? Because there are dogs who can do "high fives" and "rollovers" because they know they get treats, but won't necessarily follow basic obedience commands.

I agree to the above suggestion that it's a good idea to continually socialize your dog too. It'll help her mental state of mind, whether or not you get a second dog.

Also, dogs who growl and act aggressively aren't necessarily confident. A lot of aggressive behaviours stems from fear. They are stressed out in situations that they fear and they switch straight to defense mode and act aggressively. Unless you're careful and manage to always keep an eye on her at all times, this fearful mentally could get her hurt. A private trainer might be able to help you with this...

The recommendation by most is that you need to make sure your first dog is well-behaved before getting a second dog. Otherwise, the second dog will quickly adopt all the bad behaviours of the first dog and you'll end up with double the trouble.

Yes she does listen to come and stay. She obviously acts out when fearful, I've never seen her lung or jump at a dog who wasn't in her space. I truly believe she is just going to have to work with the new puppy. As long as the puppy has a muzzle (to keep her safe when she's aggressive) then I think it will all be fine. The puppy will be too large to be harmed, and she will teach it some dog boundary and communication skills.

Sounds like you've got a plan set and not really looking for advice, per se. To reiterate as a general understanding, you'll have the puppy always wear a muzzle? Your current Yorkie might growl and act aggressively at the puppy, but it's okay because the puppy is larger in size and that you'll let them work it out? My question then is, do you have a plan on how to deal with the two dogs if they cannot 'work it out'. What will you do if this situation trains the to-be-larger-dog puppy to become aggressive?

From the potential puppy's standpoint, it's not really fun to join a family that she/he isn't welcomed. If the puppy has to wear a muzzle from the get-go (which doesn't sound fair to me)...it's almost like treating him/her like a chew toy without given a chance to naturally defend itself, especially since it's just a baby, no matter what the size. I can only imagine that this would lead to a bad relationship down the road.

Your safest bet may be to have your Yorkie meet with your potential puppy several times, on several occasions, on neutral grounds first, to gauge whether the second puppy is right for you and your Yorkie (rather than just have them 'duke it out' when you bring home the puppy for the first time). Really, it's preventative measures to set them up for success that you should consider...rather than expecting for the worst to come. Please also look into techniques on the best way to bring in a second dog into your home. With all due respect, I have yet to see "put a muzzle on the second dog" as a technique...

Bringing home a second dog - Dogtime

How To Successfully Introduce A Second Dog Into Your Family. | Adopt a Dog | The Barking Lot

I was going to not comment again on this thread and then re-considered. First a Boxer as a breed I would not elect to bring into a home with a Yorkie. Boxers are very high energy dogs and always game to play and to play roughly. They take at least three years to settle down and get consistent with their obedience commands.

You have a dog aggressive Yorkie - not a good mix to start out with. I truly believe you need to train your Yorkie and get control and management of her aggression before you think to bring another dog into your home.

You should not start out any puppy with a muzzle. Good grief I have never ever heard of that. If you are not prepared to do the work to keep each dog safe and the training then quite simply just deal with the one you have.

I truly do appreciate your concern for my dogs, but I'm not getting a boxer. They are too high energy for my mom. Secondly, I will not be getting a puppy. 1 year and under. Teaching your dog how to wear a muzzle is actually a great idea. If another dog is aggressive, even the sweetest of dogs will defend themselves, and then you have a law suit. My mental and physical health is in danger, this dog will be an ESA for me, so there's really no choice. Skittles is not aggressive, just scared. She gets nervous around dogs, which is something we need to work on in the first place. I am fully aware of how to raise and train dogs, I apologize if I came off differently. The post was not asking for you to tell me not to get a dog, it was asking for advice on introducing dogs. After some more research and asking my friend (who has 7 dogs and fosters) I have a plan. If anyone wants to give me some advice on introducing them, that would be welcome, otherwise, please keep your thoughts to yourself. Thank you again for your concern. :)

[QUOTE=yorkshire_diva;4639094]Hi, I have a 4 lb. yorkie, Skittles, who wasn't trained or socialized properly as a puppy. We are now considering adding a boxer to the family. A friend of mine fosters dog and recently got a boxer liter, and I fell in love with one of the puppies. I've worked with boxers before and I know that socialized and trained correctly they are amazing dogs, especially around other animals. The problem is our 4 year old yorkie is aggressive towards other animals.

[QUOTE=yorkshire_diva;4641424]I truly do appreciate your concern for my dogs, but I'm not getting a boxer. They are too high energy for my mom. Secondly, I will not be getting a puppy. 1 year and under. Teaching your dog how to wear a muzzle is actually a great idea.

Your first post indicated that you were considering a boxer.

In terms of introducing new dogs to the pack the current thinking is on neutral territory and on lead. Baring that a very controlled interior environment with hopefully two human adults present.

You make the intro as low stress as possible with lots of love for both parties being expressed.

And finally you as an OP can not dictate who posts what on the thread you create as long as the post does not violate YT rules about posting.

Thank you, i will be sure to pick a neutral area and keep everything controlled. I have found the perfect dog as well, he is a rescue staffordshire terrier with a heart and personality of gold. We are screening him today, and if all goes well, will be picking him up on Wednesday!:)