Also, keeping them in separate rooms, likely doesn't help. Each knows there's another dog close by, but gets stressed by the unknown presence. Of course, you have little choice until they successfully meet & greet each other. Have treats available during the introduction process, and reward liberally.

You may want to try introducing their scents. If one has been sleeping on a blanket or bed, let the other smell it in his own room.

Please don't cry. It will get better. Stay positive, please. Remember when you said that you believed in fate... it was fate that Drake found you. Keep telling yourself that.

I'll tell you a little story. Smokey came to me after my friend's mom called me and said "I know someone that is adopting out a yorkie". I, of course, was interested and called imediately. We went the next day to have the two meet. Smokey was born in a puppy mill and had been shifted from home to home from day 1 until that day when he was 6 months old. Even though Chip had an attitude, we decided to try it. Smokey was free and I believed it was fate too. We brought him home that night and there were several scary dog fights. The next day - Halloween of 2007 - I was getting ready for work. Smokey was scarfing down his breakfast and Chip was sitting by the door. Chip gave me this look as if to say "Mommy how could you? I thought you loved me!!!" and I burst into tears. All day, I thought about that little look on his face and I cried wondering if we made the right choice. The fights got so bad, I had considered taking Smokey back as much as I had fallen in love with him. Everyone kept encouraging me to hang in there... saying things would get better and they would be best friends before I knew it. I had my doubts, but one day, I think Chip just realized that Smokey was here to stay and after about 2-3 weeks of bad dog fights, they started playing nicely and cuddling. Now we can't take them apart without them freaking out! Just have faith and don't give up. It will get better! (((hugs)))

I agree. Afterall, this IS a public forum and you are bound to hear things that you may not like hearing but it's better to post the TRUTH than to sugar coat it and not really offer you anything that WILL help with your situation.

I don't think your situation is hopeless. I know lots of people who have males dogs that live together and have no problems. It's just going to take some time and work on you and your hubby's part. I had really bad potty training issues with my Chi, Cali, and it took us OVER a year to potty train her but now she is 100% trained and almost never has an accidents! So, it can be done.

One great tip I got from watching Cesar, the Dog Whisperer, is that YOU must maintain a CALM attitude when with your dogs and not be fearful or scared of a fight breaking out because they will "sense" your apprehension and it will trigger them to attack. You have to be calm and they will sense your calmness and it will help keep them in control (or something like that, according to Cesar lol). I would definitely recommend trying to watch a few of Cesar's episodes to see how he deals with problems like this.

I know you are upset, but we are trying to help by explaining to you that neutering both of them is the only way they will be able to peacefully co-exist in your household. If they are left intact, you will not be able to let them be together as you want. Drake could seriously injure Buddy.

Of course it is your right not to neuter. If that is your decision, though, I'm afraid Buddy should remain an only dog.

:thumbup:

:thumbup:

You know I just got off the phone with a long conversation with a certified dog trainer and she explained everything to me.

She SUGGESTED neutering, but told me there are plenty of ways to make it work if we choose not to.

She gave me advice, tools, what to do next, scenarios, etc.

She took the time to help me without judging and said if we decided not to have them neutered, then they would be just fine!

She has dealt with people who are quick to judge, and I feel like that is what is happening here.
Although I did ask for advice and I value it all, I don't want to talk about the neutering any longer. I get most of you think that is the first step.

So let's start from what the second step should be.

Thank you.

I still think time will make it all work out. I have brought 4 female yorkies in to the house in the past 3 years with my older pom and each one reacted differently and each time I just brought the new one home and put them in the mix and monitored their play. There were some growls and hiding but very quickly they adjusted to the new one and got along. The thing that worked for me was to stay close by but let them mingle and sniff each other. They still play/fight but snuggle all the time together. Just give it time and as long as no one is getting hurt let them feel each other out. Hang in there it will work out. We always had unneutered males when I was growing up and they got along, the yorkie did mark but not the sheltie.

Pattie, thanks so much for the encouraging words!

I let them sniff each other but after about 4-5 minutes, they started growling and I got scared, so I took them and separated them.

I hope I am doing it right and I think I am making progress!
.

4-5 minutes seems like great progress.

Were they on leashes or free, indoors or outside?

They were on leashes, but still close enough to sniff noses!
So hopefully I am doing something right.
Tomorrow is the yard and what the trainer told me to do.
I hope it works. Patience is key and I am going to give it a few weeks.
That is the one thing y'all keep telling me that I believe and will give and try!

Everyday we will work on something different. Maybe we will try a walk together tomorrow.

A little goes a long way! :)

Noses first, but the other end is the objective :D . Really! When they sniff butts, you are there.

Sounds like you have an excellent plan.

People understand you are an adult and I dont think you are being treated like you are not.

People are just wanting your two males in a safe environment, as do you. and nutering seems to be the best solution to the problem.

besides all of that,

I would just suggest be very patient with the dogs and let them feel eachother out. dont force it. and im sure eventually they will love eachother :)

Clarification: I didn't mean "you are there" literally :2omg:, I meant you are almost finished.

I know this "look"..very heartbreaking. My girls have never fought, but Lucy was definitely not digging it for a few days. Boy, did I get the cold shoulder. They still don't snuggle or play but they do sniff each other's butts and watch each other, very curious. For the most part they play separately. Ella is still a baby, so I hope as she grows Lucy will be more willing to interact with her.

My advice is to not force anything! If I hold Lucy close to Ella, she does not like it, but if she goes on her own to sniff her or what not she just can't get enough.

Good luck!