Introducing a could-be-aggressive dog to a could-be-aggressive dog...

AgilityPup

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#1
How would I go abouts introducing a dog that has showed a wee ibt of aggression to a dog that has shown a wee bit of protectivness over her house?

Just trying to do some research to back up my idea.
 

BostonBanker

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#5
Meet up somewhere where you and the dogs can be in motion all the time. Don't just pull them out of the cars on-leash in a parking lot and let them sniff. Someone (I think OC?) posted some really good information about this at one point. I'm terrible at searching.

With Meg (who has issues with dogs invading her personal space, and dogs entering our house), when I recently had a dog coming over to my house, I met up with them at a nearby reservior with a hiking trail. Took the dogs out of the car, and started up the trail on-leash with the dogs 15 feet or so apart. Pretty quickly both dogs were off-leash and running in the woods to the side of the trail while we walked next to each other. The movement and all the other stimuli kept the dogs from focusing too much on each other while they got used to being near. By the end of the trail, we were able to put both dogs in the car together, no problem.
 

elegy

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#7
taking them for a walk together has worked pretty well for us.

this link is specifically about pit bulls but has loads of good advice for multi-dog families of all breeds. there's a link to a .pdf file mid-page that has info on bringing in a new dog.
 

corgipower

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#8
good luck with it. the advice about walking together first is great.

also, be confident in the idea of it working. if you are worried, your dog will be worried. but don't discount the fact that it might not work, if that makes sense. it's a bit of a mind game.
 

smkie

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#9
taking them for a walk together has worked pretty well for us.

this link is specifically about pit bulls but has loads of good advice for multi-dog families of all breeds. there's a link to a .pdf file mid-page that has info on bringing in a new dog.
that is what i was going to say, Victor and Butch met by my and logan walking them together. THat gave them a mutual bond. WE walked many many times before we let them play.
 
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#10
Yup I have had great successes introducing dogs who normally would fight if just brought nose to nose on a slack leash. Instead the dogs are forced to walk together (short leash so niether can reach the other) which causes them to go into a pack mentality. This isnt a miracle thing though so dont expect it to work for EVERY dog and some dogs take more time than others before they are ready to meet the other dog nose to nose, let alone allow them on to their property. I have worked with some dogs that were fabulous during the walk and could play with the other dog offleash, but the moment we turned toward their own property they were ready to fight. It can take some time or it can all be over with in one walk. Know the dogs' body language and stay in tune with it. Vary what you are doing to correct the situation before so much as a lip is curled. As soon as you see when dog starting to focus too much on the other, get his attention by suddenly changing your pace, or making a turn. No need to correct, just refocus.

I know made a lengthy post about this a while ago but I completely forget where it is.
 
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#11
Lily is sometimes agressive with dogs she does not know, what I did when we had to babysit my neighbors pit bull for two weeks, I walked them togeather, side by side (as my vet told me to do) and then when they were tired, let them off leash. They did great and Lily and Koda are the best of friends :)
 

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