My dog is shunning the me and my family

[nenedafox]

Me and my family(sister and Dad) all decided we had the time and resorces to get another dog in May, a few(months)weeks of searching later we brought home a 6week old bundle of joy named Flinx, a cute little mix of dobe lab and rottie.

Heres the problem...Our first dog, a Stafforshire Bull Terrier, won't spend time with us anymore. She excepted the puppy with open paws, cuddled with it when he started to sleep with me and her,played with him and never showed any aggression, and even tolerated his incesant need to bug her(she was food aggressive with him but that is being worked on although any suggestions about that would be apprciated) we where prepared for just about any problem that could come up and ready to deal with it and pull threw...but this was NOT what we where expecting.

She ignores us. Plain and simple; we have to command her into the livingroom and close her bedroom door just to keep her with us, I can understand this kind of behavior temporarily but this has gone on for months. I would like some insight as to whats wronge with her, All of us are out of ideas and I'm getting pretty darn concerned, shes my little girl and I really want her to be happy.

Help would be much appriciated.

 

[skyhigh]

Same thing happened with my dog when we introduced a pup. We worked with him and a week later he's great with her. We started spending time with him alone without the pup. then slowly putting them together sharing the attention. while the pups sleaping play with your other dog. Using treats and toys. Hope this helps

 

[Tobysmom]

I would do as skyhigh says and be sure and spend time with her without the new pup. Sounds like she is feeling left out.

 

[Renee750il]

Since she's accepted Flinx with open paws I don't think you've got to worry too much about socializing time for the two of them It does sound like she needs some special time all for herself every single day. Something that only she gets to do, something interactive, and then time that is hers alone with your family.

And always, always, put your Staffie first in line - feed her first, call her first, give her the first treat, etc. A great bonding tool is to share the last bite of food from your plate with your dog. Just make sure she gets her bite before Flinx . . .

And did you notice something: You mentioned the new pup's name, but not your Staffie's? She's probably picked up on this unintentional thought pattern.

 

[skyhigh]

Now that I've spent more time with my older dog seperatly he's grown more comfortable. We make ure we feed him first and treats... He gets attention first. Just so he know's he's not abandoned. lol. He's fine with it now

 

[nenedafox]

Thanks for all the replies, I really try to treat her first on most things but then I always feel I'm not loving the puppy enough and I don't want him to have the same trama as Umi. When She was little my mother lived with us(she was mentaly unstable it turns out) and there would be constant yelling and she acually destoried our backyard so Umi only got to go to the park and a very very kind nebiors backyard. But for most of the time when we wheren't arond and even my mother was she had to be put in her crate. Thats no longer a problem and hasn't been for about 2 years but I still feel she might have felt unloved. Flinx is in potty boot camp right now(my sister had the final straw about that when he had an accident on the poor poor cat....which she had to bathe)so he is in his crate for a more time now....and another question, whats your opion on crates, the breeder we got my staffie from said that during puppy hood she would spend alot of time there, should we be doing the same for Flinx even after potty boot camp?

 

[Tobysmom]

Crates are a great thing as long as your pup doesn't spend too much time in there. Make sure he gets enough exercise and play and bonding time outside of the crate.

 

[Barb04]

Was there special things you used to do with your staffy that you don't do now. We make it a point to take CJ out for special rides in the car by herself so she still feels special.

 

[Becca_]

Princess was that way. She was great with Gracie but kind of shunned us. I'd give her lots of attention but wasnt really helping a hole lot. What really pulled her out of it was a friend of ours continued to come get Princess to take just her with him to go play with her other dog friend and hang out with him. It seemed to help her knowing she still gets to do things she use to do, without Gracie. I had to also start taking them on walks one at a time because Princess is hard to walk. Even though it's a short walk, it's still to Princess her time. That makes her happy.

 

[Renee750il]

so he is in his crate for a more time now....and another question, whats your opion on crates, the breeder we got my staffie from said that during puppy hood she would spend alot of time there, should we be doing the same for Flinx even after potty boot camp?

Once a pup is housetrained there's no real reason for there to even be a door on a crate, as long as you've got a room that's safe (nothing to be chewed or for a pup to get hurt on), or as soon as the pup is dependable about not chewing on things. You should still always keep a pup away from power cords.

BUT . . . I have never even owned a crate for any of my dogs, and I absolutely despise them for muscular athletic dogs as too much time spent cooped up unable to move freely can be detrimental to their musculo-skeletal development. Not to mention some of them just get nuts. That's not to say that some dogs don't love their crates; some do, but not all, especially if they have any reason to link being in a crate with an unpleasant part of their lives. I'd far rather recommend a puppy-proofed room any day!

 

[nenedafox]

Thanks for all the help, I'm trying to give her more time with just us and she going with us a lot more places for fun activities, she acually seems alot happier! *hugs around*

 

[Renee750il]

That's good news, Nena. Keep up the good work