New dog/resident dog settling issues

[michele]

Hi all,

We got Jack whippet 3 weeks ago now, and very carefully introduced Blue greyhound to him, after reading lots on how to do it. They have both been very good with each other. For the first week Blue simply didn't look at Jack, which progressed to a bit of sniffing in week 2.

Last night they were in the garden together, and blue started to have a silly 5 mins. Jack joined in, and they had a frollic, but I'm not sure if Blue is starting to get a bit naughty. He looked to be air snapping when Jack got near him, but not snapping Jack. He does barge Jack out the way a bit when he wants to get near me, but nothing bad at all.

I read lots about letting them get on with their introductions, sniffings ect so they work out themselves who is the boss.

We were out on mornign walk today, Jack in on lead (he's not good at coming back, too many wabbits!) Blue walks offlead. We met another dog who we see each day, and after the other dog walked off Blue got excited (very unusual). He was play bowing and growling Jack, looking as if he was trying to goad him a bit.

I'm just not sure if I should check this behaviour, or if I should leave them to sort it. I can't tell if the grrrrr was fun or an edge of him actually growling.

Anyone had anything similar when they introduced a new dog into the house? Blue was an only dog for 4 years, since Jack arrived and jumped all over the furniture, Blue has been allowed on the sofa at night!

[julies]

Hmmm not easy .. in my experience I watch for the grey to be getting over the top and too excited and I step in and stop it ... I don't run my two dogs together cos - in my experience and others have different ones- my grey has always got a little excited and started nipping/ bouncing off the other dog then I can't blame the other dog for retaliating or feeling bullied - neither of which I want. My experience is that ex-racers .. certainly for a while ... get excited when things run about and they think they're back 'at their old job' so can take a grab at the other dog- I teach 'leave it' and 'come' so I can step in before it gets OTT and can reward them then calm things down but then I'm neurotic and don't want them charging about- my lurcher used to run into my greyhound quite often and I'd be at the chiropractor with them regularly so I just don't unless they are older and more obedient.

Playbowing even growling can be an invitation to play which is nice but greyhound 'play' can get rough though you could muzzle Blue until you wre confident about his intentions tho I'd make sure both had excellent recalls before I let them off together somewhere public.

My Lucy used to take a snap at Charlie when he was off lead and came close to her on lead .. but the Charlie took a snap at Tigger when I first got him and she was off lead and came close - I find they do tease the on-lead dog then zoom off .... funny to watch, not funny if you're trying to hang on LOL

I do sort of let them sort themselves out at home but don't add inthe adrenalin of running
J xx

[michele]

HI Julies,

Thanks for the reply, I think Iif I spot it happening again on a walk I'll do as you say, and give a "leave it" and calm Blue down. He's not usually that active, he's 10 and has a trot along beside us, with the occasional sprint. He dosen't bother with the hundreds of rabbits we see. But I think he got himself all over excited earlier.

I'll also watch them in the garden, and step in if Blue looks a bit boisterous again.

We are not letting Jack offlead until we can work on his recal more. He has been off, but got way too distracted, and took an age to get back on lead, scarey stuff. I've heard of a disused tennis court near us from other owners, so we will go there over the weekend. If Blue comes too I'll bring his muzzle just in case.

Thanks again
Michele

[jodav]

So true - we see this with our two a lot of the time ;D
Interesting about how a bark or a growl could mean an invite to play, I always think the worst when I hear this, perhaps I should chillax a bit ;D

Jo x

[mtbbuxton]

Mayo is a lurcher, but he air snaps to initiate play with us and with other dogs. Without someone seeing them, it's difficult to tell really.

I'd be inclined to muzzle them both, just to be safe. When we first adopted Daisy, she was onlead until we'd had a chance to assess her recall. She would regularly grab at Mayo as he zoomed past her offlead and on one occasion, managed to shred the hood on his Blizzard coat Mayo has a nice ruff of fur around his neck, so his skin is well protected in that area, but if she'd done it to a thin skinned dog, it could have been a very different result Now we know how they play, we're confident to let them run together without muzzles

You'll possibly find that now Blue has a constant companion, he'll develop a bond with Jack and his behaviour will become more relaxed and playful around him. Blue is learning he can trust Jack and so will play with him in a different way to other dogs - well that's how it works with my two anyway ;D
They tend to do lots of this offlead together

You can just see Mayo's bared teeth, which he has never yet directed at Daisy





and whippets can body slam too, given the chance ;D





It pays to be cautious though, which is why I suggest muzzles for both of them, especially with their thin skin.

Moira x

[michele]

Thanks Moira I'll look up whippet muzzles. It's good to know that blue might jut be relaxing a bit, but it pays to be cautious. Jack would love to run on the beach, but have the feeling he'd run and run and not come back! Definite recall training needed.

[julies]

I always think too that if both of mine are off they're more likely to egg each other on to hunt and disappear so that's another reason I like to have one on lead ... sort of a hostage LOL Like Moira says it's hard to kn ow what's going on without seeing it ... a lurcher I had years ago had a bets friend who was a GSD cross and they'd play wrestling and stand up on their hind legs with mouths open and round each others throats- never ever making any contact but if you didn't know them you'd think they were trying to kill each other (lots of ferocious snarling too)

A good book is by Turid Rugaas (the titles something like) Talking to Dogs -Calming Signals and it has lots of photographs

J xx

[samburns]

Apr 27, 2012 13:37:11 GMT -5 michele said:

Thanks Moira I'll look up whippet muzzles. It's good to know that blue might jut be relaxing a bit, but it pays to be cautious. Jack would love to run on the beach, but have the feeling he'd run and run and not come back! Definite recall training needed.

Michele, the breezy muzzles that Nicky (Cadbury) on here sells come in a whippet size - I'm sure there will be some at the show, if you can wait until next week.

[jodav]

Apr 29, 2012 2:22:59 GMT -5 julies said:

A good book is by Turid Rugaas (the titles something like) Talking to Dogs -Calming Signals and it has lots of photographs

Fantastic - I'll look for this book

Jo x