Major setback!

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danabanana
Posts: 203
Joined: Wed Nov 28, 2007 9:21 am
Location: NE England

Major setback!

Post by danabanana »

Ok this is going to be a long one...

Unforeseen personal circumstances mean I am going to have to sell my house and find somewhere else to live asap.

I can bunk in with 2 girls I used to live with at uni and take Teagan - all good, but as with everything there's a catch. One of the girls has a 15mo male intact Lhasa Apso that is NEVER taken out on walks or exercised etc so is understandably hyperactive, humps everything in sight, destructive, bored etc etc etc. He is normally left full run of the house on his own from 7am to 7pm while she works, unless the other girl is in. He is again left full run of the house on a night - doesn't have a crate or sleep in a specific place or anything sensible like that! The only other dog he has met in his life is one of his littermates they see once every couple of months. He still toilets in the house sometimes too. I don't know how he will react to Teagan.

We can live with them IF the dogs get on ok.

I have put a lot of effort into socialising Teagan and any new dog she has met so far she has let them sniff her then just wanted to play, she has never been aggressive or frightened just happy and confident. I have a short time to introduce the dogs and if they don't get on I will have to seriously consider rehoming Teagan which I desperately do not want to do.

Any help? Please bear in mind the Lhasa Apso's owner won't bother doing anything so it's up to me really :cry:
emmabeth
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Post by emmabeth »

Will you be able to take charge of the introductions entirely yourself?

If so, you stand a good chance of them getting on (at least long enough until you move in, and then you can work on the Lhasa's behaviour).

Definately try to go for this without the owners help if at all possible, as if they are as bad as I think... their interference could make it all go wrong (if they will do exactly as they are told then involve them.)

First of all you need to introduce off territory so neither dog has the confidence to say 'here is MINE.. you F Off'.

Then, with the aid of a helper, you walk parallel, rewarding both dogs for good behaviour, ignoring anything untoward. Start at a distance where each dog can see the other but doesnt particularly feel the need to react (ie your treats are more interesting).

Carry that on for as long as it takes for you to end up walking side by side, humans on the inside, dogs on the outside - keep up the rewards for good behaviour.

If all is going well, then whilst still moving allow them to walk next to one another, pause for a few seconds for a brief sniff and move off agian so limiting the opportunities for anyone to do anything rude or offensive to the other.

If that works out nicely then go for offlead somewhere secure, and again make sure you ahve plenty of distractions available for each dog (food, toys).

When you let them off, do so at a distance and dont make a huge deal of it, you dont want any pent up frustrated dogs reacting to anything without thinking so keep it low key and then you and the other person keep moving around the secure area - standing around idle gives a higher chance of things kicking off.

Gradually reduce games and increase interactions with each others dogs and allow dogs longer and longer to interact themselves.

Hopefully they will get on well being thoroughly used to one another, and then you can walk them back together and ideally, walk them into the Lhasa's house together.

Once back at the Lhasa's house, there must be none of his favourite toys or food bowls around - that would be asking for trouble. And make sure that no one makes a big fuss of either dog, just let them be and keep a careful eye on things. Keeping things as calm as possible is the best way forwards.
Ocelot0411
Posts: 593
Joined: Thu May 24, 2007 7:30 am

Post by Ocelot0411 »

Oh heavens Denise, that doesn't sound good. I hope you are OK. I am sure you can handle the situation with the Lhasa and in which case it will all work out OK. If not could someone temporarily take Teagan for you until you get yourself sorted? Not ideal I know, but much better than having to rehome her.

Keep your chin up, I am sure it will all work out and if there is anything I can do to help please let me know.

Donna
xx
Owdb1tch
Posts: 262
Joined: Sun Dec 02, 2007 1:57 pm

Post by Owdb1tch »

Consider this as an option:

Will you have your own room? If so, in your position I would establish that as your dog's territory and, when you have to leave her, leave her there with the door shut (a shut door is such an underrated training aid).

Reasons:

Anything that goes wrong in the house won't be blamed on her
She won't start toileting in the house
She won't be annoyed/humped by the untrained dog and can get some peace.

If well walked before and after you leave, supplied with kong, DAP, Bach remedies etc. she should rest while you are away and at least will be able to feel secure.

Otherwise - frankly - despite Emm's excellent advice - I'd put her in kennels and take her out as often as I could, feed her myself etc.

Your decision. Neither option is "wrong" or "right" just offering an alternative.
katowaggytail
Posts: 394
Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2007 11:37 am

Post by katowaggytail »

Denise,

I can't offer any more advice and I'm too far away to be of practical use to you. But I do hope things go ok and I will be thinking of you both.

Fi XX
emmabeth
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Post by emmabeth »

Oh yes, the intro advice is just for intros, if you wont have your own room and will have to leave her htere, i would find a foster carer for her, or kennel her for a short period rather than leave her alone in someone elses house with a canine hooligan, even if she doesnt get the blame for things, she will likely learn bad habits off the other dog.

There are people who will foster your dog for you so dont think rehoming is your first option as it most definately is not.

Kennelling is a very good option and is not vastly expensive in the grand scheme of things.
danabanana
Posts: 203
Joined: Wed Nov 28, 2007 9:21 am
Location: NE England

Post by danabanana »

Thanks for replies guys yes I will have my own room so the dogs can get a bit of space from each other if needs be - the girls both know what the Lhasa is like and have both met Teagan and can see the difference! I will see how the intro goes first of all and keep you up to date x

(and Donna and Fi thanks for your concern I will be ok if I get to keep my girl x)
danabanana
Posts: 203
Joined: Wed Nov 28, 2007 9:21 am
Location: NE England

Post by danabanana »

well blimey suggesting to her that she actually takes her dog outside for a walk - you'd think I'd asked for a kidney!

Good news is the Lhasa has settled a bit since I last saw him so is not AS hyper, and sleeps a lot more - he does have his moments though. Asked about what he is like with other dogs apparently he has never shown aggression which is good, but he has met her cousins (?) 2 rescue dogs (not sure what breeds) and she said they went for him because he didn't back off at their growls and snaps. So she doesn't think he understands warning signs from other dogs.

Been busy looking for a roof over my head this week, hopefully can get them to meet on Saturday - fingers crossed!
emmabeth
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Location: West Midlands
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Post by emmabeth »

Fingers x for you.

Just so's you know I do do as I recommend to others.... I introduced my small, chip on shoulder doesnt like entire young males doglet....

To an entire young male Greyhound... who towers above him...

That was about 3 hours ago, all SIX dogs are now lying calmly in myliving room :)

All is well so far (touch wood!)
danabanana
Posts: 203
Joined: Wed Nov 28, 2007 9:21 am
Location: NE England

Post by danabanana »

well, took Teagan to the Lhasa's house as taking him out just wasn't going to happen. There was a bit of wrestling and some humping attempts, lots of playing and tearing round the house but they did eventually settle - him on the kitchen floor and Teagan curled up on the Lhasa owner's lap (oi remember who feeds you!). Took about 4 hours and they really were doing my head in but there was no aggression from either side and they did feel secure enough to settle down and sleep in the same room, so that's good. Hopefully will get a few more meetings in before we do move in
Ocelot0411
Posts: 593
Joined: Thu May 24, 2007 7:30 am

Post by Ocelot0411 »

That sounds really promising. Poor little Lhasa is probably just overwhelmed with the opportunity to play with another dog as it will be such a novelty too him. With a bit of luck he will really enjoy Teagan's comlany and really like having her around.
danabanana
Posts: 203
Joined: Wed Nov 28, 2007 9:21 am
Location: NE England

Post by danabanana »

Been another couple of meetings turning out much the same way as the first but the big challenge comes now, am moving in with Teagan tomorrow. Not sure whether to keep her crated in my room or let her have the living room and kitchen with the Lhasa
danabanana
Posts: 203
Joined: Wed Nov 28, 2007 9:21 am
Location: NE England

Post by danabanana »

argh what a nightmare! Been a couple of days now, Teagan has peed on 2 beds a sofa and the living room floor so far but it was the first day so am hoping that it was just making the place smell like her. She hasn't done it today. The Lhasa poos on the living room floor but I was up this morning and caught him in the act to take him outside so hopefully that will improve. I actually feel a bit sorry for the Lhasa, he is not used to exercise at all and is knackered out after playing with Teagan for 5 minutes! She has been a right little mare, caught her dragging him around the living room by his tail a couple of times. I genuinely thought late last night, this is just not going to work, maybe they are both too young and immature to deal with a new introduction sensibly. But the periods they are asleep seem to be getting longer, the play/wrestling time seems to be getting shorter and they will wander around the house separately now rather than one of them hanging off the other's ear/leg/tail. And apparently the mice have not been back since Teagan has been here!
katowaggytail
Posts: 394
Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2007 11:37 am

Post by katowaggytail »

You paint such a picture!! :lol: Keep going I feel you might win in the end! :D
Ocelot0411
Posts: 593
Joined: Thu May 24, 2007 7:30 am

Post by Ocelot0411 »

Lordy!! Sounds like bedlam :lol: I am sure the novelty of dragging each other around be the tail/ear/nose will wear off soon enough and the peeing will probably calm down when she settles too.

Sorry but it is funny though :lol: :lol:
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