Advice pleased on rehoming older dog

[Sooty]

After the sad and unexpected death of my friend’s father, there is a very good chance that one of his dogs will be coming to live with us.

The dog: A Bassett x Dalmatian. This I cannot wait to see… She is 11 years old, overweight with an arthritic front leg. (She will fit in here just fine…). She is greedy and dominant. Has always lived with another dog.

Our present dog: Loves other dogs, very submissive. Three years old. Clumsy Boxer x Golden Retriever.

I am worried about how to settle the new dog into our routine (assuming the dogs actually get on in the first place), as I suspect it will have been quite indulged. We don’t allow dogs upstairs, let alone onto the bed, which I suspect may be a shock for her. I am planning to play it pretty much be ear as to where they sleep at night, although I will separate them for the first few nights at least until they get to know each other, and the new dog gets to know us all.

If anyone has any advice at all about this situation, please let me have it! Thanks.

 

[HBII]

Hiya Soots

I would introduce them on neutral ground - that way it isnt one of their territory. I would also take something with the new peg leg dog that smells of 'home' i.e her old bed - which will help her settle. Regarding routine I would be of the opinion that she would have to adjust to me. Might be worth getting a stair gate for the mean time?!

Hope that helps

 

[pocomoto]

I have a brilliant piece of equipment that spends most of it's life as a rosette display board!

It is a Great Dane sized dog cage! It only comes out if I am rehoming another dog. It's brilliant as I can control the introduction I always put the new one in it and it means you can see how they react without any fights and leave them alone to work things out. Then when I am confident I go out to win more rosettes!