Advice would be welcome

[danda]

Just picked up this afternoon my little rescue dog. She is a 6 year old bitch of mainly French bull dog breed. She was rescued from an alcoholic man that had beaten her so badly and so often that her back is injured and she does not have complete control of her back legs, she was also not fed correctly or every day and now "guards" her food and needs to be fed in another room from other dogs, according to the rescue people. She is a little dog only 8. Kgs (compared to my son's french bulldog of 16 kgs). She is fine with my 2 dogs when outside on neutral ground but now at home they don't want her to touch anything or go anywhere.. She is loving the garden but have had to pick up and remove ALL toys, balls etc. she only arrived today so obviously need to give them all time. Any advice is very welcome as I would love to give this little girl a chance for a few years of a happy life but if there are constant fights with resident dogs it will be difficult. The rescue people tell me they will take her back, no problem but would love it if this could be her permanent home.

 

[Honey08]

They will settle down. You will always get territorial behaviour at first. I'd agree with removing toys for a few days. Put the new dog's bed at the other end of the room from the others for a few weeks, then gradually move it nearer. Feed them at opposite ends too. Feed the original dogs first, then the new dog (have someone else have her bowl perhaps, ready to put down?). Keep reassuring the original dogs, still fuss them as usual, but also make time for the new dog, tell them to sit if they show jealous signs. Most of all it has been walks and good times that have bonded our dogs.

 

[Dobiegirl]

Keep to a strict routine, do not allow toys to lie about, they are yours and you chose when and who gets to play with them, dont make allowances for her because she had a sad life hard as that will be to do. Dont force your dogs on to her or vice versa but allow them to mix freely as and when. Try to pre-empt any situation that could cause friction such as when visitors arrive as there might be a degree of jealousy or if you have a dog on your lap dont allow the others to come round and have a sniff. Good luck, poor girl but remember this is the first day of her new life and start off as you mean to go on, Im sure it will all work out fine, dogs are very resilient.

 

[Alec Swan]

Keep to a strict routine, do not allow toys to lie about, they are yours and you chose when and who gets to play with them, dont make allowances for her because she had a sad life hard as that will be to do. Dont force your dogs on to her or vice versa but allow them to mix freely as and when. Try to pre-empt any situation that could cause friction such as when visitors arrive as there might be a degree of jealousy or if you have a dog on your lap dont allow the others to come round and have a sniff. Good luck, poor girl but remember this is the first day of her new life and start off as you mean to go on, Im sure it will all work out fine, dogs are very resilient.

This, word perfect. When dogs have hard a rather hard time of things, the temptation is to try to make up for their sorry past with lots of love and cuddles. Doing so can all so often make matters worse. Try to steer your daily routine around preventing situations where conflict may occur, rather than correcting the conduct that you don't want. As DG says or seems to suggest, removing temptation or refusing to allow a hierarchy to form, should, with luck have you retaining authority. Until your new dog has settled in, 'vigilance' is the word!

Alec.

 

[Equi]

Agree with all above. Well done for rescuing such a difficult type. PIcs?

 

[planete]

All very good advice. I will only add that if one of your dogs is like our present terrier he may have to be segregated at first (ours is a great ratter but a horror!). For the first two days with a new dog, we have had to put him one side of a dog gate with the other dogs on the other side so they can all sniff and see each other but World War 3 cannot break out. When he stops raging at the newcomer he is taken for walks with the new one then allowed to mingle freely with him. But he is a special case.

He is the dog who won his terrier race, caught the lure and could not be made to let go of it even when the lure was raised above a tall man's head! I had to run up the course and detach him before racing could go on.

 

[danda]

Many thanks for all your answers. Basically ok with my golden so will be working hard with the other frenchie who turns out to be very possessive of what he considers "his" things, even the water bowl is now his! I can take pics on this I-pad and can attach to a mail but can't put onto the forum. I will take her for a check-up and maybe a scan of her back as she reels about when she walks and falls over sometimes. They had told me she has seen the vet and nothing to be done as it is too late and needed things doing years ago. Rescue people do their best for the most part but many dogs and not enough space,time or money, so maybe she could be helped - food/exercise/hydrotherapy/massage etc but the first step would seem to be a scan interpreted by an expert.