All of a sudden I feel as though I don't know anything

[Goya]

Why is it that whensomeone posts with a problem you are confident in your abilities to offer sound advice but when you find yourself in a situation you suddenly don't know anything at all?
I am in a right panic as i am getting a new dog on Friday. He is coming on a weeks trial from a rescue centre and i am sitting here thinking "what will I do?"
I know that when he first meets my two girls that we must be in a neutral place. we are going to take them all to a big field nearby and let them get to know each other.
However, when we get back to the house do we just let them "free".
what if either of my two hate him and they start a fight?
do I cage him for the first night and for the very small amounts of time I have to leave them together or what?
OMG I am starting to panic.
Silly me.

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

I'm sure it will be absolutely fine

- good idea to let them all meet where they can run around and get to know each other.

I'm sure others will be along with better advice than I can give you - I'm lucky in that Sweep will let any dog in his house as long as he still gets the seat next to mummy!!

 

[Spudlet]

I'm sure it will be fine!

The advice I got from the Dogs Trust for introducing Henry to ther other office dogs was to let them meet on neutral ground first, maybe on leads being walked side by side (guess you will to enlist a helper) for the first couple of minutes to let them sniff each other without being confrontational, then let them off for a run?

As it was the other dog went mad on the lead (terrierist) so we got brave and let them both off and it was like a lurrrve story - and Henry came back because he was following her new girlfriend...

 

[Goya]

Thank you slinkyunicorn and hanandhen. I suddenly felt really panicky. I should know better but that's what I like about this forum--there is always someone there to "talk" things through with.
Mind you I am still scared. I really want things to be perfect for all of the dogs.

 

[FinnishLapphund]

[ QUOTE ]
Why is it that when someone posts with a problem you are confident in your abilities to offer sound advice but when you find yourself in a situation you suddenly don't know anything at all?
I am in a right panic as i am getting a new dog on Friday. He is coming on a weeks trial from a rescue centre and i am sitting here thinking "what will I do?"
I know that when he first meets my two girls that we must be in a neutral place. we are going to take them all to a big field nearby and let them get to know each other.
However, when we get back to the house do we just let them "free".
what if either of my two hate him and they start a fight?
do I cage him for the first night and for the very small amounts of time I have to leave them together or what?
OMG I am starting to panic.
Silly me.

[/ QUOTE ]

It's called being human and perfectly normal. Normal, sensible people knows that they don't know everything and as I've said before, I have more than 160 dog books, my dogs have yet not read one of them!

Personally if I introduce a dog in neutral grounds (actually even outside in my garden) I expect to be able to take them with me indoors. Though when I was younger my late DobermanX sort of had different views towards a visiting GSD because when he tried to put his paws across the threshold to my bedroom she exploded. The rest of the house was okay, but not my bedroom? Still don't know if I've figured that one out, anyhow we simply put up a gate to my room. But she had her issues and I don't think I would have accepted that from any other dog of mine.

And by worrying now, by thinking through different what ifs, you're preparing yourself for what might happen. Then if it doesn't happen, great. If it does happen, you have an idea about what to do. And don't forget, usually when you remember to bring your umbrella, it does not rain.

Good luck.

 

[Goya]

Thank you so much Finnish-Laphund. as I said above I am having a crisis of confidence. I love your analogy of "when you remember your umbrella it doesn't rain" Brilliant.