Companion, a little advice please

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derricks

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HI

I finally talked my OH into letting us get another dog as a companion for my 1YO weimaraner. We have rehomed a 3YO weimaraner whos owner could no longer care for her. She is a lovely dog and is used to living outside with other dogs. My dog currently lives outside in a heated kennel and a really big run.
When we first introduced them to each other they played and played for ages, they both slept happily in the pen together.
The following day my dog snapped at the new dog a few times throughout the day, then in the afternoon they had a bit of a disagreement so I threw a bucket of water over them as that was all I could do to stop them. Neither were hurt and within the hour they were acting as if nothing had happened.
They are still sleeping happily together in the kennel and playing in the run, they do get a little funny with each other at meal times so I have started feeding them in different places (one in the run and one outside the run) this seems to have sorted that out.
They both seem to be trying to get attention from me all of the time, I am trying not to fuss them too much so neither get jealous - is this the right thing to do?
98% of the time they get along fine, do you think they are just testing each other and finding their pecking order, should I let them get on with it or do you think this whole thig is a bad idea and should think about rehoming the poor dog yet again. It has only been 3 days, do you think they will settle down eventually, as I said my dog only snaps at her now and then and its always when I am around, when they are alone they are fine.
I welcome your thoughts

Thanks

Sam
 
There's your problem! All you can do is give it time and keep an eye on them, as one of them will definitely try to establish dominancy. If she succeeds, and the other is submissive, you should be ok. If not, you may have to rehome the newer one. The thing most in your favour is that one of them is still quite young, and will hopefully be the one to back down. Do watch them though, because if they do fight it could get nasty.
 
Thanks
The funny thing is its the younger dog who is snapping the older dog backs away, I would have thought it would have been the other way around ?

Now Im wondering if it would have been better to have got a male companion for her ?
Too late now I suppose, really dont want to have to rehome her again shes a real sweetie.
 
We had awful trouble with our 2 bitches after we rehomed one. They ended up at the vets so many times through fighting and we contemplated getting rid of one.
As a last resort the vet told us to stick them in the kennels for 2 weeks. When they came back we had to pick pick one dog to be the dominant one (we picked the one we had had the longest). We then had to make sure we did everything with this dog first, i.e, put her dinner bowl down first, make a fuss of her first, give her a treat first. It took a while but the younger dog gradually accepted the older dog as the boss. We still couldn't trust them together 100% but they were not nearly as bad.
It sounds like your 2 are not nearly as bad as my two were so you should just be able to go straight to picking a dominant dog without putting them in the kennels first. Hope you get on ok.
 
We had a similar thing with our two bitches years ago. younger one was fine untill she started getting older and decided she wanted to be the boss and started attacking the older female. Just as we were thinking of rehoming her it stopped. It is probably just a bit of a power struggle and a bit of jealousy.
 
Thanks
Some great advice I will give it a try.
It has only been 3 days and things are getting better by the day. The only disagreement they had this morning was over food as I tried to feed them in the same place (wont be doing that again!)
They really do play nicely together and seem fine most of the time, neither stops the other one getting in or out of the kennel and they both slep quietly all night so Im hoping that all will be ok.
Watch this space.....
 
Hope it works out. We have 3 bitches (labs & springers) and 1 dog (JR). They all get on fine (so bitches together is not always a problem), none are top dog - I am!!!!
 
We were told the same thing, as the younger one was there first I would let that one be the one to be fed first etc and definately don't feed in the same place, we had three and used ot have to feed all round the garden! Good luck I am sure they will sort themselves out.
 
If you are worried about leaving them, say you go out I would consider putting soft muzzels on them both, just in case for a little while.
 
Ive got 3 bitches one of which lives inside and the boxer and weimaraner live outside.

I have found that the weimaraner is a fairly dominant breed and as Etta is getting older now she usually backs down whereas Lucy(boxer) who is only 18 months old is the leader and can be very dominant at times.

Are either of your bitches spayed??

We tend to feed them seperately as Etta is a very greedy dog and Lucy is a steady eater so we would have problems morning and night if we let them be together. We never allow them to have a bone or anything that they can become posessive over whilst in each others company and try to treat them equally at all times.

Weimaraners are intelligent, attention seeking dogs that are extremely wilfull and have to be treated accordingly. I think you are doing everything right by feeding them seperately and as it is early days i would just wait and see what happens. Im sure that before you know it they will be the best of friends and snuggled up next to each other enjoying there companionship!!

Good luck and let us know how you get on!!
grin.gif
 
Bitch fights can be awful but in most cases where they are of similar size and breeding I would say leave them alone to sort out. Bucket of water is a great trick - used on mine many a time!!
It can take a while for them to sort pecking order out and a few scraps is common- its impossible to say which dog will become top - humans sometimes interefere too much here and mostly its best to let them deal with it the doggy way.
Obviously if there are major ongoing fights you may have to consider separating or re-homing if things don't settle down.
I'm sure in a couple more weeks they'll be hunky dory!!
 
Thanks everyone, another little upset this morning this time over a squeeky toy. Someone has suggested taking the toys away so they cannot become possesive over anything, what do you guys think ?
I really want this to work as I will feel terrible if I have to rehome doggy number 2 again.
Sam
 
I'm not sure with the toy thing, I only have 1 out of my 3 dogs thats interested in toys. I would still say let them sort it out themselves, when you say 'little upset' what actually happened?
Dogs rarely fight to cause injury (other than superficial nips) so mostly scraps occur in order for them to sort the problems out and by and large they can manage to do this themselves.
Dogs can get possesive over toys but if they enjoy them you can't take them away long term - they have to find a way of dealing with it!
My only suggestion would be to perhaps rotate the toys daily so neither one gets particularly attached to one toy.
 
I am sorry, but that is simply not true. Dogs, particularly bitches, will fight to the death in certain circumstances. I can only assume you have never witnessed a full on dog fight! There is no way two dogs should be left to 'sort themselves out' if there is a tendency to fight.
 
We took all toys away from our 2 until they had sorted out who was the boss. The worst fight they had over toys left my Yorkie needing 20 stitches in her face
frown.gif
. The JRT just latched onto her and would not let go.
 
I would tend to separate the dogs when they are left unattended. If you take away their toys they will only fight over something else! They are still trying to establish a pack order. It is up to you how long you give it, but with two bitches of similar size it could take some time.
 
This morning everything was fine. Slept happily in their kennel last night fed them separately and then they both wondered off around the stables whilst I mucked out the horses before taking them for a run round the farmers field. Whilst I was mucking out the new dog (Shona) picked up one of the squeeky toys Maya was following her around and when Shona dropped the toy Maya picked it up. Shona tried to pick it up also and then it kicked off so I threw a bucket of water over them. They stopped, i took the toy away and they were fine again.
Went for our walk and they were fine.
Please help do I leave them to get on with it so they can sort it once and for all or do I keep throwing the water ???
Do you think a month is long enough to then make a decision ? If I can last that long.
I thought I was doing the right thing by getting company for my dog but now I am not so sure. I feel like a bag of Sh*t and dont know what to do.
 
It is tough. I made exactly the same mistake by getting a rescue JRT bitch to keep Wurzel company; she was having none of it and the poor dog was only here for one night! Dogs tend to bond more easily with dogs which are a different size from them, are puppies or a different sex. You need to be able to leave your dogs, confident that they will not fight. Only you can tell how it is going. They might learn to tolerate each other, but it is (IMHO) unlikely that they will ever be great friends.
 
I have witnessed a bitch fight between my two which ended in some serious wounds but my dog trainer did tell me it was uncommon to end in actual death. But I think you're right if there is a tendency to 'fight' then seperate is a good idea which is what I said in my initial reply.
I didn't get the impression that these two dogs were full on fighting - it just seemed to be disagreements and snapping which a lot dogs kept in a a group will do anyway. I've done 2 dog psychology courses and a couple of residential courses where it has been said that humans interefere too much with pecking order and to 'some' extent dogs should be given opportunity to sort. The only experiences I can draw from are my own and if you are seriously worried about fighting between your dogs and injuries or death then you need to see a professional trainer who can assess both dogs behaviour and advise accordingly.
 
To be honest its more noise than anything (at the moment anyway). They also play fight quite alot.
When they are left alone they are fine I have hidden and watched them for ages and no agression what so ever. They jump over each other to get past, bump into each other. Sniff faces and bums etc. They dont even play with the toys. They only seem to pick these up when someone is around and bring them out of their run.
Animals why do we bother !!!
 
Noise is fine and perfectly normal for dogs to express themselves this way. Its a language we don't understand to a certain degree but I've been involved with training various dogs for 8 years now and I really don't think in this instance you have anything to worry about. Keep a close eye by all means as any changes that concern you need to be addressed quickly.
I think its just a case them establishing themselves on the territory and getting acquainted. By picking up toys and bringing them to you its a way of getting your attention and saying 'look how clever I am' - heres a present! Try not to favour one dog over the other at the moment until they are well and truly settled into their roles.
Its always hard to give behavioural advice without seeing the dogs as trainers pick up on signals than in general dog owners dont and thats down to experience of dealing with different dogs.
I'm sure your dogs will settle in time - but please remember that if you're concerned seek professional advice from someone who can do a home visit and see the dogs in the flesh.
Good Luck!
 
Thank you so much, I feel a bit better
My OH has been at home today and has said that he has not heard a peak out of them they have been sleeping most of the day and have been out in the run minding their own business. So I am a little more hopeful at this point in time
Lets see what happens this evening when I get home and let them out for the evening...........
 
Quick Update

Got home last night and OH said they had been fine all day, apart from destroying one of the quilts, stuffing everywhee but hey better than bits of dog everywhere!

Let them out for the evening and guess what no disagreements ! went for a walk and they were fine, but them to bed no probs.

Let them out again this morning and again they were fine, I dont want to raise my hopes but do you think we have turned a corner......lets see what happens over the weekend !
 
Just a quick update,
I thought I had made up my mind to rehome new doggy as she doesnt look that happy, She whines when I leave her and sits outside the kennel for hours even in the rain and seems reluctant to go in until she really has to. My other dog just goes straight in when I leave and settles down into her bed.
The dogs are no longer fighting, mainly ignoring each other now.
I have never owned more than one dog so not really sure how close dogs are with each other.
For those of you who own more than one dog do they stay together most of the time or do they do their own thing ?
When I walk mine they do their own thing most of the time only coming together now and then to sniff the same place then off they both go again in different directions.
They both sleep in the same kennel but not in the same bed, neither dog seem that interested in the other one.
The only thing Im wondering now is if I do rehome her will my dog miss the company even though shes not over keen on new doggy?
How complicated, I just want to do whats best for both of them.
HELP !!!!!!!!!
 
I have 3 dogs and when out walking they all do their own thing. 2 of them share a bed but the 2 that have been together for 6 years barely acknowledge each other. Interestingly though if I walk them separately they go mad when I come back and make a big fuss over each other. So it may be that although they don't seem to show signs of caring about each other they may miss the company of one another when seperated.
Perhaps your new doggy is missing human contact and needs to get used to that rather than her being unhappy with the other dog.
 
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