help with jealous dog

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rustyrider

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Apologies in advance, i think this will be long...

We have two dogs which we have adopted from a shelter - a shepherd bitch (10) who we have had for 3 years and a tibetan dog (3) who we have had for 18mths. They generally get on well, although the tibetan tends to push his way in if the shepherd is being fussed, and will chase her off if she tries to eat his food - despite this she is a bit of a matriach and tends to tell him off if he bounces on her. This isn't happening all the time but i'm starting to wonder if it could be relevant to the problem we have now...

Yesterday we adopted a new spaniel dog (2) from the same shelter as the OH was keen to get another one (he does dogs, i do horses!). They got on fine during the mixing and for most of the afternoon. Then in the evening there were a couple of squabbles between the tibetan and the new dog over food - one because i dropped a bit of pasta when i was cooking and one when we put the bowls down (lesson learned, they will be eating seperately until they settle). There have also been a couple over a toy. The bitch has stayed out of it.

I guess that this is caused by the tibetan trying to dominate the new dog (he is always the instegator of the scraps). Our plan is to crate the new dog during mealtimes and at bedtime until they all start to settle down. I can't help but worry though! Have we made a terrible mistake and stressed out all the dogs. Would we have been better not to adopt him!?

Do you think it will improve? Is there anything we can do to set boundaries to help them to settle quickly?

I would really appreciate your advice on this one!
 
It'll be fine, they'll figure it out! Its just to be expected. I'd feed etc as normal (far apart) just be close and aware with a firm voice if disputes get out of hand. Keep anything they can squabble over away for the time being. I'm no good at the intricacies and subtleties of pack order, |I just always used common sense when introducing new dogs, and as long as the dog's sane & neutered they always sorted themselves out.
Give it a few weeks & I bet it'll be like he's always been there. Good for you taking them on :)
 
The food squabbling is very natural, for one do to warn another off food means the dog actually gets a meal, it's called survival. If however you have put a meal down and one eats there then goes to another bowl and suceeds because they did not take heed of the dogs warning, then you step in and remove the dog form the room or block it's advances firmly and allow the dog who's meal it was to carry on.
Mine are all fed together, bowls literally tossed on floor, they would never attempt to go to another bowls because thats one thing I won't stand for, but if you are not so confident, indeed as you suggest then feed seperately.
The posessions (toys) is another natural guarding instinct, I will not advise you ever leave scattered toys for a pack of dogs unless you really have the respect and regard from your dogs and by this I mean if a squabble breaks out or one guards a toy they know their is a consiquence and they are well aware of it, you will in most cases be asking for trouble, if you are there and you want to give toys and you feel you can reprimand if one drops a toys and goes for the others and a fight breaks out then do so when you are these, otherwsie box them and seperate the dogs if you want to leave toys.
Persoanlly im not a big fan of toys around the house, stimulating treats maybe, but toys are for outside, but then, my dogs only have a frisbee and a ball in the way of toys:D no poncy teddies and squeekers in this house:p:D

If you personally are stroking a dog and another gets pushy, or aggressive with that dog, then it's your job to send the pushy one away, then they will realise the pushiness gets them no where.
I don't think what you describe is a dominance issue, as suggested just a pack adjustment and the origional having to share/or others tryin to take what he has never had to share:D
Anything you dont want to encourage or you ain't happy with, step in and let said dog know about it.
I would strongly advise you don't do the whole, let one eat first, stroke first, and all that rubbish, you are leader and dogs are equal, if you want to feed a dog first, feed the one thats sits the most patiently;)

Lots of outdoor exercise and free play together and make the house a more neutral zone.
Never encourage unwanted behaviour and be firm in reprimanding bad, the best way is to exclude the menace from the room for time out.
 
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I have always fed my dogs separately even Diesel & Darcy who are brother and sister. I have had lots of dogs staying with me and never had a problem because of this, dogs that have been in rescue come from god knows what homes and might have had to fight for their food. Your Tibetian needs some boundries and if he was mine I would feed him last just so he gets to know he is not the important one.
 
Ps, crate is a good idea for safety and no I don't think you made a mistake, you have given a dog a life and invited it into YOUR;) home, now everyone needs to obide by the rules and when there are rules in place they will settle in just fine.
 
thanks ever so much for all your advice. my OH would be the first to tell you that i'm a worrier when it comes to the animals and it's reassuring that you think it will settle down. we will stick to being consistent and fair and hope they sort themselves out. point taken on the toys - normally the bitch has her tennis ball and that's it - so we'll take everything away and save it for the garden. thankfully there's bags of room in the garden for them to play and tire themselves out, so i've got my fingers crossed for domestic bliss this evening :-)

just one question, do you think i should forget crating him for his dinner and bedtime - or give that a try for the next few days?
 
Terriers are fiesty lttle beggers so if you feel he is pushing his luck then as mentioned step in and let him know it i not acceptible, haul him on out of there and make him him sit and think about his actions (of course he cannot do this);):D but he wont like being excluded thats for sure, when you allow him back in, no recognition, let him settle once more and reward him for him good behaviour with attention if that is what he loves.
 
great suggestion, thanks. yesterday he was ejected into the garden for a time out (not sure if that counted as much of a punishment, so maybe it'll have to be the laundry room next time). hopefully we're on the right track - if only through luck rather than judgement!

i'm really grateful for all your advice!
 
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