How long to settle new dog?

[Mitchyden]

Yesterday I picked up a greyhound bitch to keep my other greyhound company as he's been lonely since the death of my other dog.

Now I know that things take time but I'm concerned that they don't like each other. They were both absolutely fine at the kennels - no growling, snarling or trying to attack each other but since bringing them home, things have gone downhill.

She growls at him when he tries to play with her or her toys and he growls at her if she dares to get too close when he's sleeping.

I appreciate that they need to sort out their new pack order but obviously don't want either of them to get hurt. As its only growling at the moment and nothing more, should I just ignore them and let them get on with it?

 

[Brownmare]

These things take time - I got a rescue whippet 6 months ago and although i made sure my 2 other dogs were ok with him before he moved in it still took time for peace to break out when he arrived

Both dogs will be working out wherre the boundaries are so I'd leave them too it but make sure they know you have the final say in everything i.e. don't leave toys around for one of them to guard, instead you have the toys locked away and bring them out for playtime before putting them away again. That way you can control the situation better while being the Source of All Good Things too

And just to give you hope - I found my whippet sharing a bed with my grumpy Jack Russell bitch yesterday (she did nothing but snap at him for about the first week)

 

[littlemisslauren]

Is your original dog much older? Or particularly grumpy?

My little old terrier still hates his new companion after 6 months!

When the old ridgy died (she was the perfect companion for the grumpy terrier) my dad decided to bring home a huge bouncy ridgy pup. He hates her! Growls, snarls and scraps have been quite normal because she thinks he is playing.

But he has started to allow her to rest her head on him while they sleep, he will share his chews and has never actually hurt her when he has gone for her (despite the stuuuupid pup dragging him round by his tail!)

I think it just takes time. The new dog has to get used to you and your dog and your dogs nose will be out of joint because there is now another dog that he doesnt know nicking his fave sleeping spots!

 

[CAYLA]

What LML and Bownmare said, it is extreme early days here, it will take a month or so for them to settle, as Bownmare suggests remove all posessions for now, I don't leave toys/bones down for my dogs that have been together more than 8 years
Lots of long walks togehter.

 

[Mitchyden]

Thanks for the advice. I've had rescue dogs in the past and they have all got on right from day one so I must have been lucky.

If this is the norm then thats ok, I suppose I'm just paranoid that one of them will get hurt.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Chill it's only been one day.
As mentioned, remove toys, they don't need to be left around all day, get into the way of thinking that they are yours and you allow the dogs to play with them and give and take them away, not whenever they feel like it.

A few behaviourists/trainers like Jean Donaldson and Ian Dunbar talk about the fight/bite ration - yes, there may be a bit of growling and a bit of bared teeth at the start, it's all grandstanding and warning in the vast majority of cases, if they'd wanted to hurt each other, they would have done, nothing to worry about in the long term - just keep an eye of them and remain calm and firm, don't tolerate any silly behaviour x

 

[prosefullstop]

I added a five-year-old pug to my household last year, and after some initial growls on my Boston terrier's part, they quickly became firm friends. It's an easy partnership,however--dominant, energetic female and extremely submissive, mellow male. It sounds like your two might need a little extra time to figure out boundaries, and as others have indicated, definitely get rid of all toys.