New dog nextdoor, advice?

[MissSBird]

We've had our bernese mountain dog since he was a puppy. He's now 8 and a regular grumpy old man.

Next door have just got a new westie puppy. At the moment they havn't met since it's still to get its 2nd injection but inevitably they are going to meet. Pretty soon theres going to be a time were they're both out in the back gardens at the same time. The gardens are seperated by a fence that neither will be able to get through, but they will be able to see and sniff at each other.

My dog isn't the best with other dogs. I'll admit in hindsight this is probably our fault for not socialising him enough when he was younger. He won't physically hurt the other dog, but he does tend to bark/growl a little.

Anyone got any tips for helping him to get used to this sudden presense of a new dog very close to his garden? After 8 years it's a pretty sudden change for him!

 

[Enfys]

All I can suggest is that you speak with your neighbours (as you probably all ready have anyhow) and let the dogs meet when you are both present, with the dogs under close supervision.




Good Luck.

 

[Goya]

Ditto Blitzenfys advice and as often as you can to give them time to acclimatize. It is best to do this on "neutral" ground so neither dog has "an advantage"of home territory.Also try and take them for short walks together (on lead).
Good luck.

 

[CAYLA]

As above short walks together, no fuss from either owner, just walk along, both dogs on lead, thats the easier way to introduce, with no fuss, they don't even need contact, just the smell of each other and presence will be enough.

A yappy...little westi......I do feel sorry for your boy

The litle terrot will still yap through the fence, even when introduced...it's what they do best

it's more so frustration, cos they want to get to get through, to see the dog

 

[_Acolyte_]

Thank God I thought this was going to be a post from one of my neighbours about Flick - she howled for what seemed like an hour when I went to bed last night

Echo the advice of the others though OP, I used to live next door to a Westie which yapped 24/7 and delighted in winding up my four greyhounds/lurchers by snuffling under the fence at them. The neighbours finally got the message when we started shouting at the Westie to shut up - our dogs never barked at all, so it drove us bloody mad

 

[MissSBird]

Well Nevis will howl right back and probably deafen the little thing!

Alright, that sounds perfectly doable.

I did get to see him today. He's smaller than Nevis was when we first saw him! I better watch he doesn't get squashed!