Settling re-homed dogs...advice pls

C

Carlosmum

Well-Known Member
Joined
16 August 2010
Messages
1,835
Location
Oxfordshire
Visit site
We re-homed 2 cairn terriers 2 wks ago. Dog 12yrs & bitch 5 yrs. Dog neutered already, bitch spayed on Monday. Both seem to be ok, & responding well to OH as chief carer. Having regular tiddle times & walks twice/day. Problems seem to be... dog tiddles in house esp when we are out. Bitch nervous/agressive towards dog so he is intimidated by her. Re-homed because previous owners work committments. We believe both been together since bitch was a pup, understand that bitch has always been grumpy with dog.
I know its early days but is there anything more we can do to settle the bitch I dont think its just cos of her op the other day. Need to get her settled as I'm hoping to get a puppy in the spring.
I hope this all makes sense, just wondering if there is anything else we can do to help them.
 
I feel your pain. I have the same problem and will be interested in the answers.

I rescued a bullmastiff last year and fell so in love with her I rescued another 6 weeks ago. The second dog is the complete opposite and whilst she is a lovely dog she is so so timid and not properly housetrained and chews for England. Same as you she is clean when I am there but tiddles when I'm not.

I am assuming it is insecurity and she'll get better naturally as she feels more secure.
 
Offer them some security in the form of a crate or sectioned off area of the home, use the usual pacifiers, kongs, long lasting treats/raw bones, feed them in there, make the crate look very den like, this will also help in regard to the bitch that chews and the boy cairn that urinated when left. If they both have unlimited space (alot of space) when left and are not confined, this gives more space to whip up and anxious frenzy, they need more security and a smaller area will help with this, esp if you also use the area to place the dogs when you are in aswell as out.

When you are in limit the space the dogs have again and don't allow them to wonder the house, try and keep them in the same area as you at all times, if you pop in the bath, upstairs then place them in there new area/crate with a kong and get on with what you need to, this means you are taking all opportunity to urinate away, so you can A, direct them out immediately if they proceed to urinate infront of you (this learns them where and what the garden is for) and B, let them out frequently, but never let them roam free out of sight, you cannot correct or guide appropriately what you did not see.

Basically start a new routine from scratch, as lets not forget they have probably been displaying this same behaviour in their previous homes for years.
If crating is something you wish to try, I can give you a crate guide each to help introduce them. I take in on average of 10-15 dogs a month and they all start in a crate, I can then rehome them with no serious issues in the home.

In what way is the cairn bitch aggressive toward the dog, an example for instance?:)
 
The dogs came with a crate which they shared in their previous home, so spent the first week with us in it at night. Since the bitch had her op, we have allowed the dog to sleep with her in the kitchen but not in the crate as we felt if there was an argument she might damage her stitches. I think the 'agressiveness usually occurs when she feels threatened.... she has a chew, or he gets a little too close when she is lying in front of the fire with us in the evening, he will walk round behind the sofa to avoid going passed her! We do our best to give both equal attention, he will not use a chew but haven't tried him with a kong. I've noticed when OH leaves house she cries for a few moments then both settle happily, he with me in the office & she lies in the hall just outside. Home is small bungalow so they are never far away from us, if we are both out they are shut in the kitchen.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top