Adding Another Dog to your Family

Michael Baugh CPDT-KA, CDBC

Dear Michael:

Hello! I’m wanting to get another dog. I already have a German Shepherd who is 3 and he’s my world! But I would love another. The problem is he is very protective of me and literally never leaves my side. He IS my best friend and I don’t know how he’d react to another dog sharing my attention. What is the best way to introduce him to another, and is it best to get a pup or an older dog, bitch or male? I am very nervous of introducing them so would just like any tips or advice.

Thanks, Anna

Dear Anna,

The best indicator of your future success introducing a new dog to your home is your dog’s past success with other dogs. Dogs, like humans, are social animals. However, social behavior is like any other behavior. The more you practice it, the better you get at it. If your dog has a rich history meeting and playing with other dogs, then you’ll have an easier time introducing a new dog to your home.

If that’s the case with your dog, the best way to introduce him to a prospective housemate is at a neutral location. I recommend letting them meet first on-leash, but make sure both dogs have plenty of slack on the leash so that they can interact and move freely. Too often, people put too much tension on their dog’s leashes and this can lead to trouble. This process will go much more smoothly, of course, if both dogs involved have experience greeting other dogs while on-leash. If the dogs do well in that initial meeting, you can let them interact off-leash. Supervise them closely for any signs of conflict, and make sure you have another person on hand if you need to separate the dogs from each other.

Stray Dog 011a — Juno with a stray dog who eventually found a new home.

That brings me to another point: the other dog. I highly recommend adopting a dog from a shelter or a reputable rescue group. Many rescue dogs will have lived in a foster home with other dogs, and in that case you’ll be able to get a pretty good idea of how that dog gets along with other dogs. Choose the most socially savvy dog you can find, regardless of age or sex. You can teach an old dog new tricks, but it’s harder to teach a grumpy dog to be nice. Besides, you and your dog deserve the friendliest companion you can find.

Most reputable rescue organizations will let you have a transitional period with your newly adopted dog. You’ll want to give the new dog a chance to learn the rules of your house (I always recommend remedial potty training), while introducing access to the home one room at a time. This is a good time to observe how your current dog is getting along with the newcomer (supervise all interactions). Generally speaking, you’ll know if things aren’t going well in the first couple of weeks.

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Helping a Fearful Dog

Michael Baugh, CPDT-KA, CDBC

(from All Things Dog blog)

Dear Michael:

My wife and I have a very sweet, intelligent, food-loving, 2 year old female Rough Collie. She is great on a leash, eager to please, and generally very good in public. I grew up with Collies and am familiar with the common tendencies of the Herding Breeds, but am having trouble succeeding with some of her training.

Lady gets very nervous when guests come to the house, especially strangers. She does the typical barking and herding, but also has trouble relaxing for hours when other people are in the home. She will nip at our guest incessantly when they walk around the house. I know that she has watchdog qualities, but I worry that she will snap when we have guests (especially children) over to the home.

We have had her since she was 12 weeks old, and we have always had visitors. She does not seem to be adapting at all. How can we exorcise this nervous energy and enjoy having people over again. Thank you for your help!
Bill H.

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Dear Bill:

First, I commend you for asking good and thoughtful questions on Lady’s behalf. I work with a lot of fearful dogs here in Texas. I also know a lot of my training colleagues work similar cases around the world. You are not alone; and yes there is hope for Lady.

Despite our best efforts socializing our dogs and familiarizing them with the quirky ins and outs of the human world, sometimes it’s just not enough. As our dogs grow up, we begin to notice their developing sensitivities and phobias. It’s important that we address these fears intelligently and immediately, but also gently. You are correct to be concerned that fearful behavior can sometimes develop into offensive (aggressive) behavior. That doesn’t always happen. Nevertheless, the time to act is now.

I often recommend hiring a qualified behavior consultant at the end of my blog posts. This time, I’m recommending it up front. You don’t have to do this alone, and you probably shouldn’t. Use the link above to find a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant in your area. I also recommend you visit fearfuldogs.com and download the e-book, Guide to Living with and Training a Fearful Dog.

Certainly, my response here will not take the place of working with a qualified dog trainer / behavior consultant in person. Still, I want to offer my thoughts and input. Your goals with Lady when it comes to interacting with visitors are twofold. 1) Teach her how to behave when people come over. Which skills you teach are up to you. Sit, coming when called and stay all play a role in proper greetings. I exclusively recommend reward-based training, and with good reason. I’ll expand on that below. 2) Teach Lady that new people in general, especially in her home, are good news for her. Something amazingly good should happen for Lady every time a person comes to your home. The way to a dog’s heart really is through her stomach. I often suggest visitors give my clients’ dogs “welcome gifts” when they arrive (New person = cheese or chicken). Giving her a delicious stuffed Kong Toy when visitors are in the house is a nice approach as well. Here is where your reward-based training comes in as well. If you are using food to teach your dog basic manners when people come over, then she is also learning that it’s good news for her when people come over. Training starts and the treat bar opens. Win – Win! The dog knows how to behave and loves every second of it.

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Children and Dogs

Guest Blogger, Curtiss Lanham CPDT-KA

Children and dogs: what a beautiful image that our minds immediately race to. The ‘Timmy and Lassie’ portrait is quickly conjured up…and they lived happily ever after. Not so fast…

The interesting thing is that kids don’t come pre-progrmmed to know how to interact properly with dogs, any more than dogs come pre-programmed to interact properly with kids. Read: adults now have to step-in and do something positive to ensure they do live happily ever after. So what can we adults do to ensure that our kids and our dogs will get along safely and happily? Here are three areas that we can concentrate on in this effort: Training-Socialization-Supervision

Training our Children

To respect the dog’s space, food and toys
To not treat the dog as a toy: don’t pull ears/tail/paws/nose, don’t ride the dog, don’t pull the dog around by it’s collar
To refrain from hugging dogs around the neck or put their face into the dog’s face
To refrain from screeching, screaming and squealing at the dog
To play ball, fetch, etc., but ONLY under adult supervision.

Training our Dogs

To know that children bring happy, fun things and are pleasant to engage with.
To trust that only good things happen with children
To respond to requests (sit, down, come, etc.) when asked by children so that they can communicate effectively together and strengthen their relationships
To understand the expectations of the household they live in

Socialize our Children

To dogs at an early age and expose them to a variety of breeds often and safely, but ONLY under adult supervision.

Socialize our dogs

To children at an early age (3 weeks to 3 months of age, if possible). Expose them to a variety of children often and safely, but ONLY under adult supervision. These meetings must always have a ‘happy ending’ for the puppy and the child.

Supervise

All interactions between children and dogs
Be watchful to ensure the children do not mishandle/mistreat the dog
Be watchful to ensure the dog is not stressed during the encounter: Stress signals may include some/ all of the following: yawning, lip licking, turning head/eyes away, lowering head/ears/tail, slinking away, crouching/hiding. Distance increasing signals by the dog may include some/all of the following: lip lifting, low growl, snarling, showing teeth, air snapping, etc. If any of these are observed, end the session immediately, quietly and calmly exit the child from the dog. Refrain from punishing the dog.
Ensure proper meet/greet by child
If you cannot supervise then exit the child from the dog so there is no possibility of improper encounter by either the dog or child

By putting this plan into action with your children and dogs your family will be on the road to loving, safe relationships. Relationships that transcend even the ‘Lassie and Timmy’ connection!

Houston/Katy Dog Trainer Curtiss Lanham, CPDT-KA is the co-owner of dogsmart, a Fulshear based canine behavior counseling and training group.