Introducing another dog....

Hey all, so i've mentioned about Rio before not liking other dogs due to never being socialised, he went through a brief stage where he liked them and played a bit but then seemed unsure again, he especially doesn't like staffies (one ran at him once) and fluffy small dogs (reminds him of cats i think).

But my OH was talking about someday getting a bulldog and wondered whether Rio would ever accept a dog that he got used to? I've heard about staffies not liking other dogs but get on fine with ones at home, and he gets on with a black lab back at the OH's mum's, they go nose to nose through the fence and greet each other. Any advice on if this is possible? Plus it'd be nice for him to have another friend in the house

We've certainly found this. Bobbert was not to be rehomed with another dog and they only let us take him because I knew enough what I was doing, and because we had the annex to get them used to each other gradually. He lived with 4 other dogs in total here and was fine with all of them.

Having said that, I think you'd need to get Rio comfortable with having other dogs in his garden first, working at very safe distances on loose long leads. That's how we did it here, popping Bob back in the annex in between times until we were sure of his comfort level with the others.

So yes, it is possible. Not necessarily easy, but possible.

id agree with liz on this the introductions have to be very very slow and at the dogs own pace mia was unsocialised as a puppy but she lived with cats for years. id consult a behaviourist if you dnt have much experience to see if rio would cope living with another animal

The animal behaviourists I've experience around her were utter rubbish and told me basically he's a lost cause due to his age and it's more of a 'management' situation, no support whatsoever.

I wonder if he'd be different with a puppy? It's hard to tell as he doesn't seem bothered by certain dogs :/

I just went straight in to it let diesel find sky we had her two weeks they best off friends now he's doing the daddy role

Jeez, that's helpful, Emma. Not.

I think in your position I'd look around for a good but maybe smaller rescue centre and talk to them about you and Rio. They will know their dogs, know if there are any who might match, and might be able to set up a dog meet away from their kennels, which is less stressful. If they get on, then do several meets, on lead to start off with then off lead, and ask if you can do a meet at home as well. Then foster if they will let you.

Any good rescue centre should let you return the dog if it doesn't work out and should also provide backup if you have a situation that you still want to work through.

I know a puppy is tempting and they are undeniably sweet, but I just wonder if you might not be better off with the backup of a rescue. If you go for an older dog, you'll already have a better idea of character and you won't have the worry of whether Rio would injure a pup.

But you know I'm biased towards rescues, don't you?

Plus puppies are exhausting in and of themselves. Cast your mind back to the constant sleeplessness, nipping, squeaking, peeing, flailing, chewing, zoomies and attention-seeking of the under-one year old staffy. Then factor in getting your boy used to this attention-seeking interloper.

LizP wrote:

I think in your position I'd look around for a good but maybe smaller rescue centre and talk to them about you and Rio. They will know their dogs, know if there are any who might match, and might be able to set up a dog meet away from their kennels, which is less stressful. If they get on, then do several meets, on lead to start off with then off lead, and ask if you can do a meet at home as well. Then foster if they will let you.

Any good rescue centre should let you return the dog if it doesn't work out and should also provide backup if you have a situation that you still want to work through.

I know a puppy is tempting and they are undeniably sweet, but I just wonder if you might not be better off with the backup of a rescue. If you go for an older dog, you'll already have a better idea of character and you won't have the worry of whether Rio would injure a pup.

That is a good idea regarding the rescue! I'm not comfortable with the idea of getting a puppy at all simply because I can see what rescuing has done for Rio, it was just the idea of what he might be comfortable with. Definitely will look into matching him with a rescue dog, will do some research, thanks!

Let me know if and when I can start getting excited?

zoomies , sleeplessness, sounds familiar to mia just now you sure you are speaking of a pup here god love mia she settles when i tell her but the intial wake up when she goes for a drink of water :lol:shouldn't have let her in my bed but hey ho loves my wee mia wouldn't have her any other way .