Pets
Dear Community,

Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.

If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.

Thank you.

Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.

Should I have done something different?

A lady reached out to us to watch her dog while she and her family go on vacation for two weeks. I told her that before either of us made a decision I wanted the dogs to meet. She has a male poodle hybrid, about 6 months and not neutered. As y'all know Nala is 3 months, and Pongo is about 11months.

She brought him over, and I had both the dogs on the back porch, so meeting he could adjust to a new house and new people without being overwhelmed by two new dogs. I wasn't too worried about Nala, she's so young and submissive she does great with just about every dog she meets. He did great, then we brought Pongo inside on a leash, and he started barking constantly. H had Pongo, and held him on a tight leash and allowed them to sniff each other and something snapped and Pongo barked, and lunged at her dog. H pulled him back and had him sit, and calmed him down. We continued to let the dogs be around each other and sniff, and eventually after a few more near incidents they were fine. We then let them off the leashes very cautiously and they started play fighting, they're both pretty big dogs so they got pretty rowdy. Pongo, and Nala play a lot, but not nearly so rough, or as loud. What were they doing, and was I doing something wrong? 

I don't think she's going to ask us to keep him after all that, and I don't blame her. I told her to do what she was most comfortable with, and that if I did watch them they would NEVER be left without my supervision, and when I could give them my complete attention. 

Pongo's behavior scared me a little, he's always been the sweetest dog, so I guess I'm wondering if this is normal or not. He's always been fine at the dog park. Did I do anything wrong? How am I supposed to let them meet?  I don't want this to happen again in the future, and I really don't want him or any other dog to get hurt. Thank y'all in advance!

Re: Should I have done something different?

  • nitalnital member
    Tenth Anniversary 10000 Comments Combo Breaker
    the problem is keeping him on a tight leash.  a dog pulling on a tight leash screws up their body language, and sends the wrong signals.  if hes always been fine at the dog park, the easiest way to introduce him to a dog is probably at the dog park, since it's a nice neutral territory.
    image
    Have you seen my monkey?
  • I didn't even think of that, thank you! I was told that male dogs have to establish dominance, what does that usually look like? The only other male dogs he's around are ones he grew up around, other than that most of the dogs are females that are more submissive.
  • Also, it sounds like you did the introduction inside your house, which you shouldn't have done. It should have been some place neutral.
    imageimageimage
  • imagenital:
    the problem is keeping him on a tight leash.  a dog pulling on a tight leash screws up their body language, and sends the wrong signals.  if hes always been fine at the dog park, the easiest way to introduce him to a dog is probably at the dog park, since it's a nice neutral territory.

    Ditto.

  • I agree with PPs that holding Pongo on a tight leash and introducing the dogs in your house were probably not the best choices.  My preferred way of introducing two dogs is to take them for a walk together in a neutral area.  That way, they can get used to each other from a small distance and without face-to-face interaction (which can be scary/threatening to dogs).  While walking, I gradually move closer to the person with the other dog so that we are walking next to each other.  If that goes well, I allow the dogs to meet/greet in a neutral location, often having the other dog sniff my dogs' rear first to avoid face-to-face confrontation.
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
  • nitalnital member
    Tenth Anniversary 10000 Comments Combo Breaker
    Can't say without actually being there and seeing his behavior, but I suspect he was actually just excited and playful, and possibly just frustrated with being leashed.  Dominance probably had nothi g to do with it.  Showing dominance and deferring to another dog can be something as little as a confident dog strutting in, and the more submissive dog simply not making eye contact and backing away.  Humping, barking, and other displays aren't necessary, and are more bullying than dominance.
    image
    Have you seen my monkey?
  • imagenital:
    Can't say without actually being there and seeing his behavior, but I suspect he was actually just excited and playful, and possibly just frustrated with being leashed.  Dominance probably had nothi g to do with it.  Showing dominance and deferring to another dog can be something as little as a confident dog strutting in, and the more submissive dog simply not making eye contact and backing away.  Humping, barking, and other displays aren't necessary, and are more bullying than dominance.

    This makes me feel much better, thank y'all so much! I really appreciate y'all's insight, and experience. Sorry it took me so long to get back, it's been hectic at work and having time with the dogs the past couple days. 

Sign In or Register to comment.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards