new dog
 

I have just taken on a rescue dog age 1 year she is very friendly and affectionate but already is having issues with possession of me, not belongings or anything, just me and has several times now attacked my 7 year old resident dog who does not fight back just runs away - not sure I can sort this one out - should I take her back or is there a solution out there somewhere - I don't want my first dog to be unhappy or even worse injured - any ideas anyone?

Sounds like you need to be the Alpha and reprimand her when she does this. She is a year old so she can be trained. If you don't intend to keep her I would keep the two separated and find a new owner asap.

Take her back. It will take an expert to gently take on her issues.

Oh, my what a delemma! She really needs you, it sounds like. Have you tried introducing them and helping them get acquainted?

Your heart is in the right place but maybe you should take her back. Will save a lot of future heartbreak and problems. Some animals have to be the only one in the household. It's not really fair to your 7 year old, passive baby. Maybe this is why she was surrendered in the first place.

I can identify with that...I have three poodles and one thinks he's the alpha and has proven it by cowing all the fosters we used to try to keep. Finally gave up on that and won't try anything like that again until he passes on...BUT, no problems with his two other housemate poodles....go figure! That said, he is excellent protection for me!

I'm so sorry for you but it sounds as if she needs to be the only dog in a new family until she can learn to accept other animals. My new rescuer and my old cat are having issues, but are working it out. Good to know you are thinking about your old pal.

thank you for your comments I think most of you have said what I have been thinking that she needs to be in a one dog family its such a same as in between times they both get on quite well and she is such a dear little girl. Have some hard thinking to do.

It depends on how much time you want to put into it. It is possible to change that But It will take time and work.. Check out this guy
http://www.siriuspup.com/about_founder.html
He has a lot of good articles.
Victoria Stillwell has had a couple of shows about dogs like that. She has her own FB page and she does answer on there. Just ask her to point you in the direction of some articles.

Also look here for some articles .. Her I know personally and she has NEVER done the "alpha" training. http://www.mybestbuddydogtraining.com/
I hope things work out.
It IS fixable.

shehas been so un-loved for so long. she wants you for herself, like a child you have to teach them. scold her when she does that. have one dog next to you on one side and the other on the other side. slowly do this process and when she acts up scold her. play rope, or ball with them together. They will learn how to play. she just has to get adjusted to you the older dog and someone to love her. best of luck, if this does not help look up the dog wisperer on line, he is really good with animals or go to pet co they do training there. They can work with them together or seperate.
best of luck

I had a similar problem years ago. The shelter said the yellow lab was a wonderful dog, loved everyone, etc. When we had her home a few days I notice she would stare at my son then about 3 years old in a menacing way. Then one day as my older Greyhound was just walking past her she struck out and tore the top of my Grey's head badly. She went back to the shelter that day with a warning that she should not be placed in a home with other dogs or kids.

are you taking her on walks, active walks that tire her out? my experience has been that bored, worker breed animals get territorial and snippy when they aren't keep active. she does sound like a child who is afraid they aren't loved so pushes any competition aside. i like the idea of also getting the two of them playing together with you. When you make decision, think of what breeds are dominate in her and whether you have taken that into consideration when you work with her.

do you have any history as to why the dog was surrendered? how long have you had her?

I know when I got my doxie rescue last October, he was very determined to be alpha leader. He had a real attitude problem. I worked with the foster mom and she helped me get through to him. Within about a month, he turned around completely and now the greatest little guy in the world.

Dogs don't understand why they are being shuffled around from home to home so some will act out. Doxies are known for their attitude issues but they are also very loving and loyal little companions.

What kind of dog is it (if you know)?

I don't know if it will work in this situation, because a lot of 'dog behavior ' includes things that can't be realized online. When that happens around here, the 'victim,' your original dog, gets the attention, praised for the way it handled it. This does 2 things, it lets that dog know it gets rewarded for not fighting, it lets the other dog know that whenever it does this, it does NOT get attention, but the other one does. It's whole purpose for getting after the original dog is to have you to itself, so it's behavior is actually having the opposite affect.
It's very important that you do NOT pay ANY attention to the new dog when it does this, and if and when it does coexist with the old one, even for a brief second, it gets praise too

This is why it's important to NOT scold the offender, because scolding attention to him is better than no attention

Cookie, my Chihuahua is like that also, she drove my old Poodles nuts until their health declined and I had to have them put down. We were her 2nd or 3rd home, I don't think anyone tried teaching her anything. I would like to get another dog but, she would take over, she is going on 5, doubt I will outlive her so I can get a breed I like better. My Husband has really taken to her.

Have you talked to your vet about this? I just find my vet to be so helpful with any problems I have ever had with my dog. It would be really sad if you had to take her back but it also would be a shame to make your househld miserable. I'd talk to my vet before I made a final decision. Good luck... let us know how things turn out please.

One other thing, we have to be careful to not put our own feelings in our dogs. What I mean is, the older dog walking away, and not being confrontational, is the way dogs are. Someone has to be the alpha, they both say the new dogs is. He is still growling at the old dog because someone there doesn't get that he's alpha and he still has to prove his place, could it be you? Sure to us people, that doesn't seem fair, but in dog-ese, fair doesn't count. If they are both happy with the new dog being the alpha, who are we to not go along with that?

Start treating the new dog like it is alpha - feed it first, pet it first. They are working out their hierarchy, it will only cause them more stress if you don't respect that. They will be much happier if you honor what they are working out.
They are going to be happier if they know their place, and you do too.

The older dog does not mind not being the alpha, as long as everyone in the pack knows it too. You are extremely lucky the old dog just walks away. The problems will start when you give signals that the old dog is trying for alpha, then there may be fights

There is a lot of information available online on training dogs. You might not be interested in a long obedience training routing, but I bet you can find the basics to reinforce good behavior. Good luck with her. She needs you for sure and your elderly pet also deserves not to be displaced. Here's a link to a short article about just what you're talking about:
"How to make your new dog's adoption work for life".
http://www.dogsindanger.com/HowToMakeAdoptionWork.pdf

Sounds like you have to show her who the alpha is....YOU.....I have four dogs....all rescued....My middle one thought she was the owner of me and everything around me....I had to put her on her back several times when she started acting out. By doing this it shows them you are the boss, the alpha. You must show them you are the boss. It may take a couple of times but she will learn fast that there is only one boss and it is you. Don't give up on her.

YOU are absolutely the ALPHA......dogs are pack animals and when we bring them to live in our homes, in their mind we are part of their "pack". If you don't assume the position of the Alpha you are sure to have problems. JMO

Poor thing. I really would try to work with her if I can but if she starts to bite and hurt then she may have to go. God Bless oyu. I hope it works out for you and her.

I have a darling little rescued doggy, now nearly 12 years old, yes she went through a traumatic childhood and needed a lot of TLC and extra patience and care but was it worth it, you bet. She is the best companion I have ever had and turned out to be wonderful with children of all ages but has a few doggies she just does not like, I don't what it is about them but she just will not tolerate them. Fortunately they are just a couple as in general she is the most wonderful companion and loving doggie but like most animals/people who have been abused just need a bit more care and TLC, do please try a bit longer to give her that as I wouldn't like to think where she will end up if you give up on her :(

Thank you for all your comments - I have since spoken to the rescue centre, and after taking Lucy up there and trying out a couple of things and because of her history we all realised that Lucy cannot live with another female dog - spayed or not male dogs were fine as she had previously lived with a load of them and was kenneled with them - am very disappointed that I had to let her go as in all other respects she is delightful, great fun, clean, and loved long walks - but I shall continue looking as I have always had at least two dogs in the house - never more than 4 though!!!! ha ha and when Lucy was being nice - usually on our walks Millie seemed to really enjoy her company and playing with her. Fortunately the re-homing centre I use never give up on any dogs - they have a couple there that are totally unsuitable for re-homing but continue to live there and will do so for there life-time but am sure that Lucy will find the right place very soon.