Just got a 2nd dog - need advice (long)

[TxJasmine]

Hi

I know that many of you have dogs, and I’m hoping that you can help me out.

We have a 3 year old Boston Terrier mix (we think she’s mixed with Italian Greyhound) who weighs 23 pounds. We got her from rescue when she was a puppy. She is a really wonderful (and very spoiled dog). She doesn’t have a mean bone in her body, and she likes all people and all other dogs. She is not aggressive at all – in fact she’s somewhat skittish and standoff-ish.

We also have 2 kids – DD10 and DS9. The kids and I have felt for a long time that our dog needs a companion. DH didn’t want another so we never did anything.

DH’s parents have been looking for a little dog. This past weekend we were at Petsmart looking at dogs to see if there would be one that would work for his parents. Well, DH and DD fell in love with a 6 lb. Toy Fox Terrier! I agree that it would be very good for DD to have her own little companion – especially as she starts to enter the pre-teen and teen years. However, a 6 lb. dog is NOT the companion I was considering for our BT mix. She’s a very cute little dog, but sooooo tiny! They think that she’s between 2 and 3 years old, and she appears to be potty trained. Anyway, we took the dog.

Our BT mix loves to play and wants to play with the TFT. Unfortunately, the little one is intimidated by the big one. But it’s been a few days already, and things seem to be getting better. The TFT is getting more used to our house, and she doesn’t seem as scared of the big dog.

However, there is one BIG problem. The BT mix has never been a big eater. She has food available all day long. But as soon as the little one comes near the food, the BT will growl and try to attack her. Even if we feed the TFT in another room, the BT will try to attack her there, too. I’m not sure if the BT would really hurt the little one. The fighting may look worse than it is. We are always right there to separate them when it gets bad.

Does anyone have any advice on how to handle the food issue? Any other suggestions? Does anyone have dogs who are so greatly different in size? I really want this to work. This poor little dog has been in an animal shelter, rescue, and our house all in the same week. I want her to have a stable home, and I can see how much the dog and DD have already bonded.

Thank you if you read through this. I really want to hear any stories or advice that you have that can help us get through this initial adjustment period.

 

[Christine]

Your older dog is exhibiting food aggression and, yes, it can be dangerous.

I have a 45 lb beagle mix and a 10 lb Jack Russell and they have gotten into fights over food (mainly when others were feeding them). I feed them at the same time in separate rooms. After that, bowls and food are put away. It is the only thing that works for us.

 

[Cindyluwho]

I have a 60+ pound lab and a 4 lb chihuahua, as well as an 11 lb cockapoo. The first couple of weeks were exactly like you describe. The one difference is that the lab was afraid of hurting the chi. She wanted to play but just couldn't quite figure out how. At the time the chi was around 1 pound, so you can see there was quite a size difference. They do need to figure out the pecking order and your BT is telling your new one that he's the alpha and he eats first. Keep a close eye, like you said you're doing, and things should be fine in a short time. Just make sure that the BT never growls at you when you touch his food bowl. In fact, you should practice picking up his food bowl when he's eating to let him know that you outrank him. Severly reprimand him if he growls at you.
Good luck!!

 

[TerriP]

We have three male dogs and have never, knock on wood, had food/personality issues. They range in size from 88 pounds to 16 pounds.

Our dogs are fed in their "pack order"...through their own personalities they have established their own pack order and I feed them in that order. I am sure if you watch your two interact, you'll see who is naturally more dominant and who is more submissive. Our most dominant boy is our 12 year old Beagle - Barney (43 pounds), he gets his bowl first, then our middle child, 7 year old Lab, Baxter (88 pounds) gets his bowl, and then our baby, 9 month old Border Terrier, Cooper (16 pounds) gets his bowl (OH! and I do say their name as I place their bowl on the floor so everyone knows WHOSE it is and everyone MUST "sit" if they want their bowls!). They eat about five feet apart in the kitchen with Mom or Dad supervising - they do not eat alone. Everyone eats immediately and I immediately pick up the bowls. Barney used to dawdle and eat whenever he felt like it...not anymore. He eats right away with everyone else. The bowls are picked up immediately so no one dawdles and because *I* am the pack Alpha and I say so!!

I might suggest you try feeding your more aggressive dog in his/her crate (assuming you have one). That is what some friends do with their dog that has food "issues". He/she is safe from the other dogs and can eat at their own speed. Once they are done eating, open the crate and take the bowl away.

Good luck with your adjustment. Everything is SO new right now, I know how hectic it can be. I bet with some time and consistency, you can get to the bottom of this and find the solution that will work for your family.

BTW...BLESS YOU for rescuing both of your dogs...you MADE MY DAY when you wrote that!!

 

[jrmasm]

No more free access to food is the first step. And feed the new dog in a crate. 5-10 minutes to eat. Anything uneaten is tossed. After a few days they'll figure out eating is only at mealtime.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Food issues....

You need to stop the BT prior to the "attack". Feed them together and supervise. YOU have to become the alpha and correct the BT.
No more free feeding for now.

Think about it this way...you are training the BT how to behave around the TFT. As Cesar Milan says..."rules, boundaries, and limitations."
The BT should not be the boss of food. This can lead to other aggressive behaviors as the BT is establishing dominance in your home over the TFT. Then it can lead to the kids and then a bite.

I also deal with my two, (size does not matter when it comes to food, btw). Just the act of standing in between them will begin your role as "alpha". Think of yourself as in control, a boxing referee or prison warden. Shoulders high and be the boss.
When the BT even LOOKS at the TFT give a stern correction.
We can do the "ssh" sound and they know they are getting corrected.
Takes time and training...lots of it. It is so worth it. Aggression should not be tolerated EVER from your dogs.

 

[MinnieMe2]

No more free-feeding, it's too dangerous. Feed the dogs on set schedules, at the same time, in different rooms OR in their crates (I like crates and use them for my dogs, specifically for times like this.). I feed my bassets twice a day, morning and evening. My male eats in the kitchen, where he always has, and my female eats in her crate. Edith didn't care for her crate at all, when she first came to live with us, so feeding her there put her mind at ease about it. She now likes her crate, and I can feed both dogs safely.

If you don't have crates, put the dogs in separate rooms for feeding. If you can't physically close a door between them, set up a baby gate. Do not put yourself between two dogs when you know one of them is a resource guarder. You could be injured, and it just isn't worth taking the chance.

 

[minnieandmickeymouse]

If you get the National geographic channel, watch the show The Dog Whisperer, it is awsome!

We have learned allot from that show, and we are dog breeders.

 

[LynnTH]

We have a 7 pound Pekingese and an 80 pound Golden Retreiver. They both get along great (and are both males). We did have the smaller dog first for about a year then we got the Golden. Our dogs have always had food available to them all the time. Our little one has a little dish in her kennel (we don't put him in there anymore but it is still his little house so we keep it for his food and water). The Golden has a dish downstairs. They have both eaten out of each others dishes and they have never fought about it. They rarely fight but when they do the little dog ends up winning and the Golden backs away (is pretty funny). Maybe they just need a little time to establish ground rules and stuff with each other.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Do not put yourself between two dogs when you know one of them is a resource guarder. You could be injured, and it just isn't worth taking the chance.

That is true.
I don't allow my dogs to be the boss in my house, her BT is already "the boss" so you could run into trouble there.

What is a resource guarder?

Also...you say the BT is skittish & stand-offish, aka dominant male. My male is also fearful and when we took over being dominant from him, he became very happy to give it up.
So it is a process and best done under the guidance of a professional.

Good Luck and get some good help. Even one session with a behaviorist or good trainer can help you.

 

[Maryr1]

Right now I have 2 dogs. I am active in obedience and have done agility etc. in the past. I have also had as many as 5 dogs at a time so I am pretty familiar with these issues. First-no more free feeding. Period. Second-make yourself the alpha. All dogs sit and stay while the food is being prepared and served. They do not approach the bowls until they are given the OK. I feed my smaller dog in her crate because she was fed like that as a puppy and it just stuck-but she sits and waits outside the crate until she is released.Third-the dog who is showing agression-make sure you touch his food,interupt his feeding,pet him, distract him,whatever-just to make sure he doesn't growl or try to take over the feed. If he even bares his teeth or shows any signs of aggression-correct him swiftly, strongly and decisivley.Make sure he knows you mean business.These pups will work out there issues, but the key is you -the alpha. I have never had a failure introducing a new pet into the mix. Sometimes it just takes time! Good luck!

 

[TxJasmine]

Thank you all for your input! Giving up free feeding will be hard, but I will probably have to start doing it. At least for a while.

I'm amazed at how many of you have big dogs and little dogs. I guess it can work out!

I do want to clarify that both the dogs are female. I don't think the BT is dominant. When she meets other dogs she usually rolls over onto her back. She's also never had a problem when the kids harrass her while she's eating. And that has happened a lot! I did go home at lunch time today and fed them separately. It seemed a little better. The BT is very smart, and she seemed to understand when I told her "no" about going near the little one.

BTW...BLESS YOU for rescuing both of your dogs...you MADE MY DAY when you wrote that!!

TerriP, I think the people who rescue dogs are true heroes. Both of my dogs would be dead if it weren't for the rescue organizations.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

The BT is very smart, and she seemed to understand when I told her "no" about going near the little one.

Just keep training and no more free feeding. Sounds like she is going to be fine. It takes time. It is not that she is "smart". She sees you as the "boss". That is good to hear. I was worried she did not.

Both of mine are rescues and come with baggage. Congrats on the new pup!