Dog question

Factual Questions
1

As some of you may know, I’m moving this weekend, and because our new house isn’t ready yet, we have to live with my grandmother and her dog for at least a month.

My dog is extremely loving and protective of me and hubby, but she hates other dogs.

For the past two weekends while we’ve been house-hunting, she’s stayed with us at grandma’s place. Grandma’s dog is very friendly and wants to play, but my dog growls and snaps at him. The first time they met, she lunged at him and had we not pulled her back, we would have had a dog fight on our hands.

My dog is a Norweigan Elkhound/retriever mix, a four-year-old female who hasn’t had much socilization with other dogs. Grandma’s dog is a year-and-a-half old male, who has had other-dog experiance, and has always been very friendly with them. Both dogs are “fixed.” Grandma’s dog just wants to play, while my dog pointedly ignores him at best, or snaps and growls if he comes too near. If grandma’s dog walks up to her, she back away to the other side of the room. I’m not too worried that my dog will out-and-out attack grandma’s dog, but if he would back her into a corner trying to get a friendly sniff, she might.

Last weekend, we lay on the floor with the dogs, one on either side of us. We pet the other dog, and my dog at the same time, so that she would know that we weren’t threatened by the other dog. She didn’t mind that, and lay there somewhat calmly until the other dog moved closer. Then she backed away with a little growl. We corrected her every time she growled or barked at the other dog, and she gradually growled less, but she still doesn’t want anything to do with the other dog. She had no problem with lying on the other dog’s bed, or playing with his toys, and the other dog allowed this. When he approached her, she went into the dining room, and hid beneath the table.

Is there any way to make these dogs get along? They have to live together for at least a month, there’s no other choice. They’re both inside dogs, so leaving one outside isn’t an option, and I can’t very well leave my dog locked up in our room all the time. I’m afraid to leave them alone together in case one hurts (or, god forbid, kills) the other. What should I do?

2

Elkhounds are naturally protective dogs. Of themselves and their keepers, and the sad truth of the situation is that if she has not been trained to get along with other dogs by now, then she will probably have a lot of trouble learning.

3

Lissa -
You mentioned that you “correct” your dog whenever she growls or reacts negatively to your grandmother’s dog. Allow me to recommend an alternative: REWARD the behavior you want, instead of punishing the behavior you don’t wnat.

Check out this article … http://www.click-l.com/Gems/solving_dog_problems.htm#Dog on Dog Aggression … (you’ll likely have to cut-n-paste) for some suggestions.

FWIW, I got started in clicker training when my family adopted a 2-yr-old labrador retriever from the pound - and the results have been nothing short of amazing!

It IS a bit of work, but it’s a LOT of fun. And the fun is multiplied when you realize that your dog trusts you, instead of fearing you!

4

The clicker method suggested by ScriboDeus is highly effective. Even better is the idea of rewarding the desired behavior instead of punishing your animal’s negative responses. Punishment will only serve to make your dog’s position seem more precarious to itself and result in more nervous behavior.

You may wish to consider a muzzle. However drastic this solution may be, if the other animal could approach yours a couple of times without a fight erupting it might bode well. The muzzle might also serve as a last resort device as well. I do not approve of them, but you are obviously in dire straits here and need effective short term solutions.

Behavior modification remains the best path.

5

I have one dog, and my boyfriend has two. We introduced the dogs to each other (one at a time, not the whole gang at once) on neutral territory, in this case a park, so none of the dogs would think the other was “invading” the rightful territory of the other. Do it slowly, and try and read the body language to predict possible fights. As with most animals, a pecking order must be established before there is any sort of Peace.

We have had a few tiffs between the dogs. I compare them to teenage boys, they get along great most of the time, but once in a while a fight will break out. These are usually started by my dog who feels threatened if another dog invades his space. Only once have I had to bring a dog to the vet for stitches because of a fight, they usually just get wet scruffs but don’t injure each other. VERY IMPORTANT Don’t ever try to break up a dog fight yourself. You will get bitten, and dog bites suck.

6

Dogs are pack animals, and they have a natural need to find out who is the top dog. However, they have a strong self-preservation urge. When two dogs test each other in a brief squabble, it is rare for either dog to get hurt, and in a few seconds the dogs will sort out which one, by posture, accepts the other’s dominance. If a human keeps getting involved, though, the process can take all day. Let them sort it out.

7

ScriboDeus . . . When I say that I correct her, I mean that I clap my hands and say “NO! Bad girl!” I NEVER strike the dog, or use any sort of physical punishment. I also told her that she was a good girl, and petted her when she didn’t growl at him.

I hesitate to use the muzzle. I have one, which I use as sparingly as possible, because it does something to her. She initially fights it, but when the futility of struggling is impressed upon her, she slumps down, and gives me a terrible sad-dog look that says “Why?” Her whole body hunches up, almost like she’s been beaten. But you guys may be right . . . maybe I should try it on her when she meets the other dog again.

Thanks for all of your help . . . I feel now that there may be hope.