Posted: 3/7/2011 7:29:40 AM EDT
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I have an opportunity to try to integrate my dog with some new puppies that a good friend and neighbor just got. Indeed, they asked that we actually try to do so, even though it's a tall order. So we've agreed to try. If we succeed it's a huge deal for us because they have in the past done pet sitting for us, love our dog, etc., AND our dog will finally have some new doggie pals. The trick is, though, that our dog is very dog aggressive. And just to make matters even more challenging, they are all three females, our dog's an Akita and the new pups are Malamutes. So we've got breed and gender dispositions that are also suboptimal.
As I said, a tall order. Perhaps impossibly tall. Nevertheless we are going to try. We hope, through a combination of training, perseverence and your help we might succeed. Our friends are long time Malamute owners, so they understand the issues as well. Now our dog, while aggressive (dogs only, people she loves), is not a total train wreck. She is highly trained and will be obedient while on lead around other dogs as long as they are not in her face. However off lead, or if another dog is allowed to get in her face while on lead, it's instantly Game On. No warning, no nothing. We've had her over to the other house about every other day for the last 10 days. She's been on lead. She's been able to inspect all the puppy stuff and the puppies have been able to inspect her (rear end only––no nose to nose action). We've also been acclimating her to a wire basket muzzle. Yesterday we tried her over there off lead with the muzzle. She's so damn smart, she gets passive because she knows we've taken her teeth. However she's good about the muzzle, she doesn't try very hard to get it of and requires minimal verbal correction to stop the occasional paw on the muzzle. We've also been good to her, keep the pup's from jumping on her, etc. She won't take food rewards with the muzzle on, but she is otherwise pretty relaxed. Our next steps are to continue with the muzzle aided acclimation. We are hoping she'll start taking food rewards through the muzzle. The pups are 9 weeks and 35lbs already so they can handle a big Akita paw swipe but we don't want those Akita teeth in play! Any hints, tips, etc. would be MOST appreciated as this is a pretty difficult goal we've set! Thanks, aa |
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I also have a very dog aggressive dog and what I have found is that while they do well through other dog's puppy stages, once those puppies mature and pose even a smidge of challenge to the dog aggressive animal, there will be a problem. I personally have found the only way to manage the dog is through constant supervision when around other adult dogs or even with puppies over 4 months of age. With those particular breeds, the odds of serious damage from a fight are significant to both the dogs and people attempting to break up the fight.
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Thanks, Miss M. I agree, nothing unsupervised. Even then it's a crapshoot––I've literally got the scars to prove it  On the other hand it should be noted that my dog doesn't give out "puppy passes". So I'm hoping that tolerance to the pups will translate to the adults. I'm trying to remain positive so any fear and negativity I have are not sensed and amplified by my dog.
I have successfully done this once before with my Akita but it was with another adult dog, our new neighbor's female golden. It took 3 months to do and only one day to undo. They had three glorious months together, a Hollywood vision of friendly neighborhood dogs. Then the neighbors added a collie pup to their pack. It took one day for my dog and the golden to become arch enemies again 
Interestingly, the two Malamute pups are absolutely the softest things imaginable right now. They hardly even wrestle with each other. Yet. |
| It isn't easy living with dog aggressive animals, that's for sure. Like your dog, mine adores other people, kids in particular. He endures his own pack but even then, we have unprovoked outbursts as the slightest perceived provocation: too close to a toy he favors, failure to avert eyes fast enough, rough housing beyond his self imposed tolerances, etc.... I am always vigilant with him because of that. |