How to handle going from one dog to three.
 

:help:It appears that Thunder and Checerly will be coming tommorrow. I havent introduced a dog into our house in 10 years.Got no idea how to handle this correctly . I know some things I did inthe past I wouldnt do again. So Ive never met the two girls . They both on a video in a neutral place were ok w/ a confident dog. Lucky is not real confident. So Im going to search the threads s and see what I find but I would love to hear from you folks in rescue who foster and anyone who has multi dog households. Thanks
Maggi

Well it really depends on the dogs. I do fostering and have friends who bring dogs over so there's always "new" dogs coming and going. Nikon can be somewhat "barrier aggressive" for lack of a better term. Meaning, if he's in the yard and someone comes right up to the gate or a dog approaches he will bark and appear to be aggressive. However if I have him in the house and have people and dogs enter the yard first, then let him out, he's fine. He greets the other dog and that's that. I know a lot of people will only do initial meetings in neutral territory but that's why I say it depends on the dog. Nikon is far more likely to be snarky on a short leash, so walking him to a bark and doing greetings there isn't really practical. For us it works to have the new dog come in the house or yard first and sniff around, then I let Nikon and Coke (and any other fosters) come out one by one.

Just wanted to say congrats and good luck!! keep us updated on how it goes, will be keeping fingers crossed it goes GOOD!

Intro on neutral ground outside the home. If you are able to drop all the leashes so they don't feel threatened but you have something to grab in case something goes wrong.

Thanks Guys. Im trying to see if I can get some help tommorrow w/ our neighbor.

I cannot comment on the into part, but just a thought that may help introduce them all in a relaxed state/postive association...mist lavender water - 10 drops essential oil to spritz bottle and spray whereever necessary...you can spritz on hands and fluff into fur.

Rescue remedy as well - 4 drops under the tongue

or the bigger guns - melatonin in advance

can do any combo or all.

Good luck, I hope it goes smoothly - the girls are lucky for your kindness and Lucky hopefully will benefit - for all

Cheers

Maggi,
I agree with the neutral ground intro. I hope it goes well, I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!
Are you just fostering them or are you going to adopt them? Either way thanks for opening your heart and home to them :)

Thanks gator Bytes,Is there a patron St of dogs I can light a candle too? I seriously need St Francis to intervene .

OK my plan for tommorrow. Hubby and myself pick the dogs up somewhere in southern Ohio.We bring them home. Girls in the yard while I greet Lucky . Introduce on leash by walking around front yard which Lucky has only ever been in on leash or tie out so not marked as his terrority. Then if there is calm ,put girls in back yard ,then bring Lucky in . Or one girl in yard other in basement then Luck in yard w/ first girl. Then change the girls. When do I put the three together . Thats where I get nervous .

Do the girls crate? I can give you a whole thing I do, based on that question, does Lucky crate, and is he not confident in that he gets nervous, takes offense, gets snipey, what would I see if I were watching Lucky on TV and he was meeting a new dog?

It's Saint Rocco. :D I have a Rocco, who ironically, is fear reactive to dogs.

Do you HAVE to introduce them right now?
Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't these two just go through surgery?

I'm a huge fan of the two-week shut down. Give them some time to settle in and heal and then go through proper introductions if it's at all possible.