Whew, what a day! Reyka's here!

[KentuckyGSDLover]

I drove up to Ohio and got her today. My cousin went with me so she could drive and I could sit in the back seat with Reyka. She is like a big lap dog, hanging on me, friendly and lovable. She liked my cousin, too. I don't think she'd ever ridden in a vehicle not crated and I couldn't fit that huge crate into my Corolla. Had she not been on a leash, I'm certain she'd have climbed around in the car when my cousin was driving. She'd previously met my 14-year-old dog and when we got to my house I walked her around the yard on a leash awhile and let Buddy out. Overjoyed at a dog to play with, he ran and leaped and Reyka was a bit frightened but friendly. I got Buddy to stop playing, took her in. She sticks to me like glue. I fed her in the laundry room separately and have kept her on a leash with me in the house. I put a pillow in the big crate in my room, she likes it and went in to it easily. When Buddy sniffed her through the crate door, she snarled (cornered feeling?). When I let her out on a leash in the house 1/2 hour later she was fine for hours. She started trying to pig up my attention away from Buddy when I cooked dinner (very food-driven). Later in my office, both dogs were laying on the floor peacefully, but when I got up (her stlll on the leash), she made a little snap at Buddy's nose. Later, the three of us were laying in front of the fireplace for about an hour, all fine, though Buddy avoided getting too close to her. I took him out to potty, then took her out. When we came back in the house, Buddy was standing there at the door and she did the snippy snap thing at him again. This time, I pulled up on the leash and reprimanded her with "no," and "bad dog." She got the tone of my voice fast and wanted to go to the crate. Too much in one day, I think I'll leave her there until the last night potty break, where she feels safe from new house, new person, new dog. I've seen no true aggression. Both dogs are vying for my attention and I think Reyka is a bit frightened. I think I'll stick with the crate and leash as she adjusts.

[StryderPup]

Was she a rescue?

[KentuckyGSDLover]

No, she's not a rescue, but the people who had her for about a year (she's 17 months old) let her run free with a pitbull/lab mix, from what I understand. Her original owner got her back about two months ago, has had her around her GSDs since then, and she was fairly submissive to them (in fact, she sometimes would pee when one of them approached her). My older dog, Buddy, is not dominating at all; he's just laid back. She wants to please me, that's obvious. I've only had her with me for one day and she's super in-tune to me. She doesn't seem to have been trained much except for the sit and lay commands her original owner (the breeder I got her from, who had just gotten her back) taught her as a small puppy. I have work cut out, but she is responsive to me. Her little snaps at my older dog were not lunges or attacks, but more possesive of me/jealous little snaps (my older sister's female dog does this when introduced to new dogs, too). My younger sister fosters dogs, plus has dogs of her own, and told me to keep doing what I'm doing until she adjusts a bit.

[JakodaCD OA]

congrats I am glad you got her,,now ya gotta post some pics of her

Her snapping at Buddy, well I'd keep an eye on that, I'm not sure I'd be using "no" on her, as I just don't use that word,,I use more of a "LEAVE IT"..which to my dogs mean, stop, knock it off whatever your doing ,,a rather bundle of things ,,

Can't wait to see pics!

[KentuckyGSDLover]

Originally Posted by JakodaCD OA

congrats I am glad you got her,,now ya gotta post some pics of her

Her snapping at Buddy, well I'd keep an eye on that, I'm not sure I'd be using "no" on her, as I just don't use that word,,I use more of a "LEAVE IT"..which to my dogs mean, stop, knock it off whatever your doing ,,a rather bundle of things ,,

Can't wait to see pics!

Honestly, I've always used "no" for every undesireable behavior in all my dogs. It's a simple word and they learn it fast. She's already learning that "no" in a very stern tone means to stop whatever she is doing, that is displeases me. For now, I have separated them and crated her. I take her for walks 5 times a day, am working on letting her know who is boss (not letting her run ahead of me at the door or stairs to the porch, which I first discovered she can bound up 2 at a time ). She barked at Buddy twice if he walked by her crate, but a stern "no" has stopped that in just two days. I'm not ready to let her out on the leash in the house with him again yet (I close him in my bedroom door for now when she's out). She absolutely HAS to learn that nipping at Buddy is unacceptable to me. Neither dog is a dominant type. She previously has been pretty submissive to other dogs and lived with multiple dogs before. In fact, her previous owner was very surprised when I called and asked if she'd ever done this before (she hasn't). Buddy is not a dominating type himself, but he's not really submissive, either. He's more laid back, like he could care less who is in charge. I think she knows this and thinks she may, for once, have the upper hand. This is a kind of needy jealousy that I am hoping will get better as I assert myself as leader of the pack and she begins to feel secure here.

[Marnie]

When I brought home a six month old GSD, my 15 year old border collie snapped at him if he crowded her. You could hear her teeth click, click, clicking. She was just telling the pup she did not like being bumped and crowded. He paid no attention and often knocked her down just trying to play. I wouldn't worry about the snapping. All dogs have to set boundries and understand what is acceptable. I think you are doing the right thing. She is overwhelmed and frightened so don't be too hard on her. Good luck with your new girl! Sounds like you have the makings of a really good companion.