Tomorrow I will be bringing a 6 year old retiring GSD brood bitch into our home. We currently have a 9 1/2 year old GSD and a 6 month old kitten who have a very good relationship. Our GSD has no aggression issues and the kitten has no fear of anything. The incoming dog is coming from an active Schutzhund competitor and breeder. This dog is being returned to him for rehoming, and we don't think the dog has been worked for quite some time. When she was picked up our friend observed her and saw no behavior problems, nor has she had any problems in a kennel environment. My wife and I are both Frawleyites and we have the support of our local canine community. I am not concerned with long term adjustment.

What does concern me is how to make the transition as smooth as possible. This is the first time I have brought two adult females under the same roof. Should I introduce them in the yard or allow the new dog to roam the backyard while Sasha observes? When I do bring the new dog in to be crated should I leave the crate in the same room we are in or an adjacent room? Any advice you could offer for the first encounter would be appreciated.
Thank You, MWS

If you go here http://leerburg.com/introducingdogs.htm , you will find an article describing how to do this and a link to a free podcast of the article.


Be sure to read it all, including this part (which is where every writer of an after-the-fact plea for help on the board has gone awry):

During the first weeks the only time our dogs are around one another is when one is in a crate and the other(s) are loose. We know when they are beginning to accept one another when they begin to ignore one another. Your goal here is to show the existing house dogs that this new dog is now part of your pack.

Once that happens you can start to think about how to introduce the dogs outside of the crates.

This is just a small part of the text, but please don't miss it.

I also take 100% care that no uncrated dog can taunt or annoy a crated dog, ever.

eta

Because I am in the habit of adopting an older adult, as you are doing, I have had a few intros in my house. With the rare exception of a dog already in the house who is Mr. Calming Signal (I do have one of those dogs; he is worth his weight in gold), I recommend following the protocol in the link carefully. If it sounds like overkill, don't believe that. How you do this is going to have a huge effect on whether this addition works without permanent separation. It doesn't guarantee it, but it's as close as you can get. JMHO.

Edited by Connie Sutherland (11/18/2009 01:51 PM)
Edit reason: eta

Again, I thank you for taking the time to share your experiences with others. My wife and I benefit greatly from this community and we appreciate your advice.

It's been a full week+ 6 hours since Nomie, a 6 year old Czech/DDR female joined our home and the transition bordered on perfection. Sasha, our 9 1/2 year old Czech quickly accepted her. A bit of territorial behavior, but not at all what we expected. There were a few anxious moments with our cat, but my wife properly corrected her. In a nutshell, we read the ebook, used a little common sense with the crate, lead and corrections-all the things we learned to do right here. After Thanksgiving she will have free access if things keep going this way. This stack of Leerburg videos are one of the best investments I ever made. She plays very well with the cat, but we are guarded. There is no doubt that this is my wife's dog. It is as close to love at first sight as I've ever seen.

Until we got her she was owned, trained and well cared for by a schutzhund competitor/breeder and a dog groomer. He had plans of breeding her and produced a litter of two. I'm not sure exactly why he didn't put her in his program or campaign her. He did try her at police work and found her lacking. I know this fellow well enough to know his decision was based on what was best for the breed(and his reputation which he is hard at establishing). If this is a reject, we don't mind. She is one of the finest dogs I've ever seen and I spent some time around Dutch EOD dogs. I never handled them, only admired them. He says she is very well bred, he just didn't have time to work her. Her mother is Ginta ZPS and her father is Iltis vom Wildsau. I'm not proficient at reading these pedigrees but the dog looks good.I must admit she's a handful, but so was Sasha.

George gave her to us because he liked the way we cared for Sasha and wanted that for Nomie.Sasha is a breast cancer survivor and unless the weather is really bad we walk daily. Not always that far, but almost every day. He and I discussed her care and he offered good advice for over a year prior to giving us Nomie. If every person who brought a puppy into this world did it with the care and concern that he does there would little need for shelters and a lot of good dogs. Every responsible breeder has my respect, this one has my friendship.

I'm sure he could have found many people anxious to have her and we are honored to have his trust that we will work her a bit(no titles-that's real work) love her and I hate to say spoil her just a little. It's amazing that a strong dog such as this can be so sensitive and loving. A very happy Thanksgiving to you and your family. We have much to be thankful for. Mark W. Smith

"In a nutshell, we read the ebook, used a little common sense with the crate, lead and corrections-all the things we learned to do right here. After Thanksgiving she will have free access if things keep going this way. This stack of Leerburg videos are one of the best investments I ever made. "


Isn't it amazing how listening to Ed's voice of long experience and following the suggestions work?

It's great that you posted. Congratulations! You did the work and you and the dogs reap the benefits for a lifetime.

It looks like Nomie has a bladder infection and is going to the Vet in the morning. I don't think she's simply straining to mark and needs a complete exam anyway. She seems to be anxious around strangers. I plan on giving her some "RESCUE REMEDY" before leaving for the Vet. Is there anything in this sedative that could interfere with the test results?

 Quote: mark w smith

It looks like Nomie has a bladder infection and is going to the Vet in the morning. I don't think she's simply straining to mark and needs a complete exam anyway. She seems to be anxious around strangers. I plan on giving her some "RESCUE REMEDY" before leaving for the Vet. Is there anything in this sedative that could interfere with the test results?

This would really be a new thread.

But anyway, I don't think there is anything in it that would change the urinalysis or culture, but I would still recommend that you do a clean catch prior to the Rescue Remedy. You want the first pee of the day if at all possible, and you want a clean catch, which just means allowing the stream to start before catching it so the bacteria around the urethra's opening don't contaminate the spec.

If you have never done this, post back and we can give you pointers. I can say right now that you want a pretty flat and wide catch-container, but to be ready with the bottle so you aren't carrying the aluminum pie plate, for example, very far.

No, I never did this. Until we got Sasha I didn't make a habit of examining poop on a daily basis either. I'm learning. I promise to post properly in the future.

The last couple of times I needed a catch, I just loaded up the dog directly into the car without letting him go first and let the vet tech do it.

 Quote: steve strom

The last couple of times I needed a catch, I just loaded up the dog directly into the car without letting him go first and let the vet tech do it.

That works too.

But if you want the first one of the day (and that is desirable), that isn't always convenient.

It may not be convenient for Mark. It's only convenient for me because It's 10mins to the Vet, I make early appts., and they sleep in crates and ride in crates.