Hi all,
Got my new dobe puppy yesterday. I was so nervous about the initial meet n greet with my St. Bernard. I had my husband hold back with the puppy, I went in the house first with a stuffed toy that came with him and let Moe smell me and the toy for about ten minutes, then had my husband come in with the puppy in his arms. Moe was intense, sniffing the pup all over. He was on guard for a bit, then seemed to relax. We put the puppy down and Moe just followed him around. If he seemed to be hovering a little to close or what I called doing his "bully stance" we just spoke to him quietly and firmly using his name, and things like,be good, etc. When he walked away, we praised him. We crate the puppy and he is never alone with Moe. Out in the yard he is on leash and tonight when Moe came running over the puppy laid on his back in a submissive gesture. This time when Moe was over him he was wagging his tail. I hope this is a good sign, as he does seem more relaxed with the puppy, in fact a little disinterested too. My two Min pins could care less. We have named the puppy "Texas Hold Em". When he is not in his crate or outside with us he is at our feet sleeping. Just going on instinct with it all, so we'll see how it goes.

Ed has some good articles here on introducing puppies & older dogs to exising dogs in the house. You might take a look at them & get some help on how to proceed.

Good luck with your new pup.

Ellen,

You probably aren't going to like this question, but I remember in your first post you expressed concern over bringing in your new pup to a house with a St. Bernard who could be aggressive to other dogs. You asked for advice on how to go about this introduction, and were directed to Ed's free ebook on bringing a new dog into an existing pack.

I've re-read the ebook because I could not remember any of the steps you did with this pup and your potentially aggressive 200# dog advised in the ebook.

Are you really looking for advice?

You have created a four dog pack and I fear you may not be prepared for what all that entails and it is your new pup who is going to pay the price.

JMHO.

Just going on instinct...

Your past instinct has show itself not to be too accurate.

Please review the article that you were linked to before.

 Quote: Aaron Myracle

Just going on instinct...

Your past instinct has show itself not to be too accurate.

Please review the article that you were linked to before.

I don't understand where my past instincts have been wrong. I have been a multiple dog household{4 plus} for my entire life, I have worked with rescues, and also worked with greyhound adoptions for many years. When my children were born, we had a dog that hated children, a stray that we had adopted. I have never had an issue with dog aggression, my children were taught to respect the dogs space, and the dog to respect my children, she passed at 15 without ever having an incident.

My concern with my St. Bernard has only been while on lead with dogs outside of my pack. I set the pace for my dogs in my household. They are considered members of my family, and must get along. I do not allow bulling and I am quite aware of what can happen, I don't allow it! Having dogs live their life in a crate won't work for me, the crates are not in use once the puppy can be in my house without any cause for concern.

Good luck with your dog pack.

 Quote: ellen dondero

Moe came running over the puppy laid on his back in a submissive gesture. This time when Moe was over him he was wagging his tail.

A wagging tail does not always mean "friendly"....
and a puppy rolling over on it's back when approached by a running (as you stated in the above quote) 200lb dog was probably doing it out of fright, not simply out of submission.
and you shouldn't let the other dog stand over your puppy like that (as you stated in the above post).
Don't let the older dog rule over a puppy like that...it's just not fair considering the size difference. Of course the puppy is going to roll.
YOU need to control the situation better than that.

From your other thread:

 Quote: ellen dondero

My biggest worry is the introduction of the puppy with Moe. He has always been fine with the small dogs and cats, has shown aggressive behaior on lead only to other dogs . My future plans with the Dobe are PPD.

And this is good for a potential PPD dog? Submission, putting it in uncomfortable positions at a young age?

I am defiantly no expert on PPD’s but in order for that to work, this situation may need to be changed around a bit or the puppy will never come into his\her own and could get hurt.

My “pet” GSD and my hopefully potential competition GSD (MR) were not introduced face to face until the puppy was 9 months old. AND there was defiantly, absolutely, NO ranking and when they did meet face to face, it was VERY closely monitored. She is a little over a year now, and their interaction, when I allow it, is still VERY closely watched. There is never play without me directly monitoring the play. If I see any sign of something that could get out of control it is stopped immediately.

A wise man and women once said there should be no interaction until both dogs can be recalled immediately. That is a good tip from Ed and Cindy and a rule I live by.

I needed to be the center of my puppies universe, and that is just standard for a competition dog (in my world anyways).

Maybe PPD’s are different. Just my 2 cents.

I wish you the best.

ETA: when my "pet" GSD wags her tail in a certain way = bad things are going to happen, a sign I watch closely with her. Boils down to knowing your dog(s)

You are right Scott..its a really bad thing...

The puppy needs to be managed in such a way that nothing scares it or intimidates it or dominates it...(owner being alpha the exception for dominating...and that is leadership...not alpha rolling crap)The fact that it should back down from anything shouldn't even be in its head.

Every experience should be carefully and artificially set up for the puppies success........If that can't be done, then the puppy shouldn't be exposed to whatever it is.

Ranking in a pack is a bad bad thing....pup should never have been put in this position.

Thank you Scott for your input.

This pup will be a pet first, and if I can achieve anything in the future in terms of a PPD, it will be a dog that acts as a deterrent in a possible home invasion, an actual hold would be a bonus. I have been a victim of a past home invasion while I was home with my kids, and he entered with three dogs present. My dogs at the time were able to corner him long enough for me to get a weapon. This is all I am really seeking.