My GSD pup is now 7 months. (not neutered yet) We fostered an older dog a couple months before getting our puppy, and then he was adopted. Just a couple days ago, our former foster came back into rescue, and we decided to foster him again, since he was such an easy keeper last time, and we figured there would be no problems with our pup since he's still so young. However, ever since we brought the foster in, our pup has seemed to be really stressed, growling, barking, wanting to t-off with the foster, who just stands there... and a very bad case of diarrhea. They are usually separated, but the little bit of interaction they have has been not at all playful on the part of my pup, which I find odd, because otherwise, he seems to not care what size, age, or gender the dog is, he's GOT to play NOOOOOOWWWW, mommy!!!! :-) When I called the vet about the diarrhea, I also asked about his other behavior, being so un-puppy like, and the lady said that some dogs just are that way about other dogs in the home. My rescue contact is a former trainer, and she said his behavior is not right at all for a puppy, of course recommended lots of dog park time, and warned that I might have trouble down the road with this pup if he indeed is stressing out over having another dog in the house. She said that he should not be trying to be dominant to an older dog, or trying to be "protective" of the house, till he's at least 1 1/2 to 2 years old. We do obedience already, and he's really great about that, and no, he's not neutered yet, but he's also not humping everything in sight, nor lifting his leg at all yet, so the whole "shot of testosterone" idea is an iffy one to me, too. So, do I have a "problem child"? If so, what do I do? I already have several Leerburg videos, and have tried to raise this pup right, but is he screwed up in the head anyway??

Hi Laurie,
Have you had a chance to read Ed's e-book on introducing new dogs into the home?
http://leerburg.com/pdf/introducingdogs.pdf

I don't think that what you are describing is very unusual, even in a 7 month old puppy. (JMO)
Perhaps some of the more experienced members will see your thread and comment, but for now, if it were my pup, I would want to alleviate the stress by separating the dogs and not allowing any interaction between the two, at least for now.

There is nothing unusual about it; I agree.

This stuff is not correct: "... she said his behavior is not right at all for a puppy, of course recommended lots of dog park time, and warned that I might have trouble down the road with this pup if he indeed is stressing out over having another dog in the house. She said that he should not be trying to be dominant to an older dog, or trying to be "protective" of the house, till he's at least 1 1/2 to 2 years old."

Not valid, IMHO. The dog park suggestion alone would indicate to me immediately that this was not the person to ask about this. JMO!

I would completely separate them.

"So, do I have a "problem child"? If so, what do I do? I already have several Leerburg videos, and have tried to raise this pup right, but is he screwed up in the head anyway?? "

No. But he may become so if his reactivity (which, depending on how they were introduced, may have been completely normal and not even particularly reactive) is exacerbated with something like a dog-park flooding.

It's great that you asked further.

I'd separate them completely and give us details about the pup's socializing (NOT meaning meet-and-greet with strange dogs ) and basic ob, etc. Are you marker training?



eta
What in the world made the person you consulted say "dominating"? The pup reacting with stress to a sudden interloper?

Whew! I got worried there!!! Of course, having researched and watched Leerburg videos, I already have a negative opinion of the "dog park mentality". So I took that one with a grain of salt. I had the crates across the room from each other, but my pup kept barking and growling, so I thought I'd move them together so they could smell each other. I'll feel real bad if this is the cause of him stressing, though he did all but stop the continual barking and growling. Now he just objects when I am coming and going with the foster, but seems satisfied with my foster being crated nearby.

I have been out and about with my pup, around other people and their (leashed) dogs. He's not got playmates, and I don't actually know any larger dogs that would be good for him to interact with. The small dogs' owners seem scared he'll hurt their little ones. So his "socializing" is really just being nearby the people and their dogs. And I've been trying to take him with me places so that he starts to see the "car" thing as a good thing. That does stress him a bit right now, too.

We do marker training, and he has already got the basics down pat. We have built in distractions (kids), so he does pretty well around them, too. He is highly food motivated, and he is VERY good if he knows I have food. If I forget...he "forgets" too.

The rescue lady said she's never come across anything like this, and seems to think a puppy should be happy go lucky in all situations, or he's got a problem. My pup is not reacting in the way she expects, so therefore, he's got a problem. He's not being "puppy friendly" and wanting to play with the foster, BUT...maybe, just MAYBE, he's smart enough to know without even asking, that the foster is not a happy dog, and he's not going to be a playmate anyway. The foster is quiet, calm, and sweet, but very troubled by being shuffled around so much, and he's got severe separation anxiety. Maybe I'm crazy, but maybe my dog is just saying..."I don't want that kind of energy in my home!" Ok, yes, I'm crazy. But still. :-D

I did talk to her about possibly finding the foster another place (poor guy), and I believe that would improve things with my pup. She was hesitant to believe that was the problem (parvo, anyone?), but she said..."well, you know your dog..." So he may be gone soon anyway. And then I think I won't be doing the foster experiment again, LOL. It's not worth it to make my dog crazy. I'd like to do that MYSELF! Ha! (JK)

So his "socializing" is really just being nearby the people and their dogs.

Exactly as it should be!



And I've been trying to take him with me places so that he starts to see the "car" thing as a good thing. That does stress him a bit right now, too.

Does he get carsick?



We do marker training, and he has already got the basics down pat. We have built in distractions (kids), so he does pretty well around them, too. He is highly food motivated, and he is VERY good if he knows I have food. If I forget...he "forgets" too.

Good, because this will serve you well with any desensitizing needed.



The rescue lady said she's never come across anything like this, and seems to think a puppy should be happy go lucky in all situations, or he's got a problem. My pup is not reacting in the way she expects, so therefore, he's got a problem. He's not being "puppy friendly" and wanting to play with the foster, BUT...maybe, just MAYBE, he's smart enough to know without even asking, that the foster is not a happy dog, and he's not going to be a playmate anyway. The foster is quiet, calm, and sweet, but very troubled by being shuffled around so much, and he's got severe separation anxiety. Maybe I'm crazy, but maybe my dog is just saying..."I don't want that kind of energy in my home!" Ok, yes, I'm crazy. But still. :-D

How bad is the S/A? Are you able to keep them separated and also work a bit with the foster? Is the intention to find a home with a retiree or someone else who is planning to stay at home with him? How much does this affect your dog, now that they are separated? How much does he react to the coming and going with the foster? Just trying to assess how workable this is. How long have you had your pup, and how long has the foster been there now (this time)? That is, is the time frame for the incidents described in the O.P. a matter of days, weeks, what?


I did talk to her about possibly finding the foster another place (poor guy), and I believe that would improve things with my pup. She was hesitant to believe that was the problem (parvo, anyone?), but she said..."well, you know your dog..." So he may be gone soon anyway. And then I think I won't be doing the foster experiment again


This is why I'm feeling out how severe it is, how long it has been, etc.

I applaud the person who is working to place the dogs in need and to look for permanent homes, and I acquire my pack members this way, but that doesn't mean that the good people who do this work (bless them) all know a lot about dog behavior. It sounds from your posts like you are more knowledgeable. So I would not harbor any niggling doubts about your young dog's reaction.

JMO!

"We do marker training, and he has already got the basics down pat. We have built in distractions (kids), so he does pretty well around them, too."


The other dog, if he is calm in his crate, could even be a controlled distraction for your dog's marker work when something is going very well and you want to introduce (proof for) gradually-increasing distraction. That is, a session with a well-understood command might take place many feet away from but still in sight of the crated foster.

You would of course first consider whether this is a source of anxiety for the foster dog .... maybe he merely watches interestedly. How is he when he sees your dog?

This (if it's not a source of anxiety for the foster dog) could have the benefit of providing distraction (in general, for proofing) and also specifically desensitizing the GSD pup to that dog.

Not something to start without considering all the angles, but possibilities might be there for a multiple opportunity.

Is all the reactivity on one side (the pup)? Because of course, I'm not suggesting using a stressed, crated dog as a distraction.

"my pup kept barking and growling, so I thought I'd move them together so they could smell each other. I'll feel real bad if this is the cause of him stressing, though he did all but stop the continual barking and growling. Now he just objects when I am coming and going with the foster, but seems satisfied with my foster being crated nearby. "

How close are they? Is there a sight barrier? Is your dog relaxed, calm, willing to nap, etc.?

Does he get carsick?

No, and he has gotten MUCH better, but at first, he'd just scream, but now he's down to barking and whining, but only for a short time. He seems to be adjusting, could be better, but it was worse.

Foster's S/A...first day we came back home, he was barking without taking a breath, it seems. This was the day we had the dogs across the room from each other. The next day, when the dogs crates were near each other, I didn't hear the barking, but he was panting so hard, like I had just taken him running on a marathon. Today, I took a much shorter trip, and he was panting, but not nearly as bad. I have been doing the whole leaving and coming back without fanfare thing so as to not add to the problem. If he is still barking when we are gone, well, that's likely not helping my pup's stress level. I have no idea if he would try to break out of the house, or destroy anything, if left outside the crate while we are gone, and I'm not going to test that one.

As for placing him, I don't really know the rescue's intentions for him. They know about the s/a, but don't clearly state that in the ad. They know he hides from little kids, or when things get too noisy, but they don't go to the extent of saying no kids, either. I have kids, and prevent them from harassing him, but how many families live like that?

I've had my pup since he was 8 weeks, and the foster has only been here since Monday evening, so just a few days. My pup will growl and bark when I come and go with the foster, but he doesn't go all nutso, just an objection or two,and I tell him to hush, and then go about my business. He knows he's got no option other than to just sit back and relax anyway.

I'm too humble to say I'm more knowledgeable than she is, but I do know that the philosophy I have and the philosophy she has on dealing with dogs are totally different. She has been around dogs for many more years than I have, and I guess what she does has worked for her. She's even gotten away with the whole "letting the dogs work it out themselves" thing. Due to my LACK of experience, though, I've done alot of studying, and perhaps that's the biggest difference between us. :-) Thanks, though! :-)

They are within a few feet of each other, in plastic crates. I'm not sure they can see each other all that well when they are in the crates, and when I took my dog out, he shot over there earlier, but sniffed, then laid down next to the foster's crate without "saying" anything. My pup is VERY relaxed right now. Sleeping tight! Since I moved them closer, he's actually been more relaxed. I'm not sure if it has something to do with not knowing what that "interloper" was up to before? And now he knows he's right there, crated, so that's ok with him? I would have said he had accepted his presence, except for the worsening diarrhea. Though that seems to be calming down now, too. I hope.

The foster doesn't seem to react to the pup's presence at all. He seems most happy being left alone completely, except, of course, that you HAVE to be right there. He calmly watches everything around him.