Hi -- we just brought home a beautiful, sweet, apparently very well-bred one-year-old GSD. Our current dogs are a 10 yr old GSD and a 4-1/2 yr old GSD. The new dog is gentle, doesn't mind being handled, follows me around the house tied to me with a leash, goes into her crate no problem, sleeps the night, no accidents in the house -- but when she sees our other two dogs and especially the 4-yr old, she barks and barks and lunges for him. He does not provoke her in any way, just looks at her calmly and moves away. She will be content in her crate, then he comes in and she barks and barks. Today we walked them and I fed her treats the whole time and that worked well -- she was more interested in the food. Any idea what's going on here? We would love to keep her, she needs a home and she's a sweetheart otherwise. Any help REALLY appreciated. Thanks - Michael

Hi, welcome.....

Here is an article that might answer some questions.
Its on the main site.

http://leerburg.com/pdf/introducingdogs.pdf

There is lots more info there too..look around.

I just had surgery and my happy pills have kicked in..I'm sure the others will chime in here soon and chat with you.
Willie

Willie -- thanks. I read the article and have a bunch of Ed's DVDs. This site is such an amazing resource. One thing I forgot to mention -- the new dog, a 1-yr old female, comes from a foster home with an 8-yr old male who she got along with no problem at all. They had to give her up because she went after the house cats, and they love their cats. She's been there, and one other home before that, in the past month. That place, they were not GSD people and did not like the shedding. I can see her trusting and unwinding day by day, which is beautiful -- but wonder if anyone has any ideas what might be going on and for me to do besides slowly getting them close to each other with food, etc etc. ALSO -- her crate is in a prominent place in the house so she's not isolated. Should it be in a more quiet place during this adjustment? Thanks anyone!!

Willie, whatever it was, I'm hoping you are up and feeling better soon.

I hav some things you could try..I'll try to type it up and post it here sometime today.

First step Isolate her in a seperate room.
Don't let them have any contact at all...even eye contact.
I would follow Ed's protical for introducing a new dog to you...as outlined in the pack leadership vid.

She needs to be exercised on a loose leash with her waling nest to you for about 2 miles broken up a day.
Then have her in the crate the rest of the time sleeping..bring her out to potty and put her right back.
On the walks migrate..don't stop to sniff..go out and march....be friendly abut aloof.
Right now she needs time to unwind from all the shifting homes..that wont happen for about two months.
After that you can start to introduce her to the other dogs..but that is a whole 'nother deal.....
Let her rest in peace...no training..just release of energy and safety in her crate.
With her having been bounced about so much its gonna take a bit of time. We are talking about 6 months to do it right.
I'll be back.....
I hope the happy pills haven't addled my posts......
Willie

Hi I have a VERY dominate female rotti whose 7.I will be moving into a house with my boyfriend who has a male beagle whose 5.The beagle is not fixed and he is sort of dominate to.I have had the rotti with my mutt few years back before she died and it was a mess.Fought all the time.If I was to yell at another dog she would go after them.I dont want any problems for the beagle because my boyfriend would kill me if something happened to his dog!!I had gotten a male rotti a year ago as a puppy and she pushed him around and made sure he knew she was boss,hes nerivious around her but they get along great. ?????

Willie -- thanks very much for the input. I think I will move her crate to a quiet room. I then re-watch the video.

Toni -- my younger GSD, 4, is dominant. My older one, who is ten, knew it as soon as we brought the new one home at 9 wks old.......they worked it out with no real trouble since the new one was raised from a puppy. Sounds like you have your hands full. Make sure you and your boyfriend are really on the same page with how to handle everything, and have a plan before you move of whjat you're going to do.....

 Quote: Toni Wittmann

Hi I have a VERY dominate female rotti whose 7.I will be moving into a house with my boyfriend who has a male beagle whose 5.The beagle is not fixed and he is sort of dominate to.I have had the rotti with my mutt few years back before she died and it was a mess.Fought all the time.If I was to yell at another dog she would go after them.I dont want any problems for the beagle because my boyfriend would kill me if something happened to his dog!!I had gotten a male rotti a year ago as a puppy and she pushed him around and made sure he knew she was boss,hes nerivious around her but they get along great. ?????

Toni, please start a new thread about your dogs. This is a hijack of Michael's thread. Thank you.

Dogs shouldn't ever be allowed to decide who is dominant.
NO bullying....no eye talk...nothing.
It is all determined by the owner.