This morning started as any other normal Saturday morning the only thing different is I was watching my father Pit Bull for the night.
Background - Male Rednose Pit Bull "Bear" is 3 years old with no dog or people aggression but does have to be the dominant one. He knows Basic OB and has previously used an E-Collar.
Background - Male Schipperke/Chihuaha mix "Shrek" is 7years old. No aggression towards dogs or people. Has Basic OB using marker training.
Both have known each other for 3 years and never had a problem. Both play with toys - no toy aggression (Shrek submits and releases if Bear gives any sort of growl or snarl).
Well I have always known that Bear would show some warning signs if a dog came near him when he was chewing on a bone. So obvious answer is to not give any dogs a bone when he is around. Shrek will do the same. Unfortunately this morning I had a memory lapse or something and left a bone on the floor. Shrek decided he wanted to chew on it and out of the corner of my eye, Bear came over to sniff Shrek or the bone and Shrek growled. Bear did not take to kindly to that thinking the bone should have been his (being alpha male and all) IMO.
Bear lunged at Shrek and got a hold of his neck and ear. It took a full minute to release them both which caused both mine and my fathers hands to be pretty tore up (by Shrek..lol the little one)Bear only had a hold of Shrek's skin fortunately, which left no puncture marks at all. No blood, no holes, just saliva.
Now they are seperated and things can be cleaned up (Shrek peed everywhere in fear) and we can now become calm. Ok step two - reintroducing them. Both were on leash and we brought each of them back into the room. Neither wanted to look at each other. Bear did do some sniffing and seemed a little interested but knew he was "in trouble" so didnt really pursue any curiosities.
I have been as though nothing has happened since the incident so Shrek does not think anything of it (luckily Maggie - our other dog - has been playful and shows no signs of even knowing anything happened which is helping ).My question is from this point forward how should I go about reintroducing them? I was thinking of simply giving it a few days until both are back to their normal selves (more Shrek than Bear) and bringing Bear in on a leash. and seeing how is body language is before making any off leash testing. Is this the wrong way? Is it too soon? Thanks for any advice, it is greatly appreciated.
Reg: 07-13-2005
Posts: 31571
Loc: North-Central coast of California
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I would keep them separated. I would be watching the attacked dog's demeanor around all dogs for some time, and I'd be reinforcing his confidence with some increased upbeat marker sessions and time walking with me.
This "Both play with toys - no toy aggression (Shrek submits and releases if Bear gives any sort of growl or snarl)" would never in a million years be allowed in my house/pack. EVER. This is allowing the dogs to determine aggression and hierarchy, and it's your position to do that. You are number one and they are number two.
Allowing a visiting dog to harass the dogs in my pack -- what clearer signal is there to them that they have no human pack leader? But this can be changed.
I know these two dogs would never be alone together, and I know that chewies, food, AND toys would be 100% banned from any area where the two dogs were off-leash (if this ever happens) even with me there.
JMO. Others will have suggestions that are probably more immediately helpful.
eta
The way the dogs have learned that there is no effective human pack leader, there's really no reason for this not to have happened. It's the natural progression. Something would probably have triggered it even without the bone -- some toy that the smaller dog just decided he wanted to keep for a while ... anything.
For me, the stage was set.
I think this is how lots of owners learn that being the top dog in the home is something they had been overlooking -- this kind of warning is a blessing, really, because it could have been so much worse.
No one's "fault." This was exactly how I was fortunate enough to receive a warning many years ago that the way I was living with dogs needed to be changed.
Edited by Connie Sutherland (10/23/2010 12:12 PM)
Edit reason: eta
Thank you so much. I feel that this was definately a blessing that this happened and opened my eyes. Sometimes life happens and you just forget then little things that make a big difference. I will re-evaluate and become the pack leader again in all aspects not just on walks but especially when visitors (dogs included) come over. Thanks again
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