Introducing a 2nd dog - how to do it?
Discussion
IME it doesn't matter about the sex of the dog, more the temperament.
I've had loads of dogs here and it really hasn't made any difference - all boys, all girls or a mix of both. What I would say though is to take the introductions gently. The last thing you want is for both dogs' first experience of the other one to be a negative one. I make good use of baby gates until I'm sure that there will be no issues between them. I also feed in different rooms and pick up all high value toys until they have settled, got to know each other and feel secure. The other thing is to make sure either dog can have time out when they need it.
We will need piccies
I've had loads of dogs here and it really hasn't made any difference - all boys, all girls or a mix of both. What I would say though is to take the introductions gently. The last thing you want is for both dogs' first experience of the other one to be a negative one. I make good use of baby gates until I'm sure that there will be no issues between them. I also feed in different rooms and pick up all high value toys until they have settled, got to know each other and feel secure. The other thing is to make sure either dog can have time out when they need it.
We will need piccies
Not an expert but we have done the following with dogs and cats successfully.
When new animal arrives, put it in one room and close door, both animals will be sniffing at the door and get used to each others smells but dog 1 will still be in his territory, once all appears well, put new animal in carrier/basket type thing and allow dog1 in, again they can sniff each other etc, without aggression of areas etc if all is well open said cage and allow interaction for a short time before seperating in to rooms again, gradually increase time together, dog1 still has whole house as territory, Dog2 has new room and can gradually move about without too much agro as dog1 is used to them
Most importantly, make loads of fuss of dog1 so as he doesn't feel pushed out by dog2, luckily we have always mixed lab/retriever type dogs who are friendly anyway and have always settled in really well, but we might have just been lucky!
Good luck, I think dogs like having a 'mate'
When new animal arrives, put it in one room and close door, both animals will be sniffing at the door and get used to each others smells but dog 1 will still be in his territory, once all appears well, put new animal in carrier/basket type thing and allow dog1 in, again they can sniff each other etc, without aggression of areas etc if all is well open said cage and allow interaction for a short time before seperating in to rooms again, gradually increase time together, dog1 still has whole house as territory, Dog2 has new room and can gradually move about without too much agro as dog1 is used to them
Most importantly, make loads of fuss of dog1 so as he doesn't feel pushed out by dog2, luckily we have always mixed lab/retriever type dogs who are friendly anyway and have always settled in really well, but we might have just been lucky!
Good luck, I think dogs like having a 'mate'
Many many years back we had what I think was a Pointer/Bavarian Mountain Hound cross. My sister wanted a lap dog so our parents decided to get one for her as a surprise and so contacted the local Blue Cross to see what they had.
My parents were advised by the Blue Cross that they had the perfect dog if they wanted to pop down to take a look but my mum was worried about how the current hound would get on with a new dog and voiced her concerns.
The adoption officer from the Blue Cross said to bring the hound to the center to see how they got on. The adoption officer was shocked when the hound took one look at the prospective puppy turned her back and totally ignored said pup!
The adoption officer then brought in another puppy, at this point the hound dropped onto her elbows, her tail in the air wagging at a phenominal rate and when they were allowed to meet they by-passed the arse sniffing bit and proceeded to trash the poor womans office as they chased each other about.
They were best of friends for the next 12 years!
My parents were advised by the Blue Cross that they had the perfect dog if they wanted to pop down to take a look but my mum was worried about how the current hound would get on with a new dog and voiced her concerns.
The adoption officer from the Blue Cross said to bring the hound to the center to see how they got on. The adoption officer was shocked when the hound took one look at the prospective puppy turned her back and totally ignored said pup!
The adoption officer then brought in another puppy, at this point the hound dropped onto her elbows, her tail in the air wagging at a phenominal rate and when they were allowed to meet they by-passed the arse sniffing bit and proceeded to trash the poor womans office as they chased each other about.
They were best of friends for the next 12 years!
We've just added a labrador puppy to our pack of two labs and two cats - just a case of letting the dogs get on with it in terms of hierachy really and not interfering. Puppy wants to chase everything (as puppies do), but the cats either run or give her a belt, and the two older dogs tolerate to a point and then growl and snarl.
I miss sleep though, the pup has only got a 2 hour tank before she needs to go outside and pee!
I miss sleep though, the pup has only got a 2 hour tank before she needs to go outside and pee!
bernhund said:
I said to Bernard.. Bernard this is Madge. Madge this is Bernard. And that was it.
But in your case we're talking English Bull Terriers, quite possibly the daftest dogs on the planet. When they met they didn't see a rival in each other, more a partner in hooliganism! Be honest, how often do you facepalm when you watch them together? 
Either that or their still trying to process the information via their pea sized brains...
Tango13 said:
bernhund said:
I said to Bernard.. Bernard this is Madge. Madge this is Bernard. And that was it.
But in your case we're talking English Bull Terriers, quite possibly the daftest dogs on the planet. When they met they didn't see a rival in each other, more a partner in hooliganism! Be honest, how often do you facepalm when you watch them together? Either that or their still trying to process the information via their pea sized brains...
Neutral ground is a good idea but at some point they will want to sort things out for themselves and the sooner they do it the sooner everyone can get along. We have 3 dogs at the moment 2 of them having been problem dogs in the RSPCA
We have had no trouble so far you need to understand your own dogs character and try to find a suitable companion if you have an assertive male already bringing in another one will only end up in trouble.
We brought a bullmastiff into our home without socialising our 2 resident dogs(some years ago)becuase we n=knew our male dogs was not territorial and our GS b
h would stand no messing about and she put the bull mastiff on his back and pinned him to the ground and the status of the pack was understood.
We have had no trouble so far you need to understand your own dogs character and try to find a suitable companion if you have an assertive male already bringing in another one will only end up in trouble.
We brought a bullmastiff into our home without socialising our 2 resident dogs(some years ago)becuase we n=knew our male dogs was not territorial and our GS b
h would stand no messing about and she put the bull mastiff on his back and pinned him to the ground and the status of the pack was understood.We got a 2nd dog a few years back (from Mrs Grumpy) and I was surprised how little the two animals clashed about sharing; room, toys, eating in the same room, sharing the same water bowl.
They have the occasional disagreement, but on the whole, although the older dog has (until fairly recently) been older, bigger and faster - and therefore 'logically' dominant - I'm fascinated by the amount of give and take.
We let them get the full measure of each other, out of the way of other dogs and people early on:
I'm not entirely convinced that the 'dogs' Mrs Grumpy rehomes aren't in fact monkeys in dog costumes, but that's another matter.
They have the occasional disagreement, but on the whole, although the older dog has (until fairly recently) been older, bigger and faster - and therefore 'logically' dominant - I'm fascinated by the amount of give and take.
We let them get the full measure of each other, out of the way of other dogs and people early on:
I'm not entirely convinced that the 'dogs' Mrs Grumpy rehomes aren't in fact monkeys in dog costumes, but that's another matter.
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