Requesting Info From Y'all On Successful First Few Weeks.

[Guest Ashmore721]

Hello. As many of you know, I just brought my new greyt guy home yesterday. Any advice for making his transition successful and integrating the two dogs successfully? Everything is going great so far. We have a three year old female Doberman and so far, things are good between them. Any advice from yall's previous experiences?

[Guest verthib]

Feed them separate, have separate dog beds, etc. be sure each has their own space. I'm sure others will chime in too. Congratulations on your new baby!!! Must post pics!

[Guest Ashmore721]

Thank you!! Yes, we have two crates, two dog beds, and feed them separately. We even have one on one couch and the other pup on the other . So far so good, they're still trying to figure out the situation but, they're coexisting well so far. Our Dobie sometimes gets jealous so she'll walk up to my husband and I nudging us with her nose for our attention. Other than that, so far so good!

[Brandiandwe]

Don't expect it to be perfect all at once or all the time. You'll feel like things are regressing, or deteriorating, you'll think you've made as mistake and will think you're the worst dog owner of all time. You aren't. Be vigilant. Where one dog won't get in trouble, two will. Different things get chewed and different issues will emerge. Remember both dogs are individuals and that their relationship evolves. Ours is changing constantly, and we need to watch it all the time to make sure that all is still well.

 

Exercise is your friend.

[Guest sheila]

For the most part I would let the dogs work things out in their own way. If there comes a time where there is some grumbling or growling I would stay out of it and let them sort it out unless it seems to get out of hand. If that happens a sharp and loud 'HEY!' should be enough.

The first time my current hounds met the female (Jane) tried to mount my male (Billy) TWICE. Billy let Jane know that this was NOT OK by swinging around and snapping and growling at her. I just stood back and watched and said nothing. After the second time Jane got the msg loud and clear and hasn't done it since. Jane is also one for kicking Billy off of any bed or couch if she decides she wants it. She just walks up and nudges him and he gets a little huffy about it, but he moves just the same. To a human person this may seem unfair, but in dog language it is the way things work.

Edited February 5, 2012 by sheila

[Guest Ashmore721]

Thank you both, brandiandwe & Sheila...it's reassuring and very helpful and encouraging. We are making sure they both have a good transition with one another. Thanks for your advice.

[Guest Ashmore721]

Our Dobie is very curious and always is wanting to know what is what and what everything is and who is doing what...just the breed. So when she gets to sniffing around Enzo, it makes him a little nervous and he either shows his teeth or growls or both. Today is day two and we realize things won't happen over night. We're trying to give them 'quiet time' and space as to let them both get settled in with the situation and each other slowly without baby'ing either one of them. They're doing gear for only being a couple days and I know they're trying to establish the 'pecking order.' Any other suggestions? Thanks everyone for the advice thus far, it's very encouraging and helpful.

[Guest Greyt_dog_lover]

Post pics of both pups. What color is your dobie? I grew up with Dobies and have had a blue, red and black myself. Is your dobie fixed, age? Reason I ask these things is if you have had your dobie for a while, or know the breed, they can be a bit posessive of their owners. I would strongly encourage a lot of walking with the both of them, it will help them bond together. I also would be a bit careful of letting them in your yard together, or large open (fenced) spaces together as the competative nature of the greyhound could get your dobie's fur in a tissy.

 

Chad

[Guest Ashmore721]

Hello greyt dog lover. Our Dobie is a female, shes's almost three, and she is getting fixed in two weeks. The reason for the wait is because she had Von wilianbrans (spelling?) and we just recently moved from Germany where we got her. They did not have the facilities on base to fix her due to her condition and the closest place was four hours away and it was a German vet. So we decided to wait to get back stateside to get it done as we were not comfortable doing it at a german vet because of language complications and the exchange rate/european customs. ( it would have cost us over $3,000 to get her spayed off base in Germany.) So we have found an incredible vet here in our town who is a specialist. She was scheduled to have it done in January but, went into heat the day we scheduled it, funny enough. They are about the same size although, obviously she is much more stocky than he is. She weighs 85lbs from the last vet visit a few weeks ago.

 

Back to the dogs though. She very protective of our home and my husband and I but she is also very playful and curious. She is very much a puppy in personality. I know that it overwhelms Enzo at times. This is his third day with us today and they are both doing much better with every passing day. She now allows her to sniff him all over without getting upset and she is learning to give him his space. My husband and I are very much in giving positive reinforcement and not harsh punishment and things are slowly but surely coming along nicely. We're taking them out on walks together daily and they love it. Enzo is getting to the mount where now he wants to walk beside her and not behind her. We let them out for relieving themselves separately as well as feeding them separately. He is incredibly patient and observant. I think within a few weeks, they will be inseperatable.

 

I will try to post some pictures in my photo's of her (the dobie) in just a bit. Thanks for your post.

[Guest Ashmore721]

Here are some photos, I've posted some of our Dobie too. (there are a couple of her puppy pictures as well as some more recent ones of her.) It's the same album that I have Enzo's photos in as well.

 

Here's the link and the password to view them is: Enzoboy

 

Thanks!

 

http://photobucket.com/Ashmore721

[Guest Ashmore721]

(Sorry for all of the typos...my ipads automatic spell check stuff can be annoying at times.) My husband and I have done a lot of research and reading between both breeds. I've always had large breed dogs from growing up in a dog loving home and my husband had a grey before that he had rescued when he was stationed in Florida. We are the type that want to learn as much as possible, read everything we can get our hands on before we do something. Enzo is my first grey and my first experience in adopting. I'm so glad for Grey talk because while I'm reading and learning as much as I can on my own, it's great to be able to talk with people who have lots of experience and others I can talk with about their personal experiences with their dogs. Thanks again everyone for your advice and encouragement!

[Guest Greyt_dog_lover]

Be sure that you understand one major difference between the two breeds. Greyhounds are a gentle sensitive breed (generally speaking), while Dobies are the opposite. Dobies WILL challenge your authority should you be a weak leader, greyhounds not so much. Understand that you may need to modify your technique of dealing with each dog differently based upon their personality and genetic disposition to things such as strong-will (Dobie). I always joke that I am going to get a dobie to protect my greyhounds from other breeds.

 

About your dobie, any special treatments you are pursuing for the Von Will issue? I have read that they now do something with gold beads that seems to be promising. That is something that you will need to be acutely aware of with your two dogs as they both get older and used to playing with each other, your Dobie could lose balance easily and be hurt trying to run with the Enzo.

 

What branch of military are you attached with?

 

Chad

[Guest Ashmore721]

Hello greyt dog lover. Yes, my husband and I are both very aware of the differences between the two dog breeds temperament, personality, and behavior traits. Our Dobie turns three years old in June and we've had her since she was two months old. Enzo turns three years old on Valentines Day next week. Our dobie is an incredible dog and my grey boy has absolutely stolen my heart, he too is an amazing animal. (how lucky am I to be so blessed!) Every day with Enzo, granted its only been three days so far but, he's showing more and more personality and coming around in a more comfortable demeanor. He's already quite attached to me, which sometimes makes our Dobie a little jealous but neither is being aggressive towards one another. Other than the first few times during day one whe he would show his teeth at our Dobie when she would sniff around him, nothing else has happened. I keep a close eye on both dogs and so far am having a great time getting them both aqainted. I am previous active duty with the Air Force and my husband is 10 years in with the Air Force, active duty.

[Guest Greyt_dog_lover]

Hello greyt dog lover. Yes, my husband and I are both very aware of the differences between the two dog breeds temperament, personality, and behavior traits. Our Dobie turns three years old in June and we've had her since she was two months old. Enzo turns three years old on Valentines Day next week. Our dobie is an incredible dog and my grey boy has absolutely stolen my heart, he too is an amazing animal. (how lucky am I to be so blessed!) Every day with Enzo, granted its only been three days so far but, he's showing more and more personality and coming around in a more comfortable demeanor. He's already quite attached to me, which sometimes makes our Dobie a little jealous but neither is being aggressive towards one another. Other than the first few times during day one whe he would show his teeth at our Dobie when she would sniff around him, nothing else has happened. I keep a close eye on both dogs and so far am having a great time getting them both aqainted. I am previous active duty with the Air Force and my husband is 10 years in with the Air Force, active duty.

 

 

Sounds like you guys have things under control.

 

I myself was AF from 89-99. Served mainly in SE Asia theater, except for that little thing in the desert in 91. My AFSC was 1C171 (ATC). What do you guys do?

Edited February 7, 2012 by Greyt_dog_lover

[Guest Ashmore721]

Hey greyt daog love! Thats awesome! Small world! My husband is ATC and I was ARMS...I worked in OPS at an AMC base/Squadron.

[Guest Greyt_dog_lover]

I was stationed @ Clark AB (Phillippines), Tyndall AFB, the big sandbox (cant say on this forum of course), Aviano AB, a few bases in western U.S. (again, cant say). Had a GREAT time in the military. It is a small world. Hey did you know that Hendrix was in the USAF, as well as Johnny Cash. In fact Cash was an ATC as well! Just some useless info for you and hubby.

 

Chad