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Jealous? Adjustment?


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You know how you remember reading a thread and when you need to find it, you can't? That's where I am!

 

So.. Keiva is adjusting quite nicely. Hattie... our 2.5 year old, however... is not very happy. She will pout. She followed Keiva everywhere yesterday, and fell asleep near her last night after laying down and growling at her. And now, if Keiva walks by her, she will growl. I know dynamics have changed, and Keiva JUST got home, but I want to make sure we approach this for success.

 

This does not seem to be motivated by toys or high value treats/items. We have those out of the way. Keiva doesn't have to have anything near her, just walk by Hattie if Hattie is laying down, and there will be a growl. Now she is also avoiding Keiva instead of following her.

 

Everyone is muzzled for safety while we work this out. I don't want to set them up to fail, and I don't want us to do anything to make it worse.

 

So... lay it on me! What can I do? What should i be on the look out for..what should I NOT do? Nothing is too obvious for me right now.

 

(the brightside is so far, Moonbeam is doing just fine and mellow as usual lol)

Mom to Macho (JS XtremeMachine 1/12/2007 -8/17/2012 ... Gotcha day 9/2/2011. I miss you BigMan)
Moonbeam (Ninos Full Moon 11/1/2009, Gotcha day 9/2/2012), Hattie (Kiowa Hats Off 4/14/2011, Gotcha day 10/13/2012), Keiva (JS Igotyourbooty 1/12/2007, Gotcha Day 1/8/2014)
Jimmy (Blu Too James 06/26/2014, Gotcha day 09/12/2015)
, a shepard mix named Tista, some cats, and some reptiles.

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Give Hattie a high value treat every time Keiva walks by her. I know it sounds simple, but that's really it. :)

 

Congrats on the new addition!

Edited by NeylasMom

gallery_12662_3351_862.jpg

Jen, CPDT-KA with Zuri, lab in a greyhound suit, Violet, formerly known as Faith, Skye, the permanent puppy, Cisco, resident cat, and my baby girl Neyla, forever in my heart

"The great thing about science is that you're free to disagree with it, but you'll be wrong."

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I will totally take simple!!!! Will do!

 

 

 

Also... What about when I come home and get to greeting everyone after its settled? Does it matter who i say hi to first?

Mom to Macho (JS XtremeMachine 1/12/2007 -8/17/2012 ... Gotcha day 9/2/2011. I miss you BigMan)
Moonbeam (Ninos Full Moon 11/1/2009, Gotcha day 9/2/2012), Hattie (Kiowa Hats Off 4/14/2011, Gotcha day 10/13/2012), Keiva (JS Igotyourbooty 1/12/2007, Gotcha Day 1/8/2014)
Jimmy (Blu Too James 06/26/2014, Gotcha day 09/12/2015)
, a shepard mix named Tista, some cats, and some reptiles.

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Guest lunasmom

I would say hi to the best behaved dog first. For example if one is jumping all over you and the other stays on all 4s, say hi to the one on all 4s first.

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Guest grey_dreams

It's good to give treats to all when all are together and relaxed, but timing is everything. Try to gauge the situation and your timing so that you are not treating Hattie for tension, growling, and space guarding.

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Muzzle when you aren't home.

 

Freshy (Droopys Fresh), NoAh the podenco orito, Howie the portuguese podengo maneto
Angels: Rita the podenco maneta, Lila, the podenco, Mr X aka Denali, Lulu the podenco andaluz, Hada the podenco maneta, Georgie Girl (UMR Cordella),  Charlie the iggy,  Mazy (CBR Crazy Girl), Potato, my mystery ibizan girl, Allen (M's Pretty Boy), Percy (Fast But True), Mikey (Doray's Patuti), Pudge le mutt, Tessa the iggy, Possum (Apostle), Gracie (Dusty Lady), Harold (Slatex Harold), "Cousin" Simon our step-iggy, Little Dude the iggy ,Bandit (Bb Blue Jay), Niña the galgo, Wally (Allen Hogg), Thane (Pog Mo Thoine), Oliver (JJ Special Agent), Comet, & Rosie our original mutt.

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I will totally take simple!!!! Will do!

 

 

 

Also... What about when I come home and get to greeting everyone after its settled? Does it matter who i say hi to first?

You might check out the little Jean Donaldson booklet, Feeling Outnumbered: Managing a Multi-dog Househould. You can get it on Dogwise and Amazon I believe. it's cheap (about $8) and packed with good info. Her basic theory when you have multiple dogs is just that everyone learn good manners so you reduce the chances of fights or scuffles. For instance, dogs don't get to crowd around and try to rush out of the door first. Instead everyone learns to wait patiently and go when you say they can.

So in this case, lunasmom was spot on. It's not about who you say hi to first, it's about what behavior you're reinforcing (because your petting and attention is reinforcing and behaviors that are reinforced will increase). Dogs who are standing or sitting calmly, not pushing the other dog out of the way or jumping get attention from mom.

 

On the treating advice I gave, the only thing that is important about the timing is that she is getting the treat when she is watching your other dog go by. The idea is to associate the thing that's making her uncomfortable with something positive. Ultimately that association means she starts to enjoy the other dog walking by because it now means food is coming. When she starts to get it, you'll see her look expectantly at you for a treat when Keiva goes by. ;)

Muzzle when you aren't home.

I would go a step farther and suggest separating them by a baby gate for the time being if you are uncertain what their interactions will be. The downside to just muzzling is that it doesn't prevent bad interactions from occurring, it just prevents major injury. But if they're getting into it when you're not there, that's going to increase the likelihood of future events. My preference would be to separate them so they can see each other but not step on each other and leave them each something fun to do, like a frozen stuffed kong to empty (food only provided you're certain neither will jump the gate).

gallery_12662_3351_862.jpg

Jen, CPDT-KA with Zuri, lab in a greyhound suit, Violet, formerly known as Faith, Skye, the permanent puppy, Cisco, resident cat, and my baby girl Neyla, forever in my heart

"The great thing about science is that you're free to disagree with it, but you'll be wrong."

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Thank you EVERYONE! I will check out that book also!

We do muzzle when we aren't home, but yes, I can separate them as well in other rooms.

 

Thank you for all of the advice. I appreciate it, and I know it's going to help us get everyone adjusted safely!

Mom to Macho (JS XtremeMachine 1/12/2007 -8/17/2012 ... Gotcha day 9/2/2011. I miss you BigMan)
Moonbeam (Ninos Full Moon 11/1/2009, Gotcha day 9/2/2012), Hattie (Kiowa Hats Off 4/14/2011, Gotcha day 10/13/2012), Keiva (JS Igotyourbooty 1/12/2007, Gotcha Day 1/8/2014)
Jimmy (Blu Too James 06/26/2014, Gotcha day 09/12/2015)
, a shepard mix named Tista, some cats, and some reptiles.

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We had the same issue here with Clarice and Ozzie. Clarice was not comfortable when Ozzie was close by. Hot dogs made her change her mind :)

 

She also loves human attention SO MUCH that it is also a "reward" she receives when Ozzie is around. I did a lot of petting them both at the same time.

Kristin in Moline, IL USA with Ozzie (MRL Crusin Clem), Clarice (Clarice McBones), Latte and Sage the IGs, and the kitties: Violet and Rose
Lovingly Remembered: Sutra (Fliowa Sutra) 12/02/97-10/12/10, Pinky (Pick Me) 04/20/03-11/19/12, Fritz (Fritz Fire) 02/05/01 - 05/20/13, Ace (Fantastic Ace) 02/05/01 - 07/05/13, and Carrie (Takin the Crumbs) 05/08/99 - 09/04/13.

A cure for cancer can't come soon enough.--

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Thanks :) we have made progress with Hattie!! Now its down to getting Keiva used to the cat, always fun. She isnt high prey, just curious, so we are taking it slow which can sometimes get frustrating. Still, progress is being made!!!

 

Oh and I started reading the Jean Donaldson booklet, Feeling Outnumbered: Managing a Multi-dog Househould. We were luckily on track with some stuff already, and getting good ideas on others, so thats been a good confidence builder for us too.

Mom to Macho (JS XtremeMachine 1/12/2007 -8/17/2012 ... Gotcha day 9/2/2011. I miss you BigMan)
Moonbeam (Ninos Full Moon 11/1/2009, Gotcha day 9/2/2012), Hattie (Kiowa Hats Off 4/14/2011, Gotcha day 10/13/2012), Keiva (JS Igotyourbooty 1/12/2007, Gotcha Day 1/8/2014)
Jimmy (Blu Too James 06/26/2014, Gotcha day 09/12/2015)
, a shepard mix named Tista, some cats, and some reptiles.

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