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Location: London, UK
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 218
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Introducing our new boy to our girl
Well what a surprise. Tonight we're the new owners of a 3 year old neutered Manchester Terrier. We've been wanting a Manchester Terrier or a Greyhound for some time. This boy is a private rehoming after his folks split up and neither of them felt able to keep him.
He came to us with several "problems". He's not been socialised well and was quite "dominant" with his previous owners. He was left alone a lot and not exercised enough. He was attacked by another dog very young and this caused his owners to be wary of letting him around other dogs. So far, nothing there that we can't work on.
We met him tonight with our 6.5 month old bitch Lula. She's full of beans and as mad as a hatter. However, she knows how to behave around other dogs. Watching her tonight I was both amazed and proud. He didn't like her and he guarded his former owner. She displayed all the right calming signals although she obviously wanted to play.
Both at the owner's place and since we have got him home (about 1.5 hours now) there have been some spats with Beau (as he's now called) having a bit of a go at Lula. She's not let him bully her and told him off each time he's tried to be nasty. Most of his aggression has been fear based and just not understanding dog language. She's mostly giving him as much time and space as he needs while trying to contain her excitement about having a new playmate (remember she's just a pup) and not letting him bully her.
However there have also been some really nice moments. They've sniffed noses a few times now and slept in beds next to each other. We have each done some basic training exercises with them at the same time almost side by side and I've had a dog either side of me treating them both.
Beau has tried jumping up and sniffing at the table (a firm no from us) and jumped up on the sofa a couple of times (gently put back on the floor). He's settled in his crate now and Lula has come onto the sofa. She gets her usual "privileges" while he'll have to earn his over the next few days/weeks.
I think we're doing everything OK atm. However any suggestions will be most welcomed.