|
Location: Nottingham
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,477
|
|
Rescue Doberman - Today's Meet & Greet
Rather than hijack the "Doberman" thread in the working dogs forum, thought i'd start a new one here.
For those of you who arent aware, the OH and I put our names down for a young male Doberman in our local rescue centre...
Ok, took our existing 2 to meet "Joseph" this morning. He was totally fine with Jed (our 2 yr old BC who is a well mannered, calm chap) and for the most part paid him little attention. We walked round the exercise area with both dogs on a lead and they were brilliant, they checked each other out and Joseph respected Jed.
However, Flynn was a different matter as I thought he would be. Being only 9 months old, he's very excitable and vocal and as a consequence is set upon regularly by other dogs. I've said this many times but he's a very easy target for older and bigger dogs and they know this. Joseph immediately picked up on Flynn's vulnerability and greeted him with no respect (although there were no hackles raised). All he wanted to do was pin him down and show him who was boss. Flynn was very intimidated and didnt want to go anywhere near Joseph.
The result of Joseph's frustration was much jumping at my OH (who was walking him) and lots of mouthing at arms, the lead and clothes, ripping the OH's coat in the process (with teeth). The young female volunteer tried to convince us that he only wanted to play, that 2 energetic dogs would be good for each other and that he was only young and would grow out of it.
However, it's very clear to me that the similar energies of Flynn and Joseph would create hostility, not friendship. He saw Flynn as a target, not a playmate. We're going back tomorrow to have another go but i'm not optimistic. I will try another approach and thats to have Flynn sat calm and waiting when Joseph is brought out (which is what I did with Jed). Today Flynn was second to meet him and he jumped out the car all wound up and excited which Joseph obviously saw.
Like I said, i'm not optimistic but I feel I owe it to the Dobe to give him another chance tomorrow. If he acts the same again then we'll have our name removed from his reserve. It's a shame as he has great potential and deserves a home which will challenge him and if Flynn wasnt in the equation then we would have taken him on. He needs a home where he is the only dog or where the other dog is older and calmer.
Thank you to the likes of Colin, Borderdawn, fluffybunnyfeet and everybody else who offered me advice in that thread, it came in valuable today. I will give another report after tomorrow's attempt!