Help Dog Section- Adopted a 2nd dog, first night in home—jostling for dominance/position?
August 29, 2010 by admin
Filed under Infection Male Yeast
We have a 3 yo male malamute, hes fixed, hes dominant but not aggressive.
We decided to rescue a beautiful 4yo fixed female Malamute. We were told she was submissive by the rescuer,
SO its the first night in her new home, shes likely very stressed from the 12 hour drive, emergency trip to the vet this morning and groomers this afternoon (She has a severe ear infection with both bacteria and yeast! Shes got Staph infection on her skin, she’s underweight and she’s running a fever due to the infections!) We have started her on her meds but she’s definitely not healthy right now…
The new arrival, we have found, isnt so submissive after all. She’s not taking any of the male’s dominance manuvers (attempts to mount, mouthing ankles, chest to chest bumps, etc) She’s actually MOUNTED HIM back after he does it! She’s begun to actually initiate the dominance over him as of the last hour or so
My question is- Should we allow these attempts at dominance to go on right from day 1 or shall we keep things squashed until she’s healed up?
Any info would be greatly appreciated.–including info on how it went when you added a 2nd dog to your pack?
Thanks so much, we are stuck right now with how to proceed!
Ms Manners- We walked together today, they did fine on leash together side by side- and are OK 90% of the time in the house, but when they become active, both tails are in the air and both are " puffing their chests"
When I bring a new dog home, I usually take everyone for a long walk together, and that seems to quash any conflict for a while….the dogs are all tired, and they have had to learn to get along and listen to me without being allowed to interact.
But since your new dog is sick, Im not sure that much exercise would be good for her…..I would probably just crate her until she is feeling better, and then begin training to deal with her behavior.
You can certainly do NILIF with both dogs, even while she is sick, and that might help the situation:
http://k9deb.com/nilif.htm
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Im guessing two Malamutes dont tire easily, and would need a longer walk than my small dogs.
If they are okay most of the time, and the squabbles are occasional, then I would step in and correct both dogs when they occur. I do not allow squabbling in my house.