Adopting a 2nd dog

[kaydoyle]

This is from one of our fantastic forever families

Hi there, I tried uploading this but cant seem to make it work! I also worried that though I’m trying to provide hope to anyone in a similar predicament, it would seem like I’m being negative about adopting… maybe you could read it and post if you saw fit? As I mention in the post below, I was desperate to find advice from someone who had gone through the same thing and had success, as I really believe in adoption, so I think it’s providing an important message!
Photo attached.

take care,
Cathy Davey (cathyandrex on forum) x

For anyone who’s worried that they’ve taken on too much by adopting a second dog.

I want to give a brief summary of our journey with Kerry (now Molly) who we adopted in March in the hopes she would provide a friend for our older rescue fella, Rex. And let you all know that though we had a worrysome start, it has all worked out fantastically and I want to prevent anyone from feeling like returning a dog is their only option.

The first meetings with Rex and Molly went fine, and since he showed agression towards most dogs (never properly socialized) i thought it was a good sign. But when we first brought her home Rex found Molly tiring, too rough and a threat to his position in the house. He took to moping and looking incredibly hard done by though we changed nothing in his routine, and was aggressive towards Molly.
As a result I found it very upsetting, it put a strain on a dog we had worked so hard on getting happy (he was also a rescue), was stressful for us wondering what we had taken on, and sad to see Molly, who was very well socialized thanks to DID, being rejected constantly.

I couldnt find any hope online, no similar stories that ended well. But I wanted so much to read a post like this one, a post that says "I thought it was a disaster and now we all are one big family!", which is the truth!!

THE THINGS THAT HELPED US!! (note, I’m not a professional!)

Emmaline Duffy-Fallon, http://www.citizencanineireland.com, helped us SO much. She helped us find ways of helping rex have breaks from the ever-present Molly (introducing a cage for Molly where she would go to get her favourite treats, thus giving Rex a chance to have one on ones with us). She helped us to stop Molly from rough-housing and calm down when it was appropriate since she is young and used to playing with other dogs. And generally gave us the tools to create a more harmonious home.

Positive encouragement (treats when they were close to each other, treats when she walked by, treats when he looked at her…. so he associated her with treats basically!)

Keeping his privileges! Removed dog beds as these caused rows, but Rex got prime position on couch and slept in his own bed in our room while Molly got her favourite treat (peanut butter and kibble in giant kong) in her pimped out cage outside bedroom (cage door open as I wanted it to be more like a voluntary den.) She grew to adore her cage, no one else went in it and when she was annoying Rex and getting rowdy I’d get her some delicious delight and she’d run to her cage to receive it. We also initially gave her her dinner in the cage with the door closed to get her used to it.

After a while Rex got used to her, slowly she was able to push her way into his space without him getting grumpy. Now we all lie on the bed for morning cuddles, we all roll on the floor playing mess-fights. Walks are great fun now that Molly has stopped ambushing him, they lick each others faces and ears and Molly has taught Rex how to meet new dogs without attacking them, MIRACLE! . HE IS SO HAPPY TO BE PART OF A PACK! It took us a couple months of thoughtful, practical effort to get to this point but it didnt hurt us, just gave us experience and appreciation for what we have now. Which is a happier place to be because of our second rescue dog.

I really hope this helps anyone who’s worried. It was a unique case and in no way should it discourage anyone from adopting, as you can see from all the fosterers posts, dogs love dogs. They just sometimes need us humans to know what we’re doing, and we were novices in this field, still are!

We love Molly all the more for our journey. I really mean that, and Rex loves her too x
mol.jpg

[dogsrule]

Cathy, that actually does help a lot thanks. Very interesting strategies there on how to give both dogs attention. It seems equal attention but not necessarily at the same time or doing the same activities is the way to go.

Similarly, we adopted a dog who wasn’t all that socialised. The existing old dog (he’s middle-aged really got bullied from time to time and there was a definite tension about the house. The feeling of guilt at poor existing dog’s predicament was tough for us. There is a definite conflict within my head whether or not the new lad should stay.

We gave them treats for being in each other’s company. Time apart for them DID help. We only spotted this over 1 year on when we sent the newbie up the DSPCA boarding kennels by himself. He came back refreshed not having to bother himself micro-managing the old lad. Meanwhile old lad had a ball getting his way.

I have to say, couldn’t bear to part with new lad. He’s great with people, he’s himself. It took like 18 months for the 2 dogs to start licking each other’s faces…BUT it HAS happened.

Do you have any more tips on how to get a dog to get on with strange dogs? That is the one nut we have to crack.

[kyelblue]

Thank you for all the information,it is a great help,.

[Author]

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