Issue: I am nervous about introducing one of my dogs to my mom and dad's new senior dog. I think I know how to introduce them, but I have trouble reading my own dog in these scenarios and tend to assume she is aggressive.
Background: I have two female dogs who LOVE their grandma and grandpa (my mom and dad). They are their favorite people on earth. My 3 year old dog, Charley, is a coonhound mix with a history of resource guarding (food and people), but we trained her early on to help her with that. I'm thinking it's the guarding that comes out when meeting new dogs but I'm not sure. She always meets new dogs while walking in the neighborhood on a leash. She is not hesitant, marches right up to them, makes aggressive sounding vocalizations (the same she makes when she plays), her fur stands up, tail up and wagging. I just have a hard time reading her and am very protective of her on the leash, quick to pull her back. From my observation, if the other dog responds to meeting her without nervousness and is like "okay cool let's play!" she is fine. But if the other dog is intimidated by her forwardness then her noises get scary sounding (very guttural), scaring the other owners, I pull her away, and she lunges (never biting). The other dog (2 year old chow/pit mix) loves any other dogs that Charley "approves" of.
Charley used to be a dog park dog and got along with most dogs in that environment. We stopped going after seeing a couple bad dogfights there (not involving Charley). So I don't understand her pattern with meeting new dogs. I really suspect her vocalizations are alarming to other dogs AND their owners. She really sounds like she is in attack mode but that has ALWAYS been how she plays.
Anyway, trying to make this brief. Mom and dad already have a smaller senior female terrier dog that Charley loves and respects. Now they have a ten year old male black lab and we all want to make this introduction as smooth as possible, because my mom and dad watch my dogs when I'm out of town or have long work days. They have described him as sweet but anxious with walks and seeing other people (he's only been out of the shelter for 3 days). We are going to wait a few weeks for him to decompress and settle in.
Options for introductions:
-On leash at a park where we "happen" to run into mom and dad? Charley will be EXTREMELY excited at randomly seeing her favorite people.
-Go to their house and meet on leash in the front yard then walk? Charley will already be EXTREMELY excited to see her favorite people.
-Go straight to the backyard on a leash? One dog at a time meeting?
-My husband wants to use the e-collar on Charley for this situation. I prefer NOT to.
I know we can make this work! I just want everyone safe and set up for success.
submitted by /u/stayingoverthere
[link] [comments]