I have a core group of dogs that make up my "crew". I know these dogs very well and have a solid relationship with each of them.
They follow my lead, come when I call them, settle nicely during down time and each of them knows the household routine forward and backward.
This is an important starting point when adding a new foster dog to the group. I can usually predict and rely on the behaviors of my crew, but I have to shape the behavior of the new dog as I integrate them.
In my opinion and experience, the entire basis of developing a successful dog group is establishing the relationships with the dogs.
To that end, here is an expedited version of what I do.
A new dog is brought into my back yard on leash. If there is no history of fence escapes, I let him off leash to potty and investigate the yard. There will be no other dogs in the garage (converted dog living area) when I bring the new dog inside. I kennel him or contain him in a sheet covered Xpen.
He does not meet any of my dogs at this point (with some exceptions not discussed here). I don't handle the dog at all. My conversation with him is "kennel up", "let's go outside", "let's go in" and "what a good boy".
Then it is 'rinse and repeat'. I clear the garage, let him out to potty and return him to his area about every 2 hours or so until bedtime. That's it. Day 1 is over.
Over the next several days, I am constantly observing and evaluating the new dog. I begin basic handling and allow him time out of the kennel or Xpen, alone, both outside and in the garage. How he responds to my basic commands, his body language, his behavior, if he is eating and drinking - all of this plays a part in when he is introduced to my easy dogs.
When it's time for him to meet part of my crew, I will choose dogs in my group that are really good at meeting newbies - those dogs in my care that are social, 'soft' and tolerant. Then I let that group develop for several days up to several weeks, depending on how the new dog is handling it.
They follow my lead, come when I call them, settle nicely during down time and each of them knows the household routine forward and backward.
This is an important starting point when adding a new foster dog to the group. I can usually predict and rely on the behaviors of my crew, but I have to shape the behavior of the new dog as I integrate them.
In my opinion and experience, the entire basis of developing a successful dog group is establishing the relationships with the dogs.
To that end, here is an expedited version of what I do.
A new dog is brought into my back yard on leash. If there is no history of fence escapes, I let him off leash to potty and investigate the yard. There will be no other dogs in the garage (converted dog living area) when I bring the new dog inside. I kennel him or contain him in a sheet covered Xpen.
He does not meet any of my dogs at this point (with some exceptions not discussed here). I don't handle the dog at all. My conversation with him is "kennel up", "let's go outside", "let's go in" and "what a good boy".
Then it is 'rinse and repeat'. I clear the garage, let him out to potty and return him to his area about every 2 hours or so until bedtime. That's it. Day 1 is over.
Over the next several days, I am constantly observing and evaluating the new dog. I begin basic handling and allow him time out of the kennel or Xpen, alone, both outside and in the garage. How he responds to my basic commands, his body language, his behavior, if he is eating and drinking - all of this plays a part in when he is introduced to my easy dogs.
When it's time for him to meet part of my crew, I will choose dogs in my group that are really good at meeting newbies - those dogs in my care that are social, 'soft' and tolerant. Then I let that group develop for several days up to several weeks, depending on how the new dog is handling it.
In this video, the little Chihuahua Willy is meeting some of my crew for the first time. Everyone is interested, but not overly so. Willy is quite social and takes it all in stride.
Introductions to my harder dogs comes only when the new dog has settled and shows me he is relaxed, adjusting and listening to me. At this point, I do easy passes going in or going outside with the harder dogs. These are very brief encounters with no pressure. It's an "I see you and you see me and now that's over" sort of arrangement. And really, it's about smell and presence and acknowledgment more than anything.
I ease into everything, including having the new dog's group lounging together in the garage, eating simultaneously and hanging together outside. Short periods of time is key. This keeps everyone happy and less stressed.
During this period there is never a time that the new dog is left unsupervised while with his group. Never. If I can not be right there with him or have eyes directly on him, then he must be kenneled or return to his Xpen. I may allow him to be unsupervised while he is alone, however.
By now, he is probably ready to really meet my difficult dogs. Depending on the new dog's attitude and behavior, I might ask a second person to assist. I always do these meetings outside and I try to keep them during times when all the dogs are motivated to potty. I will begin to lengthen the time spent with the entire group day by day.
At all times, dogs congregating near the door to the garage is avoided, both on the way in and on the way out. If necessary, I will bring dogs in a few at a time. I also strive to never have toys just laying around the yard.
It is unlikely that the new dog will spend any length of time in the garage with the difficult dogs. I will have those dogs go in the house instead. This may occur for up to 6 weeks or forever, depending on the disposition of the new dog and how the difficult dogs continue to respond to him.
Sometime between 2 and 4 weeks, equilibrium is reached. Everyone in settled and acclimated to each other. All the dogs have found regular 'spots' to be in. The routine is established and followed. Life is good :-)
I ease into everything, including having the new dog's group lounging together in the garage, eating simultaneously and hanging together outside. Short periods of time is key. This keeps everyone happy and less stressed.
During this period there is never a time that the new dog is left unsupervised while with his group. Never. If I can not be right there with him or have eyes directly on him, then he must be kenneled or return to his Xpen. I may allow him to be unsupervised while he is alone, however.
By now, he is probably ready to really meet my difficult dogs. Depending on the new dog's attitude and behavior, I might ask a second person to assist. I always do these meetings outside and I try to keep them during times when all the dogs are motivated to potty. I will begin to lengthen the time spent with the entire group day by day.
At all times, dogs congregating near the door to the garage is avoided, both on the way in and on the way out. If necessary, I will bring dogs in a few at a time. I also strive to never have toys just laying around the yard.
It is unlikely that the new dog will spend any length of time in the garage with the difficult dogs. I will have those dogs go in the house instead. This may occur for up to 6 weeks or forever, depending on the disposition of the new dog and how the difficult dogs continue to respond to him.
Sometime between 2 and 4 weeks, equilibrium is reached. Everyone in settled and acclimated to each other. All the dogs have found regular 'spots' to be in. The routine is established and followed. Life is good :-)
So that you understand what I mean when I say 'difficult' dogs, here is some insight into my Cattle Dog mix Kitty. She has some definite herding behaviors and is a very confident girl. She can be grouchy and growly when a dog approaches her space. If they don't heed her warning and continue to approach, she might snap and raise her hackles. If they run up to her, bump into her or continue to invade her space, she is likely to bite. While she does have good bite inhibition, she may puncture skin. There are some dogs she is much less tolerant of, but she will do everything she can to avoid them. She will growl, find a place to lay that is higher or farther away, or beat feet to the door to the kitchen and want in.
it is my job to protect Kitty and to protect the new dog. There is no requirement that Kitty must get along with a new foster dog. I can continue to do passes and short, targeted bursts of time together outside, and Kitty and then go in the house. Or the new dog can be kenneled while Kitty is in the garage.
Kitty has her best buddy Pheasel and her housemate Katie and me. That's enough and it satisfies all her needs.
it is my job to protect Kitty and to protect the new dog. There is no requirement that Kitty must get along with a new foster dog. I can continue to do passes and short, targeted bursts of time together outside, and Kitty and then go in the house. Or the new dog can be kenneled while Kitty is in the garage.
Kitty has her best buddy Pheasel and her housemate Katie and me. That's enough and it satisfies all her needs.