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Mixing older dogs with younger dogs

1K views 11 replies 5 participants last post by  cpudinski 
#1 ·
My stepsister is moving here in about 3 weeks. She has two older chihuahua dogs. Amor and my dad's chihuahua get along great and play together, cuddle on my bed at night, they are good buddies. Amor has always seemed ok with other dogs and I've never had an issue with her except once. She apparently had an anal gland infection and another dog at the pet store sniffed her and she turned around and gave that dog a warning snap. Surprised me.

My question is, how do we introduce them. Amor is always so Gung ho when meeting new dogs I don't want her frightening the other dogs and don't want those other ones snapping and biting her. We've already decided to put the baby gate up where my room is for when no one is home, I've asked for a couple days off when she is supposed to get here, and I will probably keep her on leash in the house right next to me.

When I moved here, there was the chihuahua that she had never met, it took them about a week to really warm up to each other. There was also some friends of my parents who came during the summer in their rv in our back yard. They also had two dogs that Amor was fine with, and they were a bit older about 8 or 9. Kee kee and Amor are the same age. These new dogs are 10+ and very small.

I am in the process of looking into dog day camp and refreshing the training. I have an appt on Tuesday to tour the facility, and talk with the trainers. They have individual private training as well as a "training" session you can opt in for during day camp. If I decide to do the day camp thing it will only be about once a week for about 4 hours. She has been in doggie day care before and honestly felt more comfortable with the smaller dogs than the bigger dogs, I don't think she realizes she's a giant next to the chihuahuas. Kee kee bites her ears, legs, neck when they play and Amor does nothing.

Any advice or help in how to handle this would be appreciated.
 
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#3 ·
Ugh ... my fall back advise:
Leerburg | Introducing a New Dog into a Home with Other Dogs

Those Chi's are most likely going to be a serious issue! I don't think "your dog is going to be a problem but the little guys need to be kept under check.

Neutral ground and a pack walk would be a good start, if the Chi's even know what a "leash" is???
 
#4 ·
Those dogs I'm sure are going to be yappy. They haven't been around other dogs that I know of except for the mom of those two dogs who went to the rainbow bridge. I'm trying to be proactive with Amor because I know how much she will want to investigate and try to play. I've requested the weekend she will be arriving off so that I will be home to control Amor because I know how she will be. The baby gate is part of the solution but I don't think it's fair to expect Amor to have to be in my room while these new dogs get to run around and bark, especially when my dad doesn't like my dog barking.

That's why I'm looking into the day camp and training to help her get energy out. I don't do walks because there are too many dogs in our neighborhood that could be a problem on a walk. I know my dog is friendly but I don't know the other dogs and I'm not putting myself or my dog in a situation that could be not so good.
 
#5 ·
So my step sister arrived today. Unfortunately one of her dogs passed away yesterday on the way here. They did take her to a vet and turns out the little 3 lb thing had heartworm. We took her other little 3lb thing into the vet today to also have tested, he is negative thank goodness.

I totally underestimated Amor. Since I brought her home from day camp today (just a short amount of time) she only barked a bit at my step sister, and she has totally been calm around Pico. I'm so proud of her. She sniffed a little, and when he was put on the ground after a couple hours amor did not even try to chase him. My step sister does have a little play pen to put Pico in because he is not trained to go potty outside. I already told her we are going to train him like we would a puppy. He is about 10, and he is not fixed either.
 
#7 ·
I have no clue. I don't think they lived outside but they had 4 dogs. I think Pico is the youngest. They were using potty pads. I'm just so mortified. I don't know how someone can allow an animal to pee in the house and not be grossed out by it. I understand nervousness from a new place and a 6 day road trip, and the loss of his momma. I guess the dog that passed was his mom.

I know kee kee poops in the house if we miss her signal and don't get her out. Amor will wait patiently at the door when she has to pee but will whine at the door when she has to poo.
 
#9 ·
Kee kee bites her ears, legs, neck when they play and Amor does nothing.

Any advice or help in how to handle this would be appreciated.
Not sure who or what Kee Kee is?? So my question would be is Amor being hurt or bothered by this??

I ask because I have seen this before.
 
#10 ·
Kee kee is our other dog. I've mentioned her before. They are best friends. Kee kee is a chihuahua. Amor and her play a lot and kee kee bites her ears, legs and chest but not in a hurtful manner, just when they are playing. The most that has happened is a small scratch on Amor's ears.
 
#11 ·
LOL that's why I asked, I have seen that before!

The Chi would nibble on the face and an ear, then across the back to the rear and work on a foot and the tail and then back to the front again! Kinda like yeah he's big but I'm talking him down!

And the Dane just sat there with a smile like .. "hey what are you gonna do??" They were the best of buds! :)
 
#12 ·
Yeah, Amor is pretty good natured about it all. She's been very good with the new little chihuahua too. She kinda has the sense that she can't do the same thing. He is very tiny, I think he's underweight too. He has an infection in his mouth so probably wasn't eating well. That's being treated so hopefully soon it will be better. His breath is already much better. I bought him a good quality canned food not too rich or high in protein yet. He was being fed kibble and bits. Told my step sister he's not eating that crap. I don't like blue buffalo but for now that's what he's eating in canned. I'm glad he's getting the vet care he needs now. He's not even fixed and she wants to fix him now? I think he's too old at this point to subject him to anesthesia and such and our two dogs are fixed. Her reasoning is she thinks it will stop him from lifting his leg. I told her it wouldn't, he just need potty training. I've been taking him out whenever I take our dogs and praise him when he goes outside.
 
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