New here!

[SKellstrom]

Hello all - My name is Samantha, and I've got a 2.5 year old spaz of a boxer named Cooper, and recently adopted a boxer pointer mix, Penny - and she's about the same age, though we're not sure of her exact age.

A little bit about Cooper - He's you're typical young boxer, crazy & in your face. Totally loveable, and not a mean bone in his body. He's been a fantastic part of our family for a little over 2 years.

A little about Penny - Penny is still really new to us - we took her in less than a week ago. So far, shes loveable, sweet and I'm starting to see some of the crazy happy boxer traits that I know she's got in her somewhere. I don't know much about her background, other than she was in a home with another dog before she came to us. She seems to be really afraid and agressive with Cooper - but we're working to get her reactions to him changed. (Any suggestions would be appreciated!).

And finally, a little about us - My husband and I have been together for 13 years, we live in New England and have an 11 year old son. We like to camp in the summer, and play in the snow in the winter - which works well for our pups.

Anywho - that's us in a nutshell!

Samantha

[tguinter]

welcome to the forum

[sasasola]

Welcome!

Sorry I have no advice on getting Penny to stop being aggressive (you SURE she's being aggressive?) but there are many other knolwedgeable members here with multiple dogs that I'm sure can help you.

By the way, Penny is a very striking dog! I love her look!

[SKellstrom]

Oh - I'm sure she's being aggressive.... Sadly. She will run from Cooper in sheer terror if he happens to walk twoards her, until he gets too close and then she'll lunge at him like a ball of fury and anger and fear. I haven't let it get too far, since shes so new to the house, and I don't want to scar either her or Cooper. I feel super awful, since Cooper is so goofy and dopey that he's not quite sure what's going on, and he just wants to play. She seems to want nothing more than to hide from him. He's never had any play issues with other puppies/dogs, thought I would consider him rude if I were playing with him. I'm hoping that some more time / working with both of them will work. Until then, just lots of seperation.

[Jen B]

I don't have much advice other than have patience. Im sure she is scared of being in the new place. Good luck.
oh and..

WELCOME FROM LA!!!! They are both beautiful!

[Gypsiemouse]

Welcome from NJ

One thing I can suggest is for you and your your husband to take the dogs on a walk (each have one dog), but keep enough distance between them (even if you have to walk on opposite sides of the street or apart in a park like setting). Slowly and I mean slowly get closer together, but not so close that Penny gets nervous. It might many walks, but she should eventually get more comfortable.
And don't rush anything at home - rotate who is out and who is in a crate or behind a baby gate so they can see each other but not interact for a while.
Penny is new to your home and to Cooper- it may take some time.

You said she was in a home with another dog before - Do you know if she got along with that dog? Or is that why she got re-homed?

[SKellstrom]

Thanks for the advice - we've been doing the walking with them, and Penny actually does really well on them. She doesn't seem to mind Cooper at all when we're walking, just as soon as we get back into the house. I've removed all toys and food, etc. just to be sure. We've got an appointment with a trainer and the two pups tomorrow AM to see if this is just adjusment issues, or if they really are not a good fit. Hopefully everything works out.
From what the rescue said, she got along great with other dogs, as well as the one that she lived with. I was told that that family Penny came from lost their home and had to re-home both of their dogs, so Penny's old house mate was actually adopted from the same rescue that I got her from, just a few hours before I went to pick her up, so I didn't get to see him, or their interactions.

Thanks again -
Samantha

[SKellstrom]

Well - Things did not go so well with Penny when we took her and Cooper in for training on Friday morning. Penny was showing signs of fear aggression with Cooper, and Cooper being who he is (rude and pushy - I want to play NOW!) they just wouldn't work. The trainer actually made a lot of sense and told us that while they *might* get along some time in the future, if they continued to fight that it would ruin Penny's chances of finding a better fit home for her, as well as run the possibility of making Cooper distrustful of other dogs in the future.
So, after much debate with the husband, we decided to foster Penny until the rescue could find a better home for her, and they did just that. Penny went to a great family yesterday morning, one with no other dogs - just the way she would want it to be! She really is a loving little pup - and I'm just sad that my home was not the place for her. I certainly did lear my lesson though - no rescue dogs come home without meeting them first -

[Gypsiemouse]

Sorry it didn't work out, but happy Penny has a new home that fits her better.