Hello from North Carolina

[Cageygirl]

Hello all,

My husband and I have a 16mos old toy poodle named Boopsie whom we've had since she was 8 weeks old.  She's a little pistol.  Very energetic, playful, loving.  She's about 9 lbs.

We just adopted a 2 - 3 year toy from Carolina Poodle Rescue.  Irene is smaller than Boopsie, by about 3 lbs and about 2 inches shorter.  She's very shy and sweet - loves to cuddle.  Most of the time she seems glad to see us but not always. She often comes up to us with a wagging tail and wants to climb into our laps.   We brought her home this past Saturday so she's been with us for 4 days.  She was seized when a puppy mill was shut down, and it's speculated that she has spent her whole life in a small kennel, breeding.

Boopsie just wants to play with Irene - hasn't shown any signs of agression, but is pushy.  Jumps on Irene and tries to give her nose kisses.   Irene sometimes sniffs back, but often just turns her head away from Boops.  There has been some snarling, growling (2 - 3 seconds of duration) and lunges with snaps, but the lunges and snaps happen only in the late evening, and I think it's when she's just tired and wants Boopsie to leave her alone.  But I don't know.

Both dogs have crates in the kitchen.  We've been limiting the girls' direct contact.  We've put a large dog playpen around Irene's crate so she's has some room and so the two of them can get used to the sight and smell of each other.  We're also exposing the two to each other without the benefit of a barrier, but always when we're in the room with them or outside with them.  There was one instance when I was sitting on the couch with the two of them on either side of me.  Irene growled at Boopsie and then snapped at her.  I stood up immediately and put each dog in its respective crate.  I understand that the two of them need to work out whose alpha and beta between them, but I don't want it happening on my lap.  I hope that was the right response.

At night, Irene is in a crate in the bedroom and Boopsie is on the bed.

Our hope is that the two of them will be friends and will play.  Given Irene's history, I don't think she had the opportunity to be much of a puppy. 

I've never introduced a 2nd dog to a single dog household and I've never adopted a rescue before so this is all new territory.  What can I expect? 

I guess my biggest questions are, what has been the experience of people on this board with this type of situation; what can we expect, will these two get to be friends.

Thanks in advance of any help, insight, suggestions anyone can offer.  Oh, and we have an appt with the trainer with whom we worked with when Boopsie was going through PetSmart training.  We have a 1:1 training session with her with the two dogs on Sunday.

[Karen]

It certainly sounds like you have the causes worked out. Lucky Irene to have found such a great new home. I am sure given time & a chance to get used to her new life things will settle down. She may never be as playful as Boopsie but hopefully she will learn that the world is indeed a more wonderful place. Some dogs never get to be overly friendly with others. My Tia is an example of that. She will tolerate other dogs & get on with them but she would rather be with me than playing with them. She came into my life as an adult dog having been low dog in the pecking order to an older dog in her previous home & appears not to want to risk losing me at least at this stage so stays close at all times when we are away from home.

[Michael]

Welcome to the PoodleRoom! I agree that it's wonderful you're giving Irene a new life and chance at really enjoying a loving home. And it also sounds like you're doing most everything as best you can....which should help her acclimate to her new home and everyone around her, as well as Boopsie to her, etc.

On the snarling on your lap incident, I think you did that right....you stopped it and put them away....that sent a message that "mom's in charge here" and the issues of Alpha, etc. not only play out between the dogs, but between the human family members and the dogs as well. The important thing is that *you* are Alpha over all of the dogs. Then, they work out order amongst themselves.....but you need to be topdog overall, and that was an example of doing just that.

Much of the rest also sounds like you're doing very well in trying to work things out, let them get acclimated, etc. The only thing that raised a question in my mind was that you mentioned Irene sleeps in a crate in the bedroom, but Boopsie sleeps right on the bed. Though I know there may be more at issue here, that is showing a bias/difference in your treatment of them...at least to them. Boopsie is getting more leeway and allowed to be "closer" to you, where Irene is being forced a bit further off. That may be fine if you absolutely must do that for their safety, or if you want to help in encouraging the hierarchy between them. But, if you want them both to feel equal and have a chance to work out their own order, is there anyway to put them on the same level? Either both in crates for the night, or both allowed on the bed? Afterall...even if there was a snarl at night, you'd be there to catch it, so it should be safe to do so, I'd think. But my first impression on that was a difference in treatment, even if it is unintentional or for their own safety. Try to think of it from their eyes....how does it look to Irene to be put in a crate while Boopsie gets to stretch out on the bed in comfort? And what does Boopsie think getting the bed while Irene is put away - she's probably thinking "hey, I'm better than she is...".

Otherwise, like I said, I think you're doing everything wonderfully. Monitoring them when together is excellent.

I've brought a second dog into the home twice....but neither was really a rescue situation, and both times it was different breeds. Eventually there will be snarls of some sort between about any two dogs, but they will hopefully get along fine in the long run. They may never be snuggly buddies (though who knows!), and one may not be as affectionate as the other...that's just differences in personalties and whatnot. If you can just make their lives the best you can and enjoy each for what they are and let them enjoy being together as much as possible, I think the rest will mostly work out. Just keep monitoring things until you are more comfortable overall. But mostly, you're on the right track and things sound like they should continue to improve. Feel free to ask any other questions as well....we'll try to help as best we can.

[Lushbaby]

Hi,
Its great that you have taken on a rescue dog, such a cruel way to spend a life in a cage. I took 2 off a breeder once. They had been penned all day & allowed to run in a big shed at night. Problem one was that they would not walk through a doorway. Had to pick them up & carry & praise & leave trails of food but they dared eventually, sad.
As this dog has spent her whole life confined she may be a bit overwhelmed/insecure let loose but she has to get used to it. So I would not crate. What about a big puppy pen with alternating turns in & out for each dog ? Turns each on the bed too. Some go OK but some don't.
Pippa was in a cage outside with a dirt floor & had dug a hole in the ground to keep warm, I cried when I saw her but managed to get her away from there.
She hopped in bed with another dog & sat with her head down & only jumped out to eat & pee,for 6 weeks. I patted her every day & spoke, the same as with the dog she was in with. No response until one day she licked my hand. I bawled my eyes out. She hopped out, barked & never stopped, so yappy, & joined in with the other 5 dogs. Never completely right & couldn't rehome her but she was happy.
Good luck with your little girl, they deserve so much more than living in a cage & existing. They will make friends I am sure. Poodles like other poodles.

[Sivaro]

Hello and welcome

Good for you for taking on a dog in need.  Hope to see pics soon.

[Cageygirl]

Checking in after a long hiatus. 

It's been almost 7 mos since we brought Irene home. 

She is not the same dog.  She sleeps on the bed with us.  She and Boopsie play (although she still doesn't know what to do with toys).  She gets very excited when we come home and prances and play bows.  She's housebroken now so all the gates are down, and she walks on a leash perfectly (although she won't walk on my left side but who cares?).  She's not scared of the door, of the leash, of the threshhold, of the outdoors anymore.  The only thing that she is still terrified of is the camera.  She rolls onto her back when the alarm goes off in the morning so she can have a belly rub.  She comes when she's called (sometimes) and she's learning to sit. 

Seems that she and Boopsie trade off who is alpha dog.  There's no more growling or snapping.

And she's a real lovergirl.  She loves curling up in a lap and giving kisses.

[Karen]

That is wonderful news indeed! It is so satisfying when a rescue dog gets to know it is loved & secure & it blooms into the dog it was always meant to be..Congratulations to you all

[zefi]

Thats great news! I dont know how I missed this thread when it was started, I only saw it today. I was going to tell you that it will take time. Even introducing a new puppy to my home needed some compromises and respecting personal space etc. Its just a matter of time. I'm so glad its worked out so well. You were doing all the right things!