Seriously I am at my wits end

[Terry]

I have JJ here as a foster. He is a Yorkie mix. They sent him to me because at the kennel all the males were beating up on him. He is a very sweet boy.
Lewie hates him. fights are breaking out 3-4 times a day. I seem to get the worse end of it.
I have tried really carefully watching JJ to see if he is putting off signals but can't seem to see anything. Why at two different places are they beating up on him. He is not sick, he is very sweet. Of course it isn't just lewie, but Bailey too. all 4 lbs of him. and when it gets started they all jump in. it is making me crazy. When I am not home I put JJ in the laundry room and at night
Anyone have any ideas?

[Truman's Mom]

I don't know if this will help - but I'll throw out the experience I had.

Before Truman I had a GSD - the sweetest little girl you could ever meet. When she was 4 months old I took her for her first walk around our block on a leash. Everything was great until we were 7 houses away. As we were crossing the cul-de-sac a dog came racing out of it's garage and grabbed her and tossed her into the air. The dog owner came after his dog and did the same thing to it all the way back to the garage (poor dog). Datscha wasn't physically hurt thankfully but from that moment on she was terrified of all dogs and they knew it. My 95 pound GSD had every type and size dog charge her throughout her life and was attacked again when she was 5 by yet another dog charging out of a garage and across the street.

I tried socializing her when she was young but that fear was there, no aggression tho, she just didn't want to be around most dogs and it wasn't a cowering type of fear but more like the scent she put off.

I am no where near a dog expert and have no advice to give other than this experience - hopefully you will be able to solve this.

[Lora]

Is he still intact?

[ALDOGMOM]

Terry: Sometimes dogs just don't get along and truthfully you may have reached your limit with the number of dogs that you can have in your home - especially when you are working with rescues with an unknown history. They may all be small but they are still putting off their own signals about something from their past. All of the coming and going may be giving Lewie some stress and he is taking out on the weakest link.

Here is a really great article by Pat Miller that may help shed some light about what is going on.

http://www.peaceablepaws.com/article...cat=1&type=Pat

[Terry]

it is a great article. Here is seems I am the resource. If JJ is near me, Lewie gets anxious. Doesn't care about the other dogs, but JJ.
The strange thing is this happened where he was before. In the temp. kennel.
I have made the recommendation that he go to ahome with no other male dogs. Since this has happened to him in two completely differenct places.
Oh, Lora, he is not intact, but was just neutered 3 weeks ago. And of course none of my dogs are intact.

[Hounds_N_Leo]

Terry: Sometimes dogs just don't get along and truthfully you may have reached your limit with the number of dogs that you can have in your home - especially when you are working with rescues with an unknown history.

I agree. Honestly fostering IS stressful on the resident dogs too. Try to bear that in mind when deciding on who/what/when to bring in a new foster. They do feel it...they do probably wonder at the coming and going. Cleo is always a bit down when foster kittens or beagle pups leave...so yes, it does affect them. I hope you can get it worked out and have him find a nice quiet home soon.

[Cole's Mom]

Sending hugs Terry. It sounds like this boy's fears are making him a target for other dogs. Hope things get better soon

[Lora]

It takes about a month for all the "boy scent" to work it's way out of the system. They may still be picking up on that. My boys are all neutered and were done at an early age but boy scent makes them crazed. Hopefully it will calm down as the scent goes away.

[Terry]

You all may think I am crazy, but I think I may have hit the nail on the head. JJ is not the sharpest tool in the shed. Very sweet, but not bright. I am wondering if he is not picking up on the other dogs signals and that is what ends him up in trouble? He just seems oblivious to the world, except for his ball, He is obsessed over them.

[Baroooo]

Hey, some people are totally inept socially, poor little JJ may be the canine equivalent. He may be just enough different that the others feel the need to pick on him, and he's clueless as to the signals they are sending.

[MuttleyCrew]

Don't tell me this, I'll end up adopting him. It seems its what I do now...good luck to little JJ. Maybe there are some behaivoral things you can do that will help booost his confidence. 'Course, I don't any but the wiser folk on the board might....

[Lora]

Poor JJ, he's the canine equivalent to Mr Bean... lol

[Terry]

We had an incident last night. We had gone 2 days without a problem. Last night I come home from work, pottied everyone, fed them, Lewie put his paws up on legs I picked him up and in a nano second JJ was jumping for him. I got Lewie in my bedroom, safe and then JJ went for my leg. I think it was the heat of the moment thing. I am sending him back to Alabama. I can't have it that I can't even pick my own dog up, not to mention with 5 little pups coming, I don't need that kind of problem. I feel bad. 98% time he is sweet. it is always concerning another dog.

[Delynnr]

You have done so much good for all of your fosters, don't feel bad that this ONE was a bad fit! I am so impressed with all that you have done with all your little doggies and you HAVE to keep your own dogs safe.

[bren]

You have done so much good for all of your fosters, don't feel bad that this ONE was a bad fit! I am so impressed with all that you have done with all your little doggies and you HAVE to keep your own dogs safe.

Yep, I completely agree! You've done so much Terry! Sending him back is in the best interest of you, him, and the other pups.

[Terry]

Thanks everyone. It was tough putting him on the transport bus Saturday. He loved me and I loved him, just couldn't be with other dogs around. I hope and pray he finds a home all his own.

[ALDOGMOM]

You did the right thing. (((hugs))

Look at what happened with Birdie. She was pulled from the shelter by the MSPCA and adopted out TWICE and returned because of her issues with other dogs.

I like to think the universe was just waiting to send her to me.

Hopefully, JJ will end up exactly where he is supposed to be.

[Lora]

You did the right thing Terry. You have to think of the welfare of your own pack first and foremost. Fosters are hard on them. They have to resestablish the pecking order every time a new dog comes in. I cant do it anymore. Too hard on B and R and they are the resident dogs and who I owe my loyalties to. unfortunately we cant save them all.