Roxy - new puppy introduction. (not my puppy) & other stuff
My aunt and uncle just picked up a male Mastiff puppy yesterday. Achilles is like 15 weeks old I think.
They are having a pig roast next saturday and want me to bring Roxy to meet the puppy. They have never had the chance to meet Roxy either.
Now, Roxy is generally good with other dogs. Always good with nervous or timid dogs and submissive dogs- male or female. And a no-go with alpha or alpha 1 dogs.
She is a jealous dog and will try to "break it up" if another dog gives me to much attention or tries to "take her spot". I don't let her get away with it, but I still feel it should be mentioned.
She doesn't get a whole lot of chance to hang out with other "new" dogs. Most (not all) of the dogs she hangs out with she's known since she was little.
So.. back to my aunt and uncle. They are new dog people. I do believe they did they're research. Achilles is from a good breeder in NY, and I've known for awhile they were planning on getting a mastiff. I thought it would take longer, but I believe Achilles must have been held back from the litter to show or for whatever reason.. the breeder decided to sell/adopt him out. 15-16 weeks is a little late i thought... but them again, maybe the breeder is really selective and wanted to find him the perfect home.. who knows?
How do you think I should introduce them. He's not so young that anything goes... or is he? Is 15 weeks still the stage where he will go along with Roxy?
I was at a cook out last fall and someone had a black lab puppy. under a year- probably under 6 months. I think the lab had aggression issues. Roxy could care-less at first about him, but then the lab started a low growl and had a generally aggressive stance. He would growl and nasty bark whenever Roxy was in view, and tried to lunge. After a few of these displays, Roxy growled and lunged back. And of course she's a hell of a lot bigger and sounds a hell of a lot angrier than the "cute little puppy". Needless to say Roxy looked like the asshole.
I would like to avoid this display. On top of that the yard is not fenced in and she will need to be on-leash. Which is fine, but sometimes I think dogs do better when they are off leash. I dunno, I have friends that swear by the non-confined method and others that feel its better on-lead to keep control and "allow" the actions instead of leaving it to the dog. Obviously I would never "release the hounds" as far as introducing, but I hope you know what I mean. On lead intro.. happy dog non-leash play.
I'm actually hoping that Roxy is going to be so damn happy to meet new people that she'll care less about the puppy. But I do want them to meet while he is young. I kinda have this feeling that someday I will need to watch him or take him for a week... or a year ... or forever... I dunno. Just a weird feeling I guess. It's probably nothing. Or I may need to steal him .. you never know! ha ha.
I realize I'm rambling. I hope this makes sense, and I hope you actually made it through the whole thing.
oh.. one more thing (sorry) Ever since I broke my collar bone last year, Roxy has been much more clingy and protective. Obviously she knows I was hurt and broken. Since I was always the alpha, but sorta un-able to uphold that role, I think she started to take it on herself. Less responsive to commands, ignoring me.. It's like I'm starting over lately. And Dale was no help. he doesn't correct her, he just gives her a cookie to distract her.. which basically praised the wrongdoing. yay!
thought? suggestions? comments? ugh.
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by Terry
Bookmarks