I'm really worried about Jake!

[stacwase]

Jake's acting really wierd now, and I'm worried about him! As I mentioned in my other posts, we brought a big new dog home, and Jake kept trying to mount him, then yesterday Max bit jake.

Now Jake won't hang out with the rest of the "pack"! When we're watching TV, he hangs out in the mud room by the back door. He won't play fetch, he won't come when he's called, and he won't eat his dinner. He usually sleeps in the mud room, but last night he slept upstairs behind the bed in one of the guest rooms!

I think that he thinks he's been banished from the pack! I keep trying to encourage him to come in with the rest of us, especially when Max is crated. But he won't. Last night I went out to the mud room and babied him for a long time.

Help! Is there anything I can do? Is this normal dog behavior?

[lovemyshiba]

I don't know if it's normal, but Kito did the same thing when Abbey came to live with us, and again when Riley came home too. He would sit in another room, not fetch the ball, he forgot his commands, and didn't eat well for a while. It took him a few days, but he got back to normal--as normal as he can be --Jake will probably do the same.

[ParNone]

I introduced a 9 week old Collie puppy to two 12+ year old Cairn
Terriers, which is probably easier than an adult dog, but maybe
the same principles apply. I stuck to a couple of rules. One, the
Cairns were here first and older, so they had more privileges,
then the puppy. He had to earn the privileges they had, such as
sleeping on the bed. As part of this I also backed the Cairns up in
making him adjust to their ways. So if he got too rambunctious
and they growled or snapped at him to back off, he's the one
that got a short time out in his crate, not them.

Second, they only got treats and special things, like peanut
butter filled kongs when they were all 3 together. And I made
sure that the Cairns got lots of attention when the puppy was
with them. I wanted them to view the puppy as a positive
thing not a negative one.

Oz is 9 mos old now, so still a puppy and he'll test Murph and
Maddie's patience from time to time, so they'll grumble at him,
but there's been no bloodshed. So far the most extreme thing
that's happened is some hair pulling. Considering they're
terriers and normally dog aggressive, I think they've accepted
him into the pack pretty well.

Par...

[stacwase]

Here's Jakey after the big fight. We're calling him "Rocky" now. He says "Yo Adrian!"

[micki76]

Originally posted by stacwase
Last night I went out to the mud room and babied him for a long time.

Boy, have I been in your shoes!!

Don't baby him. I know I did the same thing when Chester acted like that. By babying him you are only going to re-enforce the behavior, and I know you don't want him acting like that all the time. I know, you feel guilty and you think he thinks you don't love him as much anymore. He may feel that way somewhat, but he'll never get over it until you make him. Sounds heartless doesn't it? But it's true.
Think about the voice you use to soothe your dog. Sounds a lot like praise, doesn't it? We were taught to use a calm, but firm voice instead of the soothing voice. It really does work in all situations that we have encountered with our two.

If you fee like you can control the situation, give them some great treats in each others presence. We put both dogs on short leashes and worked within a couple of feet of each other. We did sits and roll overs and stays. They got attention and goodies while they were around each other, which made it seem like the other dog was a good thing.

[stacwase]

Thanks for the reassurance and advice, everybody! I think everything will be OK. Jake came out a little more this morning. I'll bet he'll be back to his old self in no time. By the way, ParNone - do you have any photos of your little Cairn Terriers?

[stacwase]

Micki - we must have been writing our messages simultaneously! You're right - I do think he thinks I don't love him as much anymore. But I don't want to reinforce his pouting either. You know, they're kind of like teenagers!

[ParNone]

Hi stacwase!

Here's a pic of all three happily waiting for their treat together
the first week I brought Oz home.



And here's a couple of recent pics from a camping trip:

Maddie


Murph


Par...

[stacwase]

What sweet little pooches! XOXO

Don't you just love Pet Talk??? I am so glad I found it. It's helped me so much.

[ParNone]

Yeh actually I do. There are a couple of yahoo Cairn and
Collie lists that I frequent sometimes, when I just want to
hear about those breeds specifically. But it's rare I post at
them. The Collie folks are fairly argumentative and somewhat
pretentious. The Cairn folks are pretty kewl and they've got really
good sense of humors, but still I find myself more comfortable
with the people here, so this is where I do most of my posting.
Nice friendly atmosphere and I've gotten a lot of good advice
here.

Par...

[stacwase]

I brought the dogs to the vet today for their vaccinations and to get Max his first checkup. I also wanted to have the vet look at the bites Max gave Jake.

The bites were infected, and the vet had to shave Jake's eye and the top of his head! He actually had 2 on the top of his head, and I only knew about one. She gave him an antibiotic injection and an antiinflammatory injection and sent him home on antibiotics. Poor little guy.

But on the brighter side - on our last visit a week ago she had said Jake needed to lose 2 or 3 lbs, and he's lost one already! So I guess we're doing something right.

[lilbabyhotwheels]

Well...dogs mounting each other usaualy means..one is stating whos more dominant.. well at least puppies do that..the dog the got bit...well..is he a new dog or old dog? cause if he is old..and the new dog bit him..his dominant side was shattered..so that could be why he mopes around..he'll be ok..once he establishes that he cant always run the show! just like wolf packs...but im sure he'll come around..dont worry to much..

[Tonya]

I've followed my dog trainers advice, and I have never had problems since. As soon as you figure out who's the alpha, you back him up. That way, you are letting the new dog know that no one thinks he is boss. It'll help resolve their issues alot sooner. At my house, my pomeranian some how wound up being the alpha though. haha. I got worried about it a few years back and actually gave away a dog (Queensland Heeler) I really liked. My pitbull-sharpei was losing weight and I got scared. Looking back on it, I think if I would have quit disciplining the Heeler for guarding the food, and instead encouraged Rosco to wait and eat after Ricky (the heeler), they would have worked out ok.

[weitzel]

we got pepper in 2001, then jordan came a year later, some how jordan ended up being the boss.the vet told me to let pepper eat first, pay attention to him first and let him go out potty first that should work. but pepper still acts slided. were still trying hope it works

[Zero]

Yes, This happened to me aswell, My dog buck came home and my other dog Jefe wouldnt hang around anyone else, But the reason he does this is, Well, You know how popular it is where Kids get sad because a new Baby came home. Its just like that matter, Leave the dog be for awhile and he'll start to act like his normal self.

Yeah i love Pet talk, Ive gotten so much help from it now, And so much help from it on my previous pet talk name that i dont have anymore Anyway, Good luck.

Hopefully your doggy feels better soon!