well few things really , we knew it would take a while thought we were getting somewhere.

first max went really queit and wouldnt move out of the hall . Ben kept growling at him when he came in the room therfore max didnt want to come in the room.

max was sat in the hall and ben followed him then there was a little scrap but that stopped when we went in .

Ben keeps annoying the degus still (not as much though) which is scaring them.

but the thing thats made us rethink this morning is the scrap. dont even know what it was about they just started fighting and wouldnt stop. i chucked water over them (i had it in my hand any way) and my OH pulled them apart.

Im really upset as i really wanted this to work but at the minute i cant see how it can. we tried introducing them again outside but ben started barking at max and max went all ridgid. so at the minute we are having to keep them in separate rooms wich isnt fair on anyone

I understand exactly how you feel about the scrap. I felt the same on Monday night when Shannow and Pippi had a scrap and Pippi was bleeding and frightened. These things can take a lot of time to settle down. I am willing to give it 6 months for them to bond. I am giving my existing dogs time alone with me and breaks from Shannow. Just because they had a scrap doesn't mean it can't work out, they have to sort out who's going where in the pecking order and fighting is how they do it.

You can reduce the tension by removing all toys and food when they're together and feed/play with them separately. I gtg to work now but if you need a chat I'll be on later.

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Follow Shannow on twitter she wants more Anipals https://twitter.com/#!/ShannowDog

Agree with metaldog, these things do take time. When Roxy came to live with us all was fine for the first couple of week. That was easy, I thought ..... how wrong I was; that was when problems started!!!

Roxy attacked Toby a few times, they had a couple of scraps, they hated sharing my attention, they could get on the sofa or bed as that caused problems - it was like having two jealous kids.

But .... over time they started to get on really well. We were then able introduce short training & play sessions togther. Then they were aloowed chews (always supervised) & now I can leave them alone with their kongs whilst I go out - something I never thought I would be able to do at one point.

Roxy used to annoy the cats for a while - no aggression just over excitement but again this was something that she learnt to control through training.

It was a stressful time as I thought I had done the wrong thing by getting Roxy but after alot of worry things have turned out well

how long have you had the second dog?? my 2 used to fight like that and syd actually ripped jake`s neck open once and other times his cut him in less scary places. i was straight for marching him back but they did eventually settle down - kinda! they still fight but it`s mainly jake instigating it as i dont think he likes having a second dog in the house but he`s always the one left worse off

i know what you mean about the degus, syd is the same with our rabbit and will just bark and bark and bark till you wanna scream so i`ve had to move mine into the garden shed for both theirs and my peace (i think syd thinks the buns are teddies and he`s obsessed with teddies so probably wants them out to rip up could that be the same for you? ) as for the cats....well i vowed i`d never let mine outdoors but they`re got so stressed out since he arrived and were toileting everywhere that i had no choice

sometimes i think syd would be much better off in a home where he`s the only pet but then when he`s curled up to me i couldn`t face being without him, i`m probably being selfish and should consider the other animals that were already here but it`s not easy!! i`m sure whatever you decide to do will be the best for all involved, if you`ve not had the second dog very long though then maybe giving them more time to settle together wouldn`t hurt

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owned by:

jake - chocolate labrador
sydney - liver/white english springer
twix - dlh cat
lacey - dsh cat

never forgetting my baby banjo running free at the bridge, RIP baby xx

I hope things work out for you soon.
I'm working on a similar thing myself. My mum has always brought her westie to my house 2 days a week, while she looks after my children. The problem is that her dog doesn't like my boy Murphy. Its like a mad house in here and we have to seperate them for some peace but hopefully in time they will get on great.
A lot of people have multi dog house holds and I'm sure they too had a few teething problems, keep your chin up.

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Murphy - Labrador - born 3/5/11

Fingers crossed you can you work it out. Often in multi dog households it can take time for the dogs to work out a pecking order. Managing multi pet households is even worse!!
Even though I introduced my 2 dogs to a new girl pup it still took a year for my boy to stop attacking her and bullying her, then another year before they were actually friends!!
3 of my cats live permanently in my spare bedroom (which is now geared for cats, not people!) and my small furries had to be moved to my other spare bedroom as Hannah would stand by the cages whining and barking obssessively. It can work, but usually not without some effort and major home remodelling!!

(makes you wonder what it was like on Noah's Ark, doesnt it??)

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SUMMER...JUST SAY NO!

I love my furkids.
dogs-Adam, Hannah, Heidi.
cats-Banjo, Bess, Eric, Tootsie, Blossom, Gracie.
Syrian Hamster-Inigo Montoya.
Rats-Ezri, Audrid, Emony.
Corn Snake- Kiora.
Kenyan Sand Boa- Kushti.

RIP- Winter, Autumn, Leela, Spring, Gandalf, Summer,Jet, Pip, Moo, Lilac, Wild Thing, Patrick, Frisbee, Echo.

I have 4 boys, we managed to pick each dog to their personalities and luckily we havent had very many fights. George is very submissive so is happy to be bottom dog, and Charlie and Phoenix are very relaxed with each other.

I think it is very important to find the correct dog that will a) get along with your resident dog and b) will not try and dominate your (im guessing) already dominant dog - as he was the only one.

Did you rescue Max? It may be worth asking the rescue for their resident behaviourist to come and help you with the pecking order. Are either of them neutured?

If there is gonna be a fight with my lot it is always Charlie and Phoenix, we usually let them get on with it and stop them if it becomes too serious, but it can be very frightening all the noise and action but they need to establish their order.

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thanks for your comments today has been a very upsetting and stressfull day for both me and my OH.

we keep them separate since the fight this morning (other than trying to re introduce each other in the garden , which didnt go well).

told my MIL not to let them together when she came round to walk them and take them in the garden. (didnt want them starting if it was just MIL there)

i came home from work and spent my time between the 2 rooms sharing attention untill my OH got home.

We had a chat and knew that they needed time together to get use to it etc... but really couldnt see it working.

We took them both into the garden together and as soon as Ben saw max he started barking so let them get a bit closer (incase barking was frustratiion to meet) and Max went for Ben this is really not like max so he obviously is distressed by everything.

We have try a few more introductions but non go well

So currently im sat in the dining room with ben (otherwise he will cry) and my OH is with max. we keep swapping everyso often.

Unfortunatly we are going to have to take Ben back to manchester dogs home tomorrow. its not fair on anyone in the situation and my OH in heartbroken (im actually crying typing this now )

i would rather ben get another home now before he stays too long and gets too attached to us. he is a clever little pup who just needs some training. ive already taught him his name, sit, lie down, and hes getting the hang of giving his paw. hes picked up LLW aswell

he loves getting brushed and would quiet happly let you stroke him all day

We've had issues since we got Bos and we are having an assessment with a dog trainer tomorrow, we've had him 10 weeks now. For the first week they were never off lead even in the house, one dog was tied to OH and one dog tied to me, whereever we went they went just so they go used to eachother moving round the house, they are never fed in the same room, they never have treats together unless heavily supervised by me and OH and they can't have toys. After a week they were ok with eachother in the house and we started taking leads off leaving harnesses on and they got better, all walks were on lead but done together so OH with one dog me with the other. We have now moved to off lead walks and Bosley is a nightmare we have all sorts of issues he growls barks and bites Lexi, he has no doggy manner and is very rude so every walk ends up with us having to seperate them as she gets pee'd off with him, and he is the same in the garden, so they can't be in the garden at the same time. I have many times wondered if we have done the right thing but they are both laid asleep snoring quietly along side eachother and I know that it will all work out ok.

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.....and Bosley too!

Sorry to hear it's not going too plan but what you described to me sounds like it might work out in time. Of course I am not in your shoes though, sorry don't have any advice but I do hope they settle together.

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