I've always had a bit of a battle with Flynn who's now nearly three. He was neutered at 18 months, is a dream indoors but still has problems when seeing other dogs in the street - not always but most times. Now I know I have a bit of a fear of other dogs around him, he's a strong boy and can leap and growl. Anyway I can mostly stop this behaviour with getting him to focus on me - as long as I catch it in time.

I now have a new pup in the house, 8 week old tiny boy and what i've seen yesterday and today has amazed me really. I've found that Flynn is fine with the pup - seperated by a baby gate for now - he'll walk up to the gate, wag his tail and sniff the pup BUT as soon as I put a hand on Flynn, he growls at the pup. So Flynn likes the pup but only if i'm not touching him (Flynn that is) as soon as I put a hand on Flynn he changes and growls. What signals am I sending him? I don't feel nervous as the gate is seperating them and I think I feel relaxed. Could this be a learned behavoiur? because if it's not I can't see that i'll ever be able to train Flynn to accept other dogs.
I've always thought i've transferred my insecurities of dogs to Flynn but not in my own house - i'm confused!

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Flynn - Kali - Britches - Bruce - T-Bo - Marty



"For the strength of the pack is the wolf, and the strength of the wolf is the pack"

When we got nuke as an 12 week pup, Kobi was fine at the rescue centre, so being a girl and a pup, thought I was home and dry, However when we got home he went ballistic. (At first I thought it wasnt going to work, loves her now though) I thought I was being calm when I used to pick her up and take her over to get him used to her,but he still growled. Was fine when she was in her crate, would even lie down next to it and was also fine outside when I walked them together. I realised after it was me. Even though I thought I was calm, because of his initial homecoming reaction, even though I thought I was calm, when I held her there was tension in my body, because I was tensed ready to whip her out the way, incase he lunged again. Where as outside, I was calm control as in Kobi walking mode (You know the probs I had with him as a pup) Over the years I automatically went into calm confident mode when walking just out of sheer habit. Because he only did it inside I was on alert and he must have been picking up on it. Do you think yours could be the same you were calm, but your muscles etc were tense just in case you had to whip him away.

After I had her on a short slack lead for the introductions and it started to get better. Touching flynn he might have sensed you alertness just in case you had to grab him if he did show anything towards the pup.

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Yesterday Flynn was looking at T-Bo through the gate and I went over to Flynn to put his collar on, as soon as I touched him he started growling at the pup. My son asked why I had put Flynns collar and I said because if he stood up at the gate i'd be able to get him down easily - my son said "so you were expecting Flynn to be bad then?" and I suppose I was and hadn't thought of it like that. In that case, he siad "you were pre empting bad behaviour and as usual you got it!" That's probably right isn't it? It's hard to imagine how relaxed I have to be with Flynn, none of the others are like that and I feel sorry that Flynn has to put up with me at times, I don't think it's fair on him but for goodness sake - that boy is like Derren Brown, he seems to know my every thought, lol!

Today i've stayed over the pups side of the gate and Flynn is happy as larry, no noise, no growling just tail wagging and sniffs! Mummy has to learn to tust her boy Flynn for both our sakes it seems!

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Flynn - Kali - Britches - Bruce - T-Bo - Marty



"For the strength of the pack is the wolf, and the strength of the wolf is the pack"

Ive found with Kobi, as well as being an easily stressed dog he is also a very sensitive dog and picks up on things really easily, its probably a reason that they are the way they are. Its not easy, being calm all the time, and knowing how little baby T-bo is and what Mals are capable of, its natural you are going to be alert and at the ready. Nuke was a lot smaller then him and after his party piece when we got home, I knew that if he wanted to then he could really hurt her or worse, so dont be so hard on yourself. Introducing any new dog into a pack, can be unerving.

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Reactive dogs are often sensitive to proximation and tension so it may be that you touching him has come to predict tension (which would ordinarily be from the leash) which predicts the arrival of other dogs or a dodgy doggie situation.

Regardless of the reason, however, you have a good idea of what situations triggers his discomfort so work on that.
I would think that your proximity will bring about more subtle discomfort signaling pre-growling. Look closely for dilation of pupils, erection of whiskers, tightness in mouth, whale eye, slight gaze aversion, stiffening etc.

Puppy needs to learn that this means 'leave Flynn alone' and this will also help Flynn.

Set up with dogs on either side of gate.
Move toward Flynn (from either side, practice from both) toss a treat so puppy moves away and then feed a treat to Flynn. Move away and repeat.

Here you will teach Flynn that he can ask for distance from puppy with the most subtle of signaling. You will also reward puppy for moving away at the slightest discomfort signaling from Flynn. This keeps puppy safe and helps Flynn learn how to communicate with other dogs without growling and escalation etc.

PS - pics of the new arrival please

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Anne, owned by Rufus & Tripod

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"I've seen a look in dogs' eyes, a quickly vanishing look of amazed contempt, and I am convinced that basically dogs think humans are nuts." - John Steinbeck

"If you don't want your dog to bite you, don't be an a**hole to him." ~ Dr. Ian Dunbar

You're so right SDH, I am aware of what damage Flynn could do so I suppose it's in the back of my mind. With the baby gate between them I should feel safe and thought I did but I do know Flynn could jump it if he wanted, he did it once before but since his op has never even attempted it. Born worrier me and I expect Flynn knows it very well by now, especially as i'm the only one who has ever walked, fed, groomed and trained him. Can read me like a book by now!

Thanks for that Tripod, I will give it a go. Flynn and I have always been very very close, I expect that's due to him being born here under circumstances unknown to me at the time and the subsequent divorce that breeding caused. He's been my rock, so to speak and i've treasured him more than I should perhaps, the reason he knows me so well.

Here's T-Bo (stands for "the best one") he also has his own thread with more pics - "Introducing" in dog chat. He's a smart lil guy already and very inquisitive with the Mals, foolish lil boy! He's a chi x jrt, so should be smart.

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Flynn - Kali - Britches - Bruce - T-Bo - Marty



"For the strength of the pack is the wolf, and the strength of the wolf is the pack"

ok I just want to eat him up bit of a change from the mals lol i'm sure he will have them whipped into shape in no time

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Anne, owned by Rufus & Tripod

Pet Central site & blog
Join us on FaceBook & Follow us on twitter

"I've seen a look in dogs' eyes, a quickly vanishing look of amazed contempt, and I am convinced that basically dogs think humans are nuts." - John Steinbeck

"If you don't want your dog to bite you, don't be an a**hole to him." ~ Dr. Ian Dunbar

Adorable! What a gorgeous pup.

Funny how we have to read up and study in order to figure out our pets yet with just a look and a sniff they can tell what we're thinking.

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[SIGPIC][SIGPIC]

Isn't it just? One thing i've learned is that you can't lie to a dog and you're only fooling yourself if you think you can, lol.

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Flynn - Kali - Britches - Bruce - T-Bo - Marty



"For the strength of the pack is the wolf, and the strength of the wolf is the pack"