Let me tell you a quick story about two special dogs that took me by surprise one day. I had been dating my current husband. I was asked to come over to his place to meet his dog. I remember the day I met his dog and all went really well. I walked in and sat down and let his dog Triton sniff and I gave him a good petting and within a few minutes we were becoming friends.
I had two dogs of my own at that time and I wanted my girls to meet Triton. I had done this type of dog meeting many times. We did all the right things, we took walks together with the dogs and all was going really well.
Within a few months all three dogs were playing together and everything was going really well. Moving fast forward. We got engaged and it was time for us to find a place of our own.
We found a small home and knew it would work out.
We all move in together and I knew the move would have some affect on the dogs. They are now under the same roof.
After a month I noticed changes in behaviors and I did watch closely. But one day I was involved in getting supper ready and let my guard down.
That one thing I did not want to happen was happening and one of my females with in a fight with the male dog. This is not ever a good thing to experience. I was alone and I knew what to do but it still never makes it easy. Once I had the dogs into separate rooms and giving them a time away from each other. I knew I had to start working on getting them back together.
I took away the bones that caused the problem and they never got them back. I had to work on just getting them back together that was my goal.
Both of these dogs are special to me and I am not someone to give up easily. I would bring them back together and then separate. I continued repeating this and I let them know they were doing a great job.
This process took a little over a month. I was able to let them be together again. I did all of this with positive reinforcement training. Keeping the distance and timing was very important. Observing their behaviors when they were in each others presence.
Dogs can be affected by change in the environment and moving was one of them.
Many times people want to give up easily when dogs get into a fight. There really are ways to help dogs get back together and live in peace.
Keeping the peace and understanding what is going on is very important.
I am very proud of these dogs as they learned how to be under the same roof. I never rushed the process of getting them back to living peacefully.
If you are having problems with dogs not getting along I always suggest using a good management plan. A plan on how you will begin to bring them back together.
These dogs were very lucky I understood what I needed to do.
No matter how tough things seem to be in the beginning. I was able to help my dogs by using a plan and never giving up.
Mecca Curtice, CCDT, CTDI
Behavior Specialist
Sheboygan, WI.
MeccaCurtice@gmail.com
© 2020 Mecca Curtice
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