I'm looking for help with training ideas, particularly from those of you with multi-dog experience and experience of introducing new dogs to established dog households.
In July (a mere 10 weeks away...) we're going to be looking after my mum's two labs for 10 days while she's away. We're planning an interim trial weekend in the next few weeks. We haven't done this before; my mum's older, settled dog Jambo has been to stay a number of times but not for a couple of years. I think Jambo will settle easily, but I'm keen for all the dogs to be as comfortable as possible as quickly as possible. [Now I write this, it feels like wishful thinking...]
The challenge: Zorro is a lively, anxious adolescent dog who is very high energy with new people and new situations - lots of barking, mouthing, jumping. He hasn't been to our house before, as I've been very cautious of Kipper's comfort and the risk of exacerbating Kipper's lameness with high tempo activity. Kipper finds Zorro very full on, and Zorro fixates on Kipper, jumps all over him and mouths his muzzle until he is stopped. Our house is not big, but we've identified 2 rooms which we'll establish as Kipper's safe havens behind baby gates where he won't be bothered. Our garden's not big either, so not much room for zoomies or partitioning. There's only one doorway out to the garden. Jambo is not great at turn taking and destroys toys if left with them.
Our #1 priority is safety for everyone, in the house and out of it. I am also very keen to minimise Kipper's discomfort, and make the visit as relaxed as possible
So far: I've had a few short 1:1 sessions with Zorro to get him used to the boot of our car, which initially he was scared of. He's now easy in getting in and out, and we're building duration with the boot open. Zorro is very food-orientated, and has a very low threshold for waiting/turn taking. He is incredibly eager to please, and responds strongly to positive attention. He's not great at settling, particularly in the face of novelty - he tends to get immensely excited when he sees me, which leads to a lot of over-threshold behaviours.
What I'm after: exercises or practices I can do in relatively short bursts (10 mins away from home, or ~1 hour visits to our home?) to help prepare all 3 boys for successfully cohabiting in 10 weeks' time.
Ideas would be particularly welcome on:
- Training calmness in short bursts
- managing space when I can't accurately predict how the dogs will behave
- avoiding conflict around resources/entrances & exits
- reinforcing multiple dogs when there is no/little established dynamic
- multi-dog activities (in a relatively small garden!) to help establish & reinforce patience/turn taking/calmness
In July (a mere 10 weeks away...) we're going to be looking after my mum's two labs for 10 days while she's away. We're planning an interim trial weekend in the next few weeks. We haven't done this before; my mum's older, settled dog Jambo has been to stay a number of times but not for a couple of years. I think Jambo will settle easily, but I'm keen for all the dogs to be as comfortable as possible as quickly as possible. [Now I write this, it feels like wishful thinking...]
The challenge: Zorro is a lively, anxious adolescent dog who is very high energy with new people and new situations - lots of barking, mouthing, jumping. He hasn't been to our house before, as I've been very cautious of Kipper's comfort and the risk of exacerbating Kipper's lameness with high tempo activity. Kipper finds Zorro very full on, and Zorro fixates on Kipper, jumps all over him and mouths his muzzle until he is stopped. Our house is not big, but we've identified 2 rooms which we'll establish as Kipper's safe havens behind baby gates where he won't be bothered. Our garden's not big either, so not much room for zoomies or partitioning. There's only one doorway out to the garden. Jambo is not great at turn taking and destroys toys if left with them.
Our #1 priority is safety for everyone, in the house and out of it. I am also very keen to minimise Kipper's discomfort, and make the visit as relaxed as possible
So far: I've had a few short 1:1 sessions with Zorro to get him used to the boot of our car, which initially he was scared of. He's now easy in getting in and out, and we're building duration with the boot open. Zorro is very food-orientated, and has a very low threshold for waiting/turn taking. He is incredibly eager to please, and responds strongly to positive attention. He's not great at settling, particularly in the face of novelty - he tends to get immensely excited when he sees me, which leads to a lot of over-threshold behaviours.
What I'm after: exercises or practices I can do in relatively short bursts (10 mins away from home, or ~1 hour visits to our home?) to help prepare all 3 boys for successfully cohabiting in 10 weeks' time.
Ideas would be particularly welcome on:
- Training calmness in short bursts
- managing space when I can't accurately predict how the dogs will behave
- avoiding conflict around resources/entrances & exits
- reinforcing multiple dogs when there is no/little established dynamic
- multi-dog activities (in a relatively small garden!) to help establish & reinforce patience/turn taking/calmness
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