Pack Building Topics
Much is written about choosing a dog for your family when you go from 0 dogs to 1 dog- the sort of person you are, home you have, matched with breed and individual tendencies- this narrows the field for you. When you have an existing dog you must match dog 2 with your family and environment AND Dog One, narrowing the field further. Much of this advice is of the "if you have a male, maybe get a female" depth. When you have multi dogs already, you are pack building, and as I think about Dog Three for my pack (coming at the earliest late 2010, if we DO add) I think about pack balance- because I can't just go get whatever I want as if I had no dogs. Due to having Rei and Sage (esp Sage) I must think carefully about goals for Three, and the selection of Three: from age, to sex, to breed, to source.
What wisdom would those of you who have, or have had, more than two dogs like to impart on pack-building?
Do you in fact just get whatever dog you want and the dogs will deal with it? How best to accommodate the existing structure/relationships? If you have a male and a female, a confident and an insecure, do you select the next group member to be calm, confident to increase secure feelings and stability, or more playful to lighten things up? Preference of Integrating puppies vs adults to an existing group?
What if an existing dog is dog-reactive? How does one present that to- say a dog breeder or rescue- or will "Reputable" and "responsible" ones be most likely to reject a buyer/adopter with an existing reactive dog in favor of plenty of homes withOUT a reactive dog, regardless of how much you have learned and managed and can articulate such?
What wisdom would those of you who have, or have had, more than two dogs like to impart on pack-building?
Do you in fact just get whatever dog you want and the dogs will deal with it? How best to accommodate the existing structure/relationships? If you have a male and a female, a confident and an insecure, do you select the next group member to be calm, confident to increase secure feelings and stability, or more playful to lighten things up? Preference of Integrating puppies vs adults to an existing group?
What if an existing dog is dog-reactive? How does one present that to- say a dog breeder or rescue- or will "Reputable" and "responsible" ones be most likely to reject a buyer/adopter with an existing reactive dog in favor of plenty of homes withOUT a reactive dog, regardless of how much you have learned and managed and can articulate such?
Comments
What wisdom would those of you who have, or have had, more than two dogs like to impart on pack-building?
>>> IMHO, selecting the right dog is important, but not as important as managing the introduction(s) correctly. Every dog comes with a surprise, so you never know exactly what you will get, and no matter how well you know (or think you know) your dog they will surprise you. Also, I have noticed that dogs of the same general theme (like hunting dogs) tend to do better together than say, a hunter and an LGD.
Do you in fact just get whatever dog you want and the dogs will deal with it?
>>> No, if we had done that we would have rescued a Pit or something (instead of getting Blue). Not that Pits are any more likely to be an issue than a CC - we just wanted a pup and were concerned with what we might get in a rescue dog (any type). So, for us, we do put thought into what dog to add - but we may not put as much thought as you are. ;o)
How best to accommodate the existing structure/relationships?
>>> I wouldn't concern yourself with accommodating a structure or relationships. The dogs will form their own, and it will never be what you planned for, and it changes daily.
If you have a male and a female, a confident and an insecure, do you select the next group member to be calm, confident to increase secure feelings and stability, or more playful to lighten things up? Preference of Integrating puppies vs adults to an existing group?
>>> Puppies are easier as they will grow and your current dogs will learn their mannerisms as they grow so later they can be crazy w/o setting off your older dogs. The only thing I think is important to consider for your new dog in regards to your existing dogs is size and strength. A Shiba and a Mastiff is probably not a good fit - it can happen - but you will see times when your Mastiff wants to play like a Mastiff and your Shiba doesn't.
What if an existing dog is dog-reactive? How does one present that to- say a dog breeder or rescue- or will "Reputable" and "responsible" ones be most likely to reject a buyer/adopter with an existing reactive dog in favor of plenty of homes withOUT a reactive dog, regardless of how much you have learned and managed and can articulate such?
>>> I think you need to tell a rescue or breeder that your dog can be reactive - but be sure to really explain it, so they see you are knowledgeable and can deal. I also wouldn't take a breeder's advice on training or dog behavior unless you know for sure that they have legitimate experience with training or behavior (and experience in the training methods and theories you subscribe to). They are breeders, not behaviorists. Same applies to rescuers or foster homes. I would, however, listen to what the breeder/breed-specific rescuer has to say about the personality traits of the breed - they should obviously have a better handle on that type of thing since they will likely have years of experience w/ the breed. Keep in mind tho, some breeders kennel their dogs, and may have no real-world understanding of what the breed is like in a home, or alone (tho they will probably not admit that - if you find one that does admit that, then you have found an honest breeder).
I hope that helps.
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