HELP - 2nd Shiba
As most of us know, Shibas are like potato chips, can't have just one. After purchasing Jake the week before Thanksgiving at 4.5 months, I just knew I had to get another one. I talked with Shiba owners, Shiba breeders. A male will get along with a female, so I find this beautiful little female, 9 months old, named Jodi. Jake is now 7 months old. After our long drive home, out to the backyard with them both, where they played and played and ran and ran (Jake is very familiar with doggie parks, trail hiking). My problem? Once Jake realized Jodi might be staying longer than he anticipated, and was being allowed inside, that was more than he was willing to accept.
Several brawls later, I sent them back outside as it seemed there they played well together. I went back inside to get my composure and nerves back in line. Surprisingly, I hear screaming that won't stop, walk out back, and Jake's got Jodi pinned to the ground, her screaming. When I walked over to break it up (I couldn't pin Jake down as I had no idea who started what) the little Jodi was just shaking.
I knew I couldn't give her any more attention or he might hurt her next time so I've basically ignored her. Jake is not an aggressive dog.
Time should heal this, right? Well, what about toys, bones, food? Will they always have to be separated. Jake guards the water bowl at the doggie park sometimes.
Do I take my losses, accept I can't have two and return her to find a happier, less death threatening home? I knew she was not the alpha when I purchased her, but neither was Jake!
Comments
That actually sounds like a pretty good beginning to me. They actually played together, which is more than my dogs did when introduced.
For the first few weeks keep them on leash so you have more control. Do not leave them alone together. Not for at least a month or so. Take them on walks together and sit with them at feeding time.
It takes time and patience. Don't give up.
I am in the process of introducing a third dog to my group and he is very large and has some issues, so I feel your pain. Be patient and know that it will get better.
For awhile you might have to keep them crated if you are not in the room with them (they should not be alone together). Keep high value toys off the floor, don't give long lasting treats, etc. Toys and treats might have to be regulated to the crate only. The fact that they played is really a good start. Sometimes things just get escelated though. It will take time to work all of the kinks out.
First off, welcome to the forum!
IMO you should do the opposite of what you are doing. I think you should ignore Jake and show support and love to Jodi. You need to keep in mind some fundamental pack rules:
1 - An unstable, uncomfortable dog in a pack will cause problems. If you don't allow Jodi to be completely comfortable with her new house and new owners it will take her a longer to get comfortable. Once she is more comfortable and less stressed then your dogs will probably be able to interact with less issues, because they are both in a more of a stable mind set.
2 - It is more important that you reinforce behaviors you want in a pack than to reinforce a pack order (in other words don't give Jake more attention just because you feel he is alpha). If Jake is being a jerk, and you shun the other dog while treating Jake to attention you are essentially reinforcing his dominant mindset - and perpetuating the problem.
3 - You need to be the pack leader, this means you determine who can come into your house w/o being attacked - not Jake.
There is a good article Heidi, one of our members, posted that you should read - read it all, it starts off as if its about unstable dogs but it is really about living with a pack and is rather helpful. Here is the thread: http://www.nihonken.org/forum/comments.php?DiscussionID=644
Other than what I just wrote I second everything Jessica and Brandon wrote. When we have introduced new dogs to the pack we keep all of them separated and don't let them interact until they are all calm and passed the initial excitement period.
Hope that helps! Keep us posted on how it goes. I think you will find that a male & female Shiba pair is great, they will become best friends.
Thanks so much for the welcome. What a fun group of Shiba lovers... Yesterday I was about to drive 2.5 hours one-way to return the female to the breeder.
WOW, you're right Brada. I was doing just the opposite! -- not wanting Jake to feel less loved just because all of a sudden, a new pack member arrived. As it turns out, 1.5 days later, lolololol, the smartest ones in the pack seemed to have worked it out amongst themselves..... Having spent the entire day outside, that being Jake's first day, all day outside, things were fine when I got home. One little spat occurred when Jodi approached me and Jake tried to intervene, but she didn't back down and I raised my pointer finger to both and said "shhhhhh" and everyone was back on track. I think we are all gonna be fine. It is so nice to witness the different characteristics of the male and female. Jake is strong, serious, barely wags his tail. Jodi's entire body wags with emotion. This is gonna be fun, fun, fun for all of us. Thanks again for all your input and encouragement.
That's really great to hear! I was just thinking about you guys, and hoping everything was going ok. I have been there before... that point where you are so stoked to add another pup, then you add them it goes bad. You feel so stuck!
It's very easy to try and humanize the situation, when really it is usually us who need to see it from more of a dog's perspective... trust me, I am the king of trying to apply human logic to a dog's view of the world.
Anyway, sounds like things will work out great! Shibas are so full of attitude, they are a real trip sometimes.
PS: Post pics!
Doesn't it require a url for posting pictures? I am stupid at this stuff.
A little frustrated this evening -- can't put down toys, constantly separating food. Maybe I am just not the right Pack Leader for 2 shibas.
It takes about a good solid month to really acclimate to a new dog in your family. Consider Bunny has been home for 2 days and I still have not had him in the same room as my other two dogs. They have only been in each others company out side. And I wont formally introduce them for another day probably.
Keep in mind that anything worth having takes work and is worth working for.
Take a deep breath and remember that dogs (especially shibas) are very attuned to your emotions. Try to ground your self with some deep breathing. They are both babies still. One puppy is a lot of work. 2 is more.
Regarding the pictures, you can upload them directly to the forum. If you have multiple pictures, after you have uploaded the first you can edit your post and upload another and so on.
I agree with Jessica. From what I've read, it takes a while to get your pupps acclimated. Remember, you are in charge no matter what happens. You can't show favorites by allowing one to act in a certain way and not the other. Jake will know you love him even if you have to be harsh or ignore him when he isn't behaving. Same with Jodi.
Remember, in the long run, if you keep control and keep them balanced they will be happier...even if you don't like it at first.
Adding a new dog is not easy, and then when you consider they are Shiba... jeez.
I agree with what everyone else wrote, just take it slow and remember, if it gets to much just put one or both in a crate. I am not saying keep them in their crates all the time, but if you need a brake don't feel bad about giving them time out. Puppies are like kids, they need rest and sometimes don't realize it.
Some of it may also be just getting used to Shiba's play style - they are kinda crazy and can sound a lot worse than it is.
Lucy and I met scarlet with her two babies Jake and Jodi at the park today. On her behalf, here are some pictures of her cutie pies.
This is Jealous Jake, the handsome boy:
And one with his face:
This is Miss Jodi JuJu:
She's such a cutie!
And one of Lucy that I think is cute.
Scarlet has such cute puppies!
Scarlet, thanks for the encouragement, i just wanted to see if you could do it before I try another shiba!
I bought him a large, comfy, doggy bed of his very own and what do you think he's decided? That he looks GOOOOOD on that couch! Ok, he does look pretty good on the couch. Hair remover and shampoo are going to be a big expense. I guess he is a little person huh?
Haha. Yep. Good luck telling him its not *his* couch!
That's a really cute picture. Over the years I have thought of buying Nemo a dog bed (other than the one in his crate) but I know that he would either destroy it or ignore it. He sleeps on our bed or on the futon in the other room all the time, not sure why he would trade that in for a dog bed.