# When do you add to the pack? I have two shibas, male and female. They coexist fairly peacefully. Our female is a bit alpha and the male is quite passive. I've been thinking about opening my home to foster rescue shibas for some time and they are getting a 'load' of shibas (about 4) at the end of April and want me to take in a… ## Thread In Shiba Inu · started by tsukitsune · 12 replies - **Category:** [Shiba Inu](https://nihonken.org/community/c/shiba-inu) - **Forum:** [Nihon Ken Forum](https://nihonken.org/community/) ## tsukitsune (moderator) · 2008-04-07T14:44:24.000Z I have two shibas, male and female. They coexist fairly peacefully. Our female is a bit alpha and the male is quite passive. I've been thinking about opening my home to foster rescue shibas for some time and they are getting a 'load' of shibas (about 4) at the end of April and want me to take in a female. I'm a bit hesitant because of how alpha my female can be. We have established my husband is the pack leader and our female still challenges him from time to time. Never aggressive, just disregards him when he is trying to bring her out of her alpha-ness (like with a beef shank bone envy or something).  Is it better to keep the peace in our pack as it is or add to it and hope for the best? The good thing is it is a foster dog so if it doesn't work, thats it. But the female they want to put with us is a black and tan and we've been waiting for one so if its right, we might hope to keep her. Maybe. Big maybe. How do you know when the right time is to add to the Shiba pack?! ## _dlroberts · 2008-04-07T15:11:08.000Z Well, I would certainly advise against adding to the pack and "hoping for the best". If you do decide to add to the pack, you have to put in a lot of effort to make it work. As far as timing goes, I don't have much experience with it, but I would imagine if you feel your pack dynamics are stable (which it sounds like they are) then it would be an ok time. Are you Shibas socialized well? Have they been around any other Shibas? ## tsukitsune (moderator) · 2008-04-07T16:17:21.000Z We actually do not know any other shibas locally but i belong to a dog socialization group and our shibas have always done wonderfully around all the other dogs, ranging in size from a 15 lb terrier to a 80lb mastiff! ## tsukitsune (moderator) · 2008-04-07T16:21:59.000Z ** i should add that i took in a few fosters before, the last being a basset hound who was extremely passive. I've never had a female since we have had Tsuki so thats my most fearful prospect - female vs. female dominant issues ## _dlroberts · 2008-04-07T16:34:42.000Z I know of one couple who has had success with multiple females. They have one male and three females plus a female foster. So I know it can be done. I'm sure it mostly comes down to you and your husband making sure to keep control. ## tsukitsune (moderator) · 2008-04-07T16:49:30.000Z very true - also, i'm kind of loving getting time with my two dogs (we had the basset since july '07) but i don't think i can turn down the dog in need.. ## scarlet · 2008-04-07T17:23:33.000Z Jake made my life and all those around us miserable for 3 weeks when I brought home a female Shiba around his age; however, she was very very passive.  He might do better with one who stood up to him a little.  I think it depends on the dogs.  Jake is so possessive, but he's getting better as we socialize every chance we get.  I would love another one or two or three :-)  The playtime video brings out my wants. ## sujewel · 2008-04-07T23:51:02.000Z It definitely depends on the dog. We took Mika to a friends house. I was against it because their female was supposedly dominant. Mika was fine with their female, but....she attacked the male.  I think she was 'correcting' him. The introduction wasn't handled properly because of our friends. Mika growled at him immediately, but when we went up to their yard, all was well and she was sniffing and fine....for 2 minutes. Then he came up behind her...oops. She was startled, quickly turned and took hold of his neck! ## brada1878 (admin) · 2008-04-08T02:54:10.000Z I agree with Barbara, it depends on the dogs... Maui is highly reactive / aggressive and we have mixed him with 5 dogs so far and have had only one incident (knock on wood).... but we watch him like a hawk all the time. I would say, the younger the better... introduce a young dog to young dogs, or a young dog to older dogs... but older dogs to older dogs is much harder, they are much less willing to accept a new pack member. It also has a lot to do with how your pack is structured and how much effort and time you are willing to put into the transition period. I also think the sex issue is not that big (in altered animals - unaltered animals is a whole different ball game)... female and female, male and male... these issues probably all come down to dominance vr. submissive personalities and not the sex of the dog. Having said that, our males get along better than our females... females dogs seem to be a bit bitchy... toward other females and toward males. ## sujewel · 2008-04-08T03:32:30.000Z 'female dogs seem to be a bit bitchy' How apropos! They are bitches, LOL. But I agree. I always see and hear about male and male alpha fights, but it just seems like male dogs are so much more laid back. ## tsukitsune (moderator) · 2008-04-08T14:05:13.000Z thank you! i think its going to be case per case to see how our dogs accept foster dogs one by one - hopefully it will work out. We have at least until the end of the month to savor time with just the two! ## sujewel · 2008-04-08T23:02:23.000Z I think it's amazing you're fostering. It's not easy to disrupt your family so much. It takes very special people to do it. Your dogs and the foster dogs are very lucky. ## tsukitsune (moderator) · 2008-04-08T23:19:59.000Z aw! thank you! i mean it would be so much easier to just have the two and be 'peaceful' but something is pulling me towards it - and i know i can deal with it - so its sort of a no brainer for me in my current situation!! my husband isn't nearly as keen with the ideal but i was also blessed with a tolerant man! --- **Navigate:** [Forum home](https://nihonken.org/community/?format=md) · [Sitemap](https://nihonken.org/community/sitemap.xml)