Introducing a new foster dog to resident dogs

[3dognight]

I'm putting this out here because I really need some more suggestions.....my rescue group has been great and various helpful suggestions have been made, but I'm hoping to generate a few more options so I thought I'd try posting here too. I know things take time and I have no desire to rush anything, I just want things to go as smooth as possible for the new foster and my two.

I am currently fostering a boxer and she is 6, just got spayed and is crate trained. She likes it ok, but doesn't seem to enjoy sleeping in it (or at least in the location its in tonight). My problem is however that she is very aggressive towards any dog walking passed her crate. I tried introducing her to my male boxer today, he is normally very tolerant and loves playmates however, she went after him. We broke them up after a few attempts. I haven't even tried to introduce my male lab yet, as he is not so welcoming and he takes more time to adjust. The foster is extremely stressed right now. She has been panting, pacing and not eating as of yet. Should I put introductions off until she shows signs of settling in? Or should I just keep trying gradual steps and see how she does?

Normally I keep the crate in the living room until everyone is friendly and I can let them all mingle in the house. But because of her crate issues I can't do that.

So sadly tonight she is on my porch. Its enclosed and its not cold out there, but I'm afraid she isn't happy out there. Tonight is the first night with her, but my options were limited due to her reaction to my dogs passing her crate.

I have a 15 month old dd and she is sick right now, so selfishly I did not want to chance that barking dogs are going to wake up my baby...so that is why I chose the porch.

We just got her home tonight around 5pm, so I haven't had much time to work with her. I do hope that I can get her crate off the porch by tomorrow and into the house.

She has a wire crate, so I am going to try covering it mostly with a blanket, leaving the door exposed.

She previously lived with a female dog and that dog was the alpha.

I'm really not sure what to make of this, as I've never experienced anything quite like this. The crate is normally a very useful tool for introductions, but now I'm stumped.

Any and all thoughts appreciated! Thanks!

[ascot chief2001]

Sorry, I can't help you with the crate issues, as I don't use one, but I'd imagine she's reacting that way as being confined, she has lost all of her defences-including flight.

Out of the crate, how are your introductions done?? I may or may not do it differently to others, but I intro in my house with the Rescue on lead initially, for me to assess behaviour. My guys are use to "intruders" coming and going, but like you, I use my "neutral" dog first as a test dummy. Then my other 2 are bought into the mix. Mine are never on leash as they are under effective voice control.

Ideally you want your own dogs very calm, as if they are all jumping on each other or in each others faces too much initally, then that when fights happen. I make my guys virtually ignore the dog, I divert my alpha girl's attention away from the new dog by giving her her a toy.

After a few minutes, the rescue then gets put on a flexi lead for more freedom and eventually let off. This whole process probably takes no more than 20 mins. I find with every single dog that they are more interested in exploring the house/backyard than my dogs. I have had 8 Rescues through in 6 months, with no issues. That includes having to slot them in with my very crabby senior girl. They all come in and live as housedogs, go to the park twice daily ect with my own dogs.

Most(especially the boys) are VERY raw when I first pull them from the pound, clearly unsocialised, pull your arm off ect ect. But I find with proper leadership, clear routines ect that they settle very,very quickly.

Good luck with your foster, perhaps try something a little different when you next try to introduce her to your guys.

Cheers
Jodie

[3dognight]

Well this morning I played ball with the foster, quite a bit to tire her out some. Brought my mellow guy out and I let them meet again through the fence. No good, she went bananas.

I'm not sure what is going on. I met the lady who did the transport at a busy boxer bash yesterday and she was walked through numerous dogs and I did not see her react like that. The only time she displayed it was when she was in her crate. I can totally understand "that's her space and her limited defenses" while in there, but she was not crated and still she reacted that way.

I hate keeping them apart, as I feel like this "feeds" whatever is going on....but I don't want to push things either. And if they need to be kept apart I don't mind doing it.

My husband is going to help me take 2 of them for a walk later, so maybe that will help.

She still has not eaten yet...not sure when I should get alarmed about that. I suppose she won't starve herself.

[Indy B's Mom]

We had a rough few days when we first brought Peyton home. She was growling and lunging at him. She reacted like your foster to Tyler. I didn't think it would ever work judging by the first few days. DH and I started walking them, side by side at a brisk forward motion. That helped ease the tension and they did a bit better after that. Then, we took them to the field by our old house-10 acres fenced in. DH and I decided we had enough of rotating the dogs in their crates and trying to separate them, so we let them both off lead. Honestly, they took off running and playing together and DH and I were thrilled. We let them run/play for some time and when we brought them home, they actually slept on the couch side by side. It was like Peyton just needed to burn off that negative/scared energy and then she was fine with Ty. It has to be scary for the new dog coming into a new home with dogs already there and I think some react a bit aggressively. Since that day at the field, Ty and Peyton have been best friends. Wishing you lots of luck!!

[EarlBella]

I would definetly walk the foster to relieve build up energy and then have your dogs join in the walk. Walking is very important to a dog. I don't want to get in trouble here but a agree with Cesar "The Dog Whisperer" on how important a walk can be with you being the pack leader.

Sara

[agilityboxer]

Originally Posted by 3dognight

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My husband is going to help me take 2 of them for a walk later, so maybe that will help.

This has been my most successful way to intro dogs. Get them both somewhere in neutral territory and just keep their distance for a while. If they seem comfortable then let them walk a bit closer to each other etc.

How long ago was she spayed? Is it possible that she is feeling weakened and vulnerable because she knows she is not back to 100 pct?

On the crate thing, I was surprised at my first pet fair how well the boxers did in and out of the crates so close together. My in laws had a boxer that was great out of the crate but the first time I went over and she was in the crate she tried to come through the wires at me. She seemed more upset as she could not protect her family from in there. My dogs are terrible about barking through the fence at other dogs. At home we don’t share the fence with any other dogs, but at my parents house the can see the dogs through the chain link fence. I hope some of this helps.