Intergrating Puppy with Adult Small dog. Help!

ZigZags · #1 08-22-2009, 10:38 AM

I have a 3 year old Toy Fox Terrier named Zeus. He's a good dog but he's always been kind of a wuss when it comes to other dogs. I brought Aries my Boxer pup home at 6 weeks old. He is now almost 9 weeks. Aries wants to play with him so bad but all Zeus does is run away. I have discouraged Aries from chasing him and putting his paws all over him. Just because Zeus is only 8 pounds and Aries is going to be at least 50. And Zeus will snap at him from time to time. I let him do it so Aries doesn't think he is a huge push over. But it hasn't been as frequent lately. I'm going to walk them together when Aries gets big enough to keep up. Anyone got any suggestions on how I can get these guys to be buddies? Because that is my ultimate goal.

P.S. I don't know if this has any baring but, Aries always want's to play with Zeus's favorite toys. And he will take toys from Zeus. And Zeus lets him.

Sorry for the block of text LOL!

ZigZags · #2 08-23-2009, 11:23 PM

Anyone been through this? Anyone at all?

It seems to be getting better. Zeus hasn't snapped at Aries in a while. And they can sniff each other now. But Aries still love's Zeus's favorite toys.

If anyone has any suggestions I'd love to hear them.

BxrMommieNAZ · #3 08-24-2009, 12:20 AM

IMO, just let them be, they will figure it out. My dog is 65 pounds and his best friend is a 16 pound schnauzer/poodle mix and they play just fine together. When I got my pup at 8 weeks old he was around 10 pounds and my female Boxer was 65, again they played just fine together, I've also had a 5 pound Min Pin in my home with my 60 pound female and 65 pound male and they figured it out and did just fine together.

Especially at this age, your pup isn't going to hurt your other small dog, so now is the time to let them figure out the pecking order. Supervise, but they will figure things out. Sometimes you just need to allow dogs to be dogs.

ZigZags · #4 08-24-2009, 12:43 AM

Should I let Aries continue to chase Zeus or not? I don't want his pray drive to kick in when he gets bigger, and have a dead dog. You know what I mean?

BxrMommieNAZ · #5 08-27-2009, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZigZags

Should I let Aries continue to chase Zeus or not? I don't want his pray drive to kick in when he gets bigger, and have a dead dog. You know what I mean?

I would encourage you to read articles, etc so you can figure out if it's play or fun. If it's just play yes, and given he's a puppy it's more than likely just play. When your other dog (Zeus) has had enough he'll let the pup know, but adults take more from pups than they would from other adults. Boxers ARE very very very focal (I cannot stress this enough) in play, I've had pet sitters who have seen my two Boxers play and look at me like I'm nuts for not breaking them up because they do sound like they're killing each other, but it's just all in good fun for them. Boxers growl, bark, woo woo, and in general make noises, but you do need to know to distinguish that from something more serious later on down the road.

As for now, yes, I would let them play and they will work it out on their own more than likely. If it makes you feel any better, I have 2 small cats (one is 8 pounds the other 15 pounds) and my Boxers are fine with them (one is 60 pounds the other 65), also my 65 pound dog's best friend is a 15 pound Schnauzer/Poodle Mix and I watched a very tiny Min Pin I'd say 6-8 pounds and they had fun together too. Not to say he couldn't kill him, but i think you're way over thinking it at the moment, he's just a puppy who wants to play.

BxrMommieNAZ · #6 08-27-2009, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZigZags

Anyone been through this? Anyone at all?

It seems to be getting better. Zeus hasn't snapped at Aries in a while. And they can sniff each other now. But Aries still love's Zeus's favorite toys.

If anyone has any suggestions I'd love to hear them.

Well now the toys are BOTH of their toys. Sorry but dogs aren't people, a toy is a toy you cannot say it is only for Aries or only for Zeus, whatever toys you get have to be suitable for BOTH dogs and then expect BOTH dogs to play with it.

sunspot · #7 09-09-2009, 04:13 PM

I have a 7 year old jack russell whos very best friend was our 9 year old boxer jessie who just passed in aug 2 we waited about 2 1/2 wks and then just had to have another boxerdog so we brought home rosie at 8wks old sienna the jack russel at first was so mad she wouldn't even look at the pup i think she was still greiving for her friend but rosie just kept trying to play with her and sienna at first kept snapping at her i was afraid they'd never get along and then one day sienna decided to play so she flattened her rosie got up and proceded to plow into seinna they've been the best of friends since seinna teaches her how hard to bite and how to go outside and then she lays down to sleep with her. so don't wooy it'll come and even if they aren't the best of friends dogs tend to know who was there first and respect the pecking order reguardless of size.

gordnbec · #8 09-14-2009, 02:27 PM

I wouldn't worry about it too much just monitor and see how it goes. The boxer is still a youg pup and unlikely to hurt the little foxie. If they establish a bond they will be friends for life. Just down the road they have 2 boxers and some ducks. I think you'll find that boxers are noted for being good with small animals and can be suprisingly gentle when they want to be. Just read all you can about dog posturing and give it time. All the best.

ZigZags · #9 09-23-2009, 02:23 AM

Wow I haven't checked on this post in a while and was pleasantly surprised with all the responses to say the least! Thank you for all your input. I have been keeping an eye on both of them. And it seems to be getting better. Aries doesn't jump on Zeus as often as he used too. And Zeus is snapping at him less and less as the days go by. I can even get them to play tug of war together, but only if I initiate it first. But I have noticed a disturbing behavior that I am trying to change. When they are both out in the yard, Aries will crouch down and essentially stalk Zeus. And I know for a fact that the stalking behavior can lead to problems later down the line with dog aggression (thank you dog whisperer). He pounced on Zeus so bad earlier today that he made him yipe. I let him know in no uncertain terms that that was unacceptable behavior. But he did get a little taste of his own medicine later on in the day. He ran over to my neighbors, which is quite irritating because he is encouraging it in a way. But anyway his German Short-Haired Pointer was out on the chain he uses, and Aries approached slow to sniff. They sniffed each other for a minute and then wam! Out of nowhere she grabbed him with her front paws and flipped him on his back (all play, no aggression), but it scared the Sh!t out of him lol. I hope it taught him a little humility.