Suggestions for introducing foster dog

[ernstbass]

I'm going to get my first foster later this week - he's a beautiful (yet skinny) red tick coon hound. I have 4 dogs - the 2 spayed females can be aggressive intially - I haven't ever fostered so I'm looking for suggestions about the initial intro into the home. I'm thinking about leashing the new dog and bringing mine out on leashes one by one to meet him. Of course, I'll feed him in a diferrent room to avoid any food fights. What else should I do to make this as smooth as possible for everyone involved?

[flvegan]

1. Initial introduction in a neutral place.

That means outside the home, like a park. If they meet and get along on neutral ground, then they can all try visiting in the yard. Then try visiting in the house. Make VERY sure you give even more attention to the 4 you already have so they don't think they're being replaced. Hounds are usually very good pack dogs. Hopefully all will go well. Good luck, and thanks for fostering!!

[mopinko]

2. also

have lots of toys and goodies. when i brougth my last (4th) dog home, i tossed hunks of dried lamb lung around on the ground. the terriers didn't stop to eat it until they had checked her out, but it them gave a very favorable impression of their new sister.

[luzdeluna]

3. please be careful with the food

some of the worst dog fights are over high value things like meat, chewies etc. If this dog tries to take the food first your "pack" could really hurt him. Alpha dogs eat first and your girls sound like alphas. They would be right, in the dog world, for teaching the new dog a lesson. It can be dangerous.

Give out treats one at a time and to the head dog first....new dog last. Call each by name, look directly at the dog and give the treat. Let each dog know that you are the head of the pack and you decide who eats, drinks and gets affection and when.

When you go out to the park to introduce them it might help to have them on leash. Start by getting them to relax in each others presence by having a friend walk one of your dogs along the same route. Keep the dogs to yourselves and walk along talking to your friend and having the dogs sit on command and pat your knee to to keep them walking at attention.

Once they can sit and relax in each others company after a nice walk it is a lot easier to mix them. Less likely to show offense and snap when they finally go nose to nose.

Good Luck

ldl

[mopinko]

4. very good point

i am very, very much the alpha in my pack. i relished anyone snipping over the food so i could remind them of that fact.

[luzdeluna]

5. I understand

everyone has their own method. I tend to try to set up for success and give praise. It works for me and my animals.

I work with several, large dominant/aggressive dogs. "Teaching them a lesson" for a dominant challenge can be extremely dangerous. It is generally considered MUCH safer to shape behavior with positive reinforcement.

If you bully or yell at a child when he does something wrong, you may stop the behavior, he may accept your word as law but don't be surprised if he bullies smaller kids.

In a dog's world that weaker link could be a child and that is scary.

I'm sure I sound like a jerk but I have to say this because it's a better day when a person or a pet doesn't get hurt or even stressed out.

ldl

[mopinko]

7. i take your point

i don't mean that i teach them a lesson with a beating. i don't do anything that a good pack leader wouldn't do. i let a new dog know right away that i CAN take them down and roll them over, (and that i am in charge of all the food) but after that i can usually accomplish most of what i need to do with my voice, and maybe a stomp on the ground.
i also am very careful with any dog that is sensitive. 2 of my terriers came to me from a puppy mill, terrified of the world. i not only couldn't correct them harshly, i could barely get close enough to them to reward them. it took 2 years, but they are great little girls full of terrier attitude. anytime they have to get corrected for anything, they get a reward right away afterward.
i do tend to be a little rough and tumble, tho, which i why i love my terriers. and i admit i love being the big dog. being a doggy deity makes up a little for being a mom.

[radfringe]

6. definitely do meet/greet outside

it's neutral territory and your dogs would be less likely to feel that they have to defend it from an "intruder"

one at a time vs all at once: when we bring home a foster, everyone comes out at once. it's a handful, but they are all leashed and for the most part "behave" better on the leash. but this is up to you and how comfortable you feel in handling all the dogs at once. best to have someone help you - one person handling the foster dog, the other person handling the forever dogs

as far as bringing them out one at a time - bring out the "leader of the pack first" - if possible let the other dogs "see" the meet/greet through a door/window. If the pack leader accepts the foster dog the others should have no problem about doing likewise.

sometimes the foster dog will try to be the "leader" and attempt a "regime change" - but that may not manifest for a few days, so you will want to keep a close eye on interactions. Give equal atttention to all the dogs. When you come home from work or shopping - give your forever dogs attention first - this reinforces the hierarchy of the pack and lets the foster dog know that he/she is at the bottom rung.

we crate the foster for a few days when we are not home during the day. when we feel comfortable that everyone feels ok with the foster - then we try not crating for short periods of time while we are out of the house. we have also used a muzzle on the dogs during this adjustment period when we are not home - just to avoid any possibilty of problems. With one foster dog, we crated and muzzled for only a week. With another it was necessary to crate him during the day until he was adopted, and medicate him due to seperation anxiety. The foster we have now, we crated for about a week, and then went to just muzzling her during the day because she "ate" several magazines and two remote controls. We did try to "dog proof" the area, but she still managed to find something to crush-kill-destroy...

we have individual food/water bowls for each dog. The foster dog's bowl is usually set a short distance away from our forever dogs. this avoids the "MY FOOD" fights - although they may all end up eating out of each other's bowls.

don't be surprised if the foster dog has/develops diarhhea - change of environment/diet may bring it on. adding a cup of cooked rice to the food will help, but if it keeps up for a couple of days or is a major "run" - get hi,/her to a vet. Usually the organization/shelter will take care of the vet bill.

the adjustment period may take 2-4 weeks, depends on the personalities of the dogs.

[ernstbass]

8. Thanks you all so much for the suggestions

I may go ahead and muzzle my most dominant girl initially - she tends to get aggresive around food and treats in particular (she will keep a cookie for hours just to lie in wait to torment the others if they try to take it). I will be picking up the dog at the vet the day after he's neutered which makes me even more anxious about fights.. I'm going to the pound to spend some time with him today. He's coming on Saturday - I'll keep you all posted. I have wanted to foster for several years as all of my kids are rescues themselves.