New Here- Rescuing a Rotty

[SharonVA]

While my husband, my kids and my dog, Juneau(lab/shep mix, she was a stray too and is about 8 yrs old) were out walking in our neighborhood, a female rotty and her 2 pups came running up to us from out of the woods. She approached my leased dog and sniffed her and my dog wasn't too comfortable but didn't show any signs of aggression and neither did the rotty. She came up to me and licked my hand. To make a long story short, animal control picked them up later that night and after holding them for 7 days released them to the Humane Society. I went to the Humane Society yesterday with my 2 girls (age 4 and 2 ) and my dog , Juneau to see how they all interact. Well they got along fine, with neither dog showing aggressive behavior. And she showered my kids with licks. We are going back today to finalize the adoption and she will go to the vets tomorrow to be spayed and get her shots, etc.
I am so excited yet apprehensive about having another addition to the family. We plan on crate training her (juneau loves her crate) and she will be a mostly indoor dog.
Any tips/ techniques I could use to make the introduction into our home easier. I have been around dogs all my life but have never had a rotty.
Sharon
Mom to Mollie(4), Samantha(2), Juneau(8) and soon Rosie the Rotty(2)

[Birdie'sMom]

I've never had 2 dogs at once, so I don't have any advice for you, but I just wanted to say thank you for rescuing Rosie. That is so nice of you and I hope you are all very happy together! Congratulations!!!!:)

[SharonVA]

I should also add that I have a always had bigger dogs like Labs, shepherds and mixed breeds. Our dog, Juneau weighs 70 lbs and Rosie weighs about 82 lbs. They are about the same ht. but Juneau is very laid back.

[Miabella]

That's great news! For the initial introduction to the house, I would have your husband meet you outside on your street with Juneau on leash, and then you can take Rosie and Juneau for a quick walk around the block together. Walking side-by-side kind of calms dogs and makes them more comfortable together. Then you can go into the house together, and you won't have to worry about Juneau feeling the need to bark at an intruder when you try to bring Rosie in.

[SABELLESMOM]

Miabella, that's a great idea! Solves a number of things right away.

As to more than 1 dog? What mixture do you want to know about? I've had 2 Rotties and a cocker...A rottie a ridgeback/whippet and a cocker...A dobe/GSD and a Belgian...A dobe/GSD and a GSD.

I'm sure some of the success is dependent on the dogs personalities, but yours have met more than once, with good results. They will soon work out their pecking order.

As long as I saw no stiffness, well, lets say I allowed NO STIFFNESS anyway... Mine have always worked things out amicably.

Other than that, I find my Rottie to be lovely, gentle, and level headed. She is laid back and intellegent. She will "wait and see," as a good Rottie should in any given circumstance. She's extreemly affectionate, and tends to be a bit of a clown. At least she appreciates a good prank now and then. And, she ADORES children.

They do need training and need to know you have the upper hand. They can keep up with just about any physical regime you enjoy, ie: hiking , biking, jogging, walks, swimming, boating...

Many people get in to dog related activities such as: agility, obedience, carting, flyball, herding, conformation, schutzhund... These are fun and you'll meet the most wonderful people.

Enjoy your new Rosie and Juneau!

[RottiMomCT]

I think my only concern would be adding another female to the household.

I have five dogs here - two males, three females. There have been a few squabbles - the girls got into it one day over a tennis ball...no major injuries but all dogs were never alone for a few days after that. And that was after they had lived together for about 2 years! Now, they get along very well, and the boys are posturing again. My mom-in-laws dog is a big rude bully. He attacked my dog over a pie on the dining room table, and every time they walk past each other, he lets out a grumble and raises his hackles as if to remind my dog to 'go away, get out of my space'. I am usually right behind my dog or very close when he does this so I tell him to knock it off.

All of the dogs understand I am Alpha, as is my hubby. They are seemingly very confused about the in-laws...they seem to take no leadership roles and the dogs take advantage of it bigtime and then come to me or hubby with their frustrations.

Anyways...if the new dog does come to the house, keep her on lead for a week or so until she learns the routine of the home. Always give your current dog attention, food, anything first.

There will inevitably be some frustrations and even a few setbacks...stick with it. It'll be hard but the rewards are so worth it!

[tilerspop]

Congratulations and good on you!!!!!!!!!!!

Miabella's suggestion to walk the dog before going into the home is excellent. That's what we do when bringing a new dog into the house. It gets rid of the nervous jitters from being in the car and gives the dog a chance to bond to you first then the others in the home. I usually have my wife go in the house first and corral the dogs, then the new dog goes in with me. After a few minutes to get acclimated to the new surroundings we let the other dogs out by pecking order one at a time. I stay with the newcomer until all have been introduced and after a short bit we all go outside. I don't leave the newcomer unsupervised with the other dogs for a week or two just to see that there aren't any major problems.

Remember, the dogs will have to work out their own pecking order, you can't do it for them or stop them from doing it. You can do as suggested earlier here and treat your current dog as alpha. Observe carefully to see that the alpha dog doesn't change after a while, if it does be sure to treat the one that comes out on top as the alpha.

The biggest hint for success with this is vigilance. Good luck and keep us posted on how it's going.

[Corinne]

Hi there! And Congrats!

I too had to introduce (2 times) into my family. First of all I had a female spayed Rott for about 5 years when 2 years ago I decided to get an older poodle/terrier (female rescue), then last year I brought a male Rott into the house hold.

I made sure that when I introduced any of them that I had them on leashes. My female Rott is very protective of HER yard, so I wanted to make sure things would work out. First I introduced them away from home and then I introduced them at home. There were noticeable differences between home and away. Things did go smoothly and there have not really been any issues. The poodle rules the house and the other dogs. In fact she will lung at the rotts if she seems to think they are getting too close, so the pecking order will be worked out amongst them. My poodles was second to enter the house hold and yet what she says goes. In fact, my male rott will even back away from the water dish if he thinks that she wants a drink. My female rott and the poodle play exceptionally well and love to have tug o wars with eachothers ears, but I WILL NOT leave them alone if we go out just in case, there have been a few times that I have had to grab one of them because they took it a little too far.

Hope this helped and have fun!

[SharonVA]

For all your advice. Juneau and Rosie have been introduced outside twice Once when Rosie was a stray (our initial meeting of her) and once at the Humane Society) both times neither dog showed any aggressive behavior, no hair raising, no growling just a very laid back meeting.

Hopefully all will go well at home
I will keep you all posted.

[Stubby]

Thats great Sharon! Sounds like a nice pooch.

Question: What happened to her pups??

[Samantha_2816]

Hi
Good luck to you, Rosie and your Family.
Thank you for saving Rosie.

[rotties29]

i think that would be you only problem alot of female dogs dont like each other to tuff but since the rottie greeted your dog with open arms for now dont let your guard down

females tend not to relate well in the same household so you have to watch them closely because your female dog may become aggressive toward the rottie if she feels that she is taking over her domain some females dont like to share but with the proper training and obiendence you will be fine some temperament classess may be needed if things dont go well

i wish you luck and i welcome the new addition to your home:D