new boy coming home in a week - advice?

[Ocean]

Well, today is our wedding day and in the middle of running around doing frantic last-minute errands yesterday afternoon, we got a call from a firend that there was a male Rottie for adoption at the grooming parlor about half an hour away. So of COURSE I dropped everything and ran to see this boy...

To make a long story short, I loved him and we are bringing him home as soon as we get back from our honeymoon (Ocean is in a REALLY nice kennel). His previous owner's sister's girlfriend is keeping him until then. He is an intact 4 1/2 year old male, retired from showing, very mellow and friendly. He is being given away because he belonged to the boyfriend of the sister, they broke up and had to give up their home, and he can't keep the dog in his new digs (I know what we all think about THAT, but that's the topic of many other threads).

He is very submissive to people and other dogs; I am wondering how he will react to Ocean's bounciness and outgoing personality. Any advice for introducing new Rottie to old Rottie? (Or in this case, new older Rottie to old younger Rottie!) I will not be able to access the board until 9/15 but hope to find lots of helpful advice then! (Though I will probably not be able to resist checking in later today - we are very excited about bringing home Blaze.) Thanks!

[mmgy]

Do you have enough going ON???? Congratulations on the wedding, and congratulations on the new dog, and I hope you get LOTS of rest on this honeymoon!!!!
:D

[LavenderRott]

OMG, where do you ladies find these guys that are so good about your dogs? If I took a breather from errands on the day before my wedding to go look at a dog, I wouldn't be getting married. Never mind what my SO would say if I wanted to keep the dog.

Congrats on your wedding, don't rest too much on your honeymoon. Get your new guy neutered when you get home and everything will be great! (I mean the dog not the husband.)

[Rott-Wiley]

Wow! Congrats on everything going on in your life. If at all possible I would suggest that you introduce the rotties to each other in a neutral area with them both on lead. See how they react to each other prior to bringing them both into your home. Pay attention to if they have their hair up or are doing any aggressive posturing toward each other. Best of luck with everything.

[Ocean]

Back and somewhat rested - with more specific questions.

Ocean stays outside in her yard during the time my husband (!!!) leaves for work and I get home. Since we are getting our new boy in the middle of the work week, I am concerned about leaving them in the yard alone together when they have only known each other a day. Any thoughts on this?

Also, what about night time? We only have one crate, although Ocean has been allowed to sleep loose in the kitchen before with no mishaps; would it be a good idea to keep Blaze in the crate as he is an unknown quantity, and let her be loose in the kitchen?

What about high-value treats? I have uncomfortable thoughts about giving out pig ears to a pair who has never had to share. What if Mr. Massive jaw suddenly decides he wants my little girl's treat? And feeding - together or separate?

So many questions! Hoping for some good answers!

[Rott-Wiley]

Hi and welcome back. Yes, you should have concerns about leaving them alone outside unsupervised -- especially not knowing how they are going to interact with each other and how dominent he/she are going to be.

I would be careful about giving her crate to the new addition. Ocean may see this as loosing her "safe" place in the home.

High-value treats are going to be an added concern also. Until you do see how they are going to interact with each other I would not give out something like pig ears while they are in the same room or part of the house.

I would suggest you take it slow and don't rush to force them together too quickly. The fact that she is established in your home (and she's a bitch) will no doubt make her dominant but him being older then her, he may not see it that way. Usually a bitch will "hen peck" a dog to no end but the age difference may change that. You're just going to have to see how "they" handle it. Hope I didn't confuse you more.

[LavenderRott]

Glad to hear you got some rest.

I would crate the new guy while you are gone and at night. Same for high value treats. Let Blaze have them in the crate and Ocean can have her in the kitchen.

Chase and Missy eat at the same time but their dishes are across the kitchen from each other. If you do this, just keep an eye on them at meal time for a bit.