Hi this is my first time posting on here and stumbled on the forum by accident, but hopefully someone can help!

I have a rescued Staffy called Mia (1 yeasr old) who I have had for 4 weeks, As I spend a lot of time at my mums (she's disabled) I thought I had better take my dog to meet my Mums dog she is a boxer (5 years old).  The first meeting didn't go to well Mums boxer was the perfect lady, but told Mia she was boss its her house she did this by putting her paw accross Mia's neck, no agression what so ever more of a playful thing. Mia took immediate offense to this and started growling and snarling, it was horrbile and quite scary!! We then put the boxer in the garden and shut the patio door Mia then stood by the patio door looking at the boxer but had no reaction. After 15-20 mins we let the boxer back in and took them back in to meet, all seemed fine until the boxer licked her face!!! Mia again went for her.  This was 2 weeks ago I have just returned from my mums I thought I would try again with the dogs, Mia could her the boxer barking and was fine no reaction, as soon as she set eyes on her she barked and snarled at her, the boxer spent the whole time we were there locked in the kitchen Mia wasn't bothered that she could hear her barking or whining and had a good sniff at the door, all with a no fazed kind of reaction.

So really my question is how do I go about re-introducing them without the nastyness???!

I have a lot of background from Mia's past and she is such a beautiful loving dog she's fantastic with my children, but this reaction to the boxer is wierd! She hasn't come accross any other dogs while were walking so i cant gauge if its just her or all dogs!! Theres nothing in her past that shows any form of aggression.

Any advice is gratefully received

Emma

Can your mum or a friend to meet you on 'neutral' ground? Walk both dogs at an even pace, arrange for them to meet , but not face on.

Continue to walk side-by-side, making no comment (other than small reassurance) to either dog.

Walk for as long as you possibly can.

I always found this helps with any new dogs in the household or neighbourhood any have sorted out a few territory disputes with neighbours dog doing this.

Good Luck

First, congratulations on rescuing a staffy, they are the best!!! :)

sorry, dont know what happened to my post then!!!!  I wrote a long reply but only a bit of it showed, for some reason.

What I was trying to say was that maybe it wouldnt be such a good idea to put the boxer out like that, its the boxers home and could cause resentment?    If the boxer is shut out evertime you visit with mia, it will learn to associate mia coming with her being excluded, and that could make her jelouse.   The licking of Mias face is a good sign from your mums dog though, its a submissive signal.  But if I were you Id probably rather introduce both dogs in a place thats neutral to them both.
Can you not walk them together for a few weeks, so they get more comfortable in eachothers company without it being on one dogs home territory.  Im not going to write anything longer yet cos I want to make sure the post goes through, lol.

Thanks for replying, That was going to be my next plan of action, I really wanted to do that today but would need assistance from my brother to walk the boxer while I walk with Mia, but he wasn't there this morning! I really really want them both to get along. I refuse to leave Mia on her own at my house while I am out, so it's quite important to me that they become friends or at the very least put up with each other!!!

We absolutely adore her, and will be looking to rescue at least one other staffy in a year or so. Fantastic dogs! We love them!!

Hi.   Just wanted to tell you what has happened over the last couple of days, yesterday Mia was introduced a 10 week old staff x pup outside, I made sure the pup was "at a safe distance" because of Mia's reaction to the boxer, but she was fine, the pup wound himself around her legs and they both had a good sniff. Mia did growl after a couple of minutes so we removed the puppy, she then started growling more and barking but was wagging her tail, now i'm not sure if she was wanting to play or if she was warning him off or what, but it didn't to me sound aggressive and he was only removed because he is just so small compared to her. But all in all I dont think the meeting was too bad :)

Today we were out walking and Mia spotted a westie not too far away, she was whinging and making noises so I just stood with her so she could see it.  The other dog was over the road.  After a few mins the owner bought the dog over, now with the "stigma" poor staffy's have i'd have thought he'd have kept his little one at a "safe" distance but NO he let the little one come straight over and sniff, with that the little one snapped at Mia!!!!!! So of course she then growled and snarled but i had removed her from the situation, the owners wife then came and apologised!!! I was in total shock at what had just happened and poor Mia was a bit strange on the way home she had a really soppy look about her like she had been told off! bless her!

Im now a bit worried about introducing her or letting her meet other dogs and not necessarily because of her reaction!!! Although definately got to try harder with the boxer!!