Hi

I am running a small dog boarding business and generally board one small/medium dog at a time.  I have 4 dogs all of whom are of a good temperament.  However one of my dogs I rescued from Crete 3 years ago and she is more nervous than the others but is generally docile - she is a cross breed hound hunting type of dog,  small labrador size, very pretty.  I've not long been boarding dogs but thte several I have had have been small and she lets them jump about all over her with batting an eyelid.  Last week someone I vaguely know asked if I would board two chows for 2 days.  I did have my doubts about Hannah (the Greek girl) as she is not always too good with big dogs, being rather nervous.  However as the owner was keen I agreed to let her bring the chows to meet us all first of all.  Maybe I did things wrong but I kept Hannah in the house whilst the others all met up in our garden.  After a while I put Hannah's lead on and brought her out into the garden.  The chows were standing quite near the back door and Hannah took one look, her hackles went up and the teeth came out, she was snapping and snarling - she was ready to fight.  I have never ever seen her like that.  We decided to defuse the situation and took the dogs for a walk on their leads and all was well.  Back in the garden Hannah sloped off to her bed indoors.  Soon she came out again and stood away from the chows eying them, her tail was wagging a bit but she still looked a bit wary.

My instinct is not to take in  the chows but the owner thinks we may still be able to socialise them gradually.  I am not so sure but I wonder if I went about the meet and greet the wrong way?  When Hannah is off lead in the park she has never had a fight and is generally nervous of big dogs and backs off - she is much happier with smaller dogs (probably to do with her past as an abandoned pup on the beach in Crete).

Any advice anyone?

Thanks

Snowflake

If in doubt then I would say no. You don't want to put her in a situation where she feels threatened as it may have a knock on effect for future boarders.

If she's that bad then a) you're not going to be able to socialise her 'gradually' on her own territory - maybe if you were actually adopting one of them, as you'd have ample time to take things VERY slowly, but you're talking about baording two of them and she's already shown a massive dislike/fear of them and b) I have seen this issue in action with a home boarder's dog.  It's not fair on him or the visiting dogs and he has injured some (only minor, holes to ears but it's more than enough).  The owner's stopped doing it now but that dog was constantly stressed and unhappy all the time she did it.

If she's fine with small dogs then keep doing that but no, I would not board these chows with her.  At all - even if they are kept separate, she will know they are there and with such a bad reaction, she'll be stressed constantly by that.

I don't think it was a good idea to bring her into her own garden on a lead when she had trespassers on her patch.  It would have put my back up if you introduced strangers into my personal space!

I do think that meeting the chow owner off your girls home patch, and walking all dogs together would have been my first choice.  Far less confrontational.  IMHO  :-)

I agree with Jean here. When introducing dogs I always do it off property. Maybe go for a little walk together, let them meet and greet then bring them  back to the garden at the same time. I know mine would not be happy finding strange dogs in their garden.

I too do introductions on neutral ground away from either dogs home and when everyone is settled wander back home as normal taking strange dog along too.

Even 2 days can feel like forever if you are having to referee between dogs who don't like each other.

I have Chows and I have often noticed that other dogs don't seem to like them. 

Small dogs lunge and snap and larger dogs slope away heads down.

I have a smooth coat and a rough and previously a smooth coat but the reaction has been the same for all my boys. I think they don't display 'normal' dog body language, although very dog friendly they approach in a very proud manner, head held very high, on tippy toes.  I think other dogs have a hard time reading them. 

It's not a size issue because I also have a Doberman that other dogs are happy to approach even when she grumbles at them for too much sniffing of the rear end.

Of course Chows don't have the normal doggy odour which might be confusing as well.