I have a Female 13+ year old staffie,  Sadly my sister died over a week ago she had a young 4 year old staffie, with much discussion Me and My husband wanted to give her home, as other alternative was Dogs home and possibly put down.
I picked up missy and brought her home as my husband was delayed at work I brought her into the home, its only been a few days but they have had ago with each other, very upsetting to watch I need some guidelines on how I can change this behaviour, as I want to give missy a chance can some one please help me !!!!!!!

So sorry to hear about your sister, a sad time. Could you try a baby gate between rooms for starters so they can become familiar with each other's scent without being able to get at each other?

Thank you never thought of that,  they are both loving dogs sadly missy has lost her home and her owner so she must be feeling lost, my other dog Megan is coming to the later years of her life and is set in her ways if you can think of anything I can do I would be grateful as we all grieving and this added stress is not helping me or missy.

A possibility is bath them both, they will then smell the same...may help ease the situation??

Hi how did you introduce them, was it on neutral ground or straight into your home and had they met before?

It's a bit late now but I would never bring another dog straight into the home of the existing dog you should have taken your one and pick up the other one and make sure you crate one of them and take them over a field so they are meeting away from your ones territorial  let them play and then take them home but have a crate to put the new one in when left alone. This is what we did when we brought another male in and they now get on so well.

Sadly My husband was delayed at work, it was pouring with rain, I brought her in and then took both for a walk immediately which went well, but like it says on the box it went wrong within a couple of hours, so needing tips things I can do to help them both and me !!! but thank you for replying x

thank you for your tip xxx Good idea

Whether it would have been best to start on neutral ground or in the home depends entirely on the dogs - I always find introducing at home much easier, but then I always have at least one dog that's got dog issues (I take on dogs with issues) so out on a walk, they would already be on edge looking for 'danger'.  My current problem dog takes a minimum of 2 full weeks to adjust to a newcomer so a walk on neutral ground would be a waste of time and more likely to totally scupper any attempt to get them living together!

In any case Missy is home now, so you've just got to work with what you've got.  I would separate and give Missy time to adjust to her new surroundings, new rules, new people, new smells, new dog etc with minimal stress.  While she's separate you can still work on things - reward both dogs for any good interactions with each other through a gate, and by 'any good interactions' I mean everything from glancing at each other without being bothered or even ignoring each other as they move around their individual areas.  This will start to build a positive association with each other ('the new dog = food, yay!') which will make it a lot easier when you do try to introduce them again.

When you do get to that point, take it carefully and remove all possible triggers - toys, chews, even beds to begin with and possibly even stay on your feet, moving around calmly, if there's any hint of your old girl (or indeed Missy) guarding you.  Harder to guard a moving target and if you're mobile, you can watch their body language and step inbetween them to break eye contact if necessary, or lead one or other away if tension sets in.

Also, don't panic!  The first days and weeks are often the hardest as all parties are learning about each other's reactions, behaviour, quirks and foibles.  Just take it steady, maintain the ability to separate immediately if required (stair gates, crates) and keep on rewarding the good stuff once they are together.  For safety I would also be separating while you go out, once they are together, at least for a while.

This is a breed that often will not tolerate another dog in their home, especially of the same sex.

Unless your prepared to live with the dogs completely separated at all times, your best option would really be to foster temporarily, and search for a good home as an only dog.

Brainless
Unless your prepared to live with the dogs completely separated at all times, your best option would really be to foster temporarily, and search for a good home as an only dog.

I suggest you follow brainless' suggestion ASP............ehhh dear
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I have to agree re the breed much as it's more usual for two males not to tolerate each other under the same roof.    Trouble is once bitches fight, it can be there's no way back.   For sure, you can only have these two together when YOU are right there, at the moment.   As suggested, remove anything that will be a trigger, feed them separated etc.   Your sister's dog is bound to be confused about what's happened, without having to adjust to being with another dog, so sadly, as suggested also, it may be that you have to foster her for a while, until you can find her another good home as a single dog.   The Breed Rescue may well be able to assist - and they do vet the homes before allowing a rehoming.

I'm so sorry about your sister - I went there last year with my younger sister and now have no contact with her husband (sad story!) either.  To be honest I'm more concerned about what's going on with her dog than him. 

mambass
it can be there's no way back.

I agree 100%
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Thank you so much for your tips  xxx

I will also add, it's now probable that both dogs may well have a lesser tolerance than before the whole situation they now find themselves in.
I suggest you keep extra vigiliance on them and unless you have a bomb proof recall with distractions with both these dogs you dont take chances & keep them on a leash, after all it's only recently an innocent poster took her harmless pet dog out for a walk and ended up like this.....

http://forum.champdogs.co.uk/topic_show.pl?tid=146138
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Facebook Replies:

Jeannie Armstrong says: Muzzles on! The pack order needs to be established...everyone needs to clearly know their place....you need to be very precise and firm in this...do not cause confusion...keep everything clear and simple....who leads the way...who has their food put down first....you need to let them feel totally clear on what's what.

Layla Cooper says: Oh god, the pack theory is so outdated now! Do you know how much damage dogs can cause to each other even with muzzles on?! When bitches fall out it is usually irreparable so this needs handling carefully and with expert help- I would get in a qualified behaviourist before this escalates.

Joanne Hardy says: Separate them immediately. Don't let them stay together and certainly not unsupervised under any circumstances. Rehome the youngster - the outcome of leaving them together is simply not worth the risk x

Jayne Stark says: The dogs need time to settle., The youngster has not a clue what is going on having lost her Mum and is now in a new home. I would keep them separated when unsupervised. Give your older dog food first etc. give the youngster time to get into your routine. Ask for some expert advice and let them both know that the humans are in charge and not them..

I want to thank you all for your help and advice, update on the dogs.
I have brought all new bedding--bathed both dogs in the same dog shampoo--brought a stair gate---stopped any unwanted eye contact when seen--Given both dogs plenty of walks together---separated their beds-- and lots of praise-- removed all toys---So after the first 48 hrs. things have calmed down to the extent I was able to leave them on there own for five mins!!! trying to build this up!!! so far they been getting along alright no major problems as yet.
I not going to be complacent and believe I worked a miracle I will hope and pray this works, as both dogs are loving which is why I love the breed.
Again thank you all for your help.

Well done! Sounds like a positive start, fingers crossed that the improvement continues.

> I was able to leave them on there own for five mins!!! trying to build this up!!!

Please please please do not leave them alone together, they can kill each other in 5 minutes. Bitches can and do bide their time, lulling you into thinking they are best friends and then wham!! all hell breaks loose. By all means carry on doing what you are, removing any and all triggers is the right line to take but remember bitches hold grudges and hold them for a lifetime. I would never leave bitches together that have fought.

Please please please do not leave them alone together, they can kill each other in 5 minutes.

I 100% agree with you.
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Wow I will take this information on board thank you xx

Wow I will take this information on board thank you xxxx

Just to reiterate these are both fully mature bitches. 

I know experienced Staffie breeder/exhibitors and they never even leave to of the same sex together, just not worth the risk, remember the breeds original purpose.

Indeed.  I do not leave my belgian with my others dogs - any of them - when I am not present, because I know she has a temper and she is not trying to injure anyone, just intimidate them.  She also redirects if someone knocks on the door and if I'm out, there is a fair chance she'll turn round and hammer whoever brushes against her, male or female.  So she goes in a cage, and will get her own area soon.

I have 3 female Staffords and if I'm not in they are crated separately

I recently introduced a female into home along with my existing girl who is alpha in my group of 6 dogs. Initially she was not having anything to do with the new girl (18mnths) she is 6.5. My new girl was not allowed on the furniture, in any bed at all, not allowed toys or any fuss by mum and dad. A week has now gone by, they sleep together on the sofa, they play, first time my older girl has played for a while( too busy keeping the others in order). They now get on well with restrictions. Little girl is not allowed to take toys from my girls bed. Keep with it, it will work out.

> it will work out.

Very much breed specific.  I'd always expect my own breed to get on, or the occasional spats to be bloodless handbags at dawn.

This is very different to what can be expected from the breed in question (and a few others) where death could well be the outcome in a fight.

This is very different to what can be expected from the breed in question (and a few others) where death could well be the outcome in a fight.

I wholeheartedly agree with brainless.
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hi there my dog will not wee or poo when i take him out but as soon as we get in he will do it on the floor help !!!!!!!!!!!

> hi there my dog will not wee or poo when i take him out but as soon as we get in he will do it on the floor help !!!!!!!!!!!

You need to start your own post, as few people will see your post tagged onto a post about something totally different.